Despite the flamboyant life described by his associates, Bernstein also bridged the gap between high culture, elitist culture, and popular culture and the popular song

"What was interesting for me was to get back to him as a young man, to see his deep humanity, to see his loyalty to family and religious traditions," says Oja.

Bernstein’s Jewish background was an important—though often unnoticed—influence on his music. Perhaps his best-known piece of explicitly Jewish music was the "Kaddish Symphony," which explores one’s relationship to god, and contains extensive references to traditional Hebrew music.

Even in his senior thesis in Music—dealing with race relations and the origin of an American musical identity—Bernstein tried to address questions of heritage.

These dilemmas plagued the composer through some of his most famous works as well. "Bernstein thought about having ‘West Side Story’ be about Jews and gentiles," Oja, returning to the tension between the Jewish and Irish while Bernstein was growing up in Boston.

"I think [the festival’s] going to cause us to reconsider him as a serious composer, born of a specific historical period, when America was changing ethnically and technologically," Megan says.

Bernstein’s daughter Nina says that the return of her father’s music to Harvard is fitting, given that he never quite got over his salad days in the Yard.

"He adored Harvard, always did," she says. "Whenever he would show up, he would get a get a big lungful of Cambridge air, and declare himself so much better for being there."