BE COOL

It is a pity that Don Heckman did not take “The Songs of West Side Story” in the same generous spirit in which the album was created (Record Rack, Jan. 28). David Pack, the producer, and the dozens of participating artists worked long and hard to pay their respects to this music, which they love.

If we, the composer’s family, were not insulted by the contemporary spin they put on these songs, why is Mr. Heckman getting so hot under the collar? Was he also outraged on behalf of William Shakespeare when the “West Side Story” authors decided to put a contemporary spin on “Romeo and Juliet”?

JAMIE BERNSTEIN THOMAS

ALEXANDER BERNSTEIN

NINA BERNSTEIN

New York