Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

September 4, 1894

Death

:

January 13, 1974

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Sholom Secunda was a renowned classical music composer who was born on September 23, 1894, in Aleksandriya, Ukraine. He was born into a family of musicians, and his father was a cantor in a local synagogue. Sholom's musical talent was evident from a young age, and he began studying music at the age of six. In 1906, Sholom's family immigrated to the United States, settling in New York City. Sholom continued his musical education in the United States, studying at the Institute of Musical Art (now known as the Juilliard School) and the New York College of Music. He also studied composition with the renowned composer and conductor, Ernest Bloch. Sholom began his career as a composer in the 1920s, writing music for Yiddish theater productions. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented composer, and his music was featured in many popular productions. In 1929, he wrote the music for the hit Yiddish musical, "Bay Mir Bistu Sheyn," which became a sensation and was later translated into English and recorded by the Andrews Sisters. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Sholom continued to compose music for Yiddish theater productions, as well as for films and radio programs. He also wrote several classical music pieces, including a symphony and a piano concerto. One of Sholom's most famous works is his song, "Eli, Eli," which he wrote in 1945. The song, which is based on a poem by the Jewish poet Hannah Szenes, became an anthem for Holocaust survivors and is still widely performed today. In the 1950s, Sholom turned his attention to composing music for Broadway productions. He wrote the music for several shows, including "The Golden Apple" and "The Gay Life." He also wrote the music for the hit song, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen," which was featured in the Broadway musical, "The Three Sisters." Sholom continued to compose music throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and his work was featured in several films and television shows. He also wrote several pieces for the synagogue, including a setting of the Kol Nidre prayer. Sholom Secunda passed away on January 13, 1974, in New York City. He left behind a legacy of beautiful music, including some of the most beloved songs in the Jewish music canon. His music continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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