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If Elmer Bernstein had realized his childhood hopes, he might have been a successful concert pianist from the '40s through the '60s. Instead, thanks to his ability as a composer (manifested at an early age), and the timely intervention of World War II, he has for more than four decades been a major force in popular and film music, and a major influence on American popular culture. Born in New York City, Bernstein as a boy showed a consuming interest in music, especially on the piano. He was a natural prodigy and early on, his teacher recognized a tendency on his part to improvise on the piece he was playing, an ability that he was encouraged to develop. Bernstein also had a serious interest in folk music, which was to serve him in good stead in the decades that followed. When Bernstein was 13, his music teacher arranged for the boy to audition for Aaron Copland, who was sufficiently impressed to arrange for him to study with one of his own students. He subsequently enrolled at the Ju...