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American composer and bandleader
Abraham "Abe" Elstein, date unknown
Abraham "Abe" Ellstein (
Yiddish : אַבֿרהם עלשטײן , Avrom Elshtayn , July 7, 1907 – March 22, 1963) was an American
composer , bandleader and recording artist in the
Yiddish theatre and Yiddish popular music milieu. Along with
Sholom Secunda ,
Joseph Rumshinsky , and
Alexander Olshanetsky , Ellstein was one of the "big four" composers of his era in
New York City 's
Yiddish Theater District scene.
[1] His musical
Yidl Mitn Fidl became one of the greatest hits of Yiddish-language cinema.
Life and career
He was born on the
Lower East Side ,
Manhattan , at that time an
Eastern European
Jewish immigrant area. His musical education began at the
Third Street Music School Settlement . From the age of nine to thirteen, he studied piano with
Frederick Jacobi . He was the conductor of the boy's choir of the
Broadway production Richard III , at only thirteen years old. He went on to study at the Graduate School of
Juilliard , training as a conductor, with a major in composition.
[2]
Ellstein's only opera, The Golem , had its world premiere at the
New York City Opera under the baton of music director
Julius Rudel on March 23, 1962.
[3] The libretto was created by the composer and his wife,
Sylvia Regan , based on the mythical Golem tale of the Central European Jews.
[4]
Works
Der berditshever khosn (The Bridegroom from
Berditchev : by
Israel Rosenberg , 1930,
operetta )
Eyns un a rekhts (One in a Million: by
Anschel Schorr , 1934: musical comedy)
Yidl Mitn Fidl (
Joseph Green or
Josef Grünberg , 1936, romantic musical comedy film)
Mamele : Kid Mother (by
Edmund Zayenda , 1938,
Poland : Yiddish
film )
Bublitshki (Little
Bagels : 1938, operetta)
Der Nayer Sher (The New Sher, 1940)
Ikh bin farlibt (I'm in Love: by William Siegel, 1946: romantic musical comedy)
A Heymisher
Bulgar (1947)
Great to Be Alive! (1950), musical comedy on Broadway
Vos Iz Gevorn Fun Mayn Shtetele? (Whatever Became of My
Shtetl ?: by
Menashe Skulnik , 1970s,
operetta ); lyrics:
Isidore Lillian
"
Hassidic Dance "
See also
Notes and references
^ Program notes
Music of Los Angeles Jewish Composers Aminadav Aloni, Michael Isaacson, Robert Strassburg and Hidden Treasures from Prokofiev, Krejn, Fitelberg and Ellstein , Valley Beth Shalom, November 29, 2005. Accessed online 13 November 2006.
^ Press Release. Box 1, Abraham Ellstein and Sylvia Regan papers, Collection #7927, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
^ Kastendieck, Miles (March 24, 1962). " 'THE GOLEM' AT THE CITY CENTER". The New York Journal-American .
^ Sargeant, Winthrop (March 31, 1962).
"Monster" . The New Yorker . Musical Events.
External links
International National Academics Artists Other