Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1874

Death

:

1939

Period

:

Romantic

 

Abe Holzmann was an American composer and conductor who was born on August 19, 1874, in New York City. He was the son of German immigrants and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they encouraged their son's musical talents from an early age. Holzmann began his musical education at the age of six, studying piano and violin. He later studied composition with Gustav Strube and Antonin Dvorak. He also played in various orchestras and bands, including the New York Philharmonic and the Sousa Band. Holzmann's most famous composition is the march "Blaze Away," which he wrote in 1901. The march became a hit and was played by bands all over the world. Holzmann also wrote other popular marches, including "Smoky Mokes" and "Hunky Dory." In addition to his marches, Holzmann wrote many other types of music, including waltzes, polkas, and ragtime pieces. He was particularly interested in ragtime, which was a new style of music at the time. Holzmann's ragtime pieces, such as "A Ragtime Nightmare" and "Ragtime Dance," were some of the most popular of the era. Holzmann was also a conductor and led several bands and orchestras throughout his career. He was the conductor of the Victor Herbert Orchestra and the New York Military Band, among others. Despite his success as a composer and conductor, Holzmann struggled with health problems throughout his life. He suffered from tuberculosis and died on January 16, 1939, at the age of 64. Today, Holzmann is remembered as one of the most important composers of the ragtime era. His marches and other compositions continue to be played by bands and orchestras around the world.

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