Moses Beregovsky
Encyclopedia
Moses Beregovsky was a Soviet ethnomusicologist, known for his extensive collection and research in the field of musical folklore
of Eastern-European Jewry.
, Russian Empire
. As a child he participated as a boy-chorister in a local synagogue
. He studied in the conservatories of Kiev (composition
and cello
in 1915–1920) and Petrograd (1922–1924). He also worked as a vocal coach in Jewish orphanages in Petrograd and Moscow
under Joel Engel
. In 1928–1936 he was the head of Musical Folklore section of the Institute for Jewish Proletarian Arts of the Sciences Academy of Ukrainian
SSR. In 1936–1949 he was a researcher in the Institute for Language and Literature, head of the Office of Folklore of Jewish Arts Section of Sciences Academy of Ukrainian SSR, head of the Office for musical Ethnography
. He was a teacher in the Kiev Conservatory
from 1947 (sections of music theory
and folklore
). Beregovsky was arrested and inprisoned in 1950 on false charges at the height of Joseph Stalin
’s anti-Semitic campaign; he was released and rehabilitated
in 1956.
He died in 1961 in Kiev, USSR (now Kyiv, Ukraine
).
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
of Eastern-European Jewry.
Biography
Beregovsky was born into a family of a Jewish parochial elementary school teacher in the village of Termakhovka, province of KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. As a child he participated as a boy-chorister in a local synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
. He studied in the conservatories of Kiev (composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
and cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
in 1915–1920) and Petrograd (1922–1924). He also worked as a vocal coach in Jewish orphanages in Petrograd and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
under Joel Engel
Joel Engel (composer)
Joel Engel was a music critic, composer and one of the leading figures in the Jewish art music movement. Born in Russia, and later moving to Berlin and then to Palestine, Engel has been called "the true founding father of the modern renascence of Jewish music."As a composer, teacher, and...
. In 1928–1936 he was the head of Musical Folklore section of the Institute for Jewish Proletarian Arts of the Sciences Academy of Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
SSR. In 1936–1949 he was a researcher in the Institute for Language and Literature, head of the Office of Folklore of Jewish Arts Section of Sciences Academy of Ukrainian SSR, head of the Office for musical Ethnography
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
. He was a teacher in the Kiev Conservatory
Kiev Conservatory
The Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music is a Ukrainian state institution of higher music education. Its courses include postgraduate education.-History:...
from 1947 (sections of music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
and folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
). Beregovsky was arrested and inprisoned in 1950 on false charges at the height of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
’s anti-Semitic campaign; he was released and rehabilitated
Rehabilitation (Soviet)
Rehabilitation in the context of the former Soviet Union, and the Post-Soviet states, was the restoration of a person who was criminally prosecuted without due basis, to the state of acquittal...
in 1956.
He died in 1961 in Kiev, USSR (now Kyiv, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
).
Works (published)
- Jewish Musical Folklore (in Yiddish and RussianRussian languageRussian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
), USSR, 1934 - Jewish folksongs (in Yiddish) (in collaboration with Itzik FefferItzik FefferItzik Feffer , also Fefer was a Soviet Yiddish poet who fell victim to Joseph Stalin's purges.-Background:...
), KievKievKiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, USSR, 1938 - Jewish Instrumental Folk Music (in RussianRussian languageRussian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
) (edited by Max GoldinMax GoldinMax Goldin - a Latvian Jewish musician, known for his studies and compositions in the field of ethnic musical cultures.-Biography:...
, translation and transliteration by Velvl Chernin), "Muzyka" Publishing, MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, USSR, 1987 - Jewish wordless tunes (in RussianRussian languageRussian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
), "KompozitorKompozitorKompozitor is a music publishers in Moscow, Russian Federation . It was called Sovetsky Kompozitor before the collapse of the USSR in 1991.* *Union of Composers.also:...
" Publishing, RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, 1999 - Jewish Instrumental Folk Music (edited by Mark SlobinMark SlobinMark Slobin is an American scholar and ethnomusicologist who has written extensively on the subject of East European Jewish music and klezmer music. He is a Professor of Music and American Studies at Wesleyan University....
, Robert Rothstein, Michael Alpert) Syracuse UniversitySyracuse UniversitySyracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
Press, USA, 2001 - Purimshpils (in RussianRussian languageRussian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
) (compiled by E. Beregovska), "Dukh i litera" Publishing, KyivKievKiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, UkraineUkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, 2001
Recordings
- Beregovsky’s wedding, CD (by Joel RubinJoel RubinJoel Rubin is a Jewish musician known for being a leading performer of klezmer music.He studied with Richard Stoltzman and Kalmen Opperman, attended the California Institute of the Arts and received a BFA from the State University of New York at Purchase. Rubin holds a Ph.D...
’s ensemble), SchottSchott- People :People with the surname Schott:* Basil Schott, Byzantine Catholic archbishop* Ben Schott, author of Schott's Miscellanies & Schott's Almanac* Charles Anthony Schott, a German scientist* Cécile Schott, the real name of electronic musician Colleen....
WergoWERGOWERGO is a German record label focusing on contemporary classical music. It was founded in 1962 by the art historian Werner Goldschmidt and the musicologist Helmut Kirchmayer and is currently based in Mainz, Germany....
Publishing, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 1997