Shimon Shteynberg
Encyclopedia
Shimon Shteynberg – Jewish composer
.
He was born in 1887 in Odessa
(former Russian Empire
, now Ukraine
), and died in 1955 in Czernowitz (former Chernovtsy, USSR, now Chernivtsi
, Ukraine
).
at an early age being taught by his stepfather, a renowned local wedding toast-master and fiddler
, and later by the private teachers. Demonstrating a great talent for music, he was accepted into the newly founded Odessa Conservatory
in the class of Witold Maliszewski
. After graduation Shteynberg continued composing, first as a freelancer and later as a music director of Russian and Yiddish theaters in Ukraine. He became the music director and the major composer of the Kiev Jewish Theater since its inception in the 1920s till its liquidation at the height of Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign
. His great-grandson Vladislav Adelkhanov
is an internationally acclaimed violinist.
”, ”Stempenyu
” by
Shalom Aleichem
,”Favourful people” after Mendele Mocher Sforim
, ”Uprising in Ghetto
” by Peretz Markish
, ”In fire” by M.Daniel, ”Russian People” by Konstantin Simonov
, ”The Merchant of Venice
”, “The Taming of the Shrew
” by William Shakespeare
etc. Along with Lev Pulver and Lev Yampolsky, he contributed to the bulk of incidental music
in Jewish theaters of the former USSR. Shteynberg was also a prolific writer of symphonic and chamber music
, songs, arrangements of ethnic tunes (Jewish, Ukrainian, Kazakhian, Middle Asian). His music, rooting into the classical tradition at the turn of 20th century as well as Jewish cantor
ial and klezmer
heritage
, was recognized for its beauty, expressivity, compositional depth and sophistication. However, it fell into obscurity due to decades-long attitude of Soviet authorities toward everything Jewish. In December 1987 the Music College of Chernivtsi, where Shimon Shteynberg used to teach, commemorated his 100th anniversary
with an evening of his music, which was exceptionally warm received by public. There are no known audio recordings of his music available.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
He was born in 1887 in Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
(former 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...
, now 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...
), and died in 1955 in Czernowitz (former Chernovtsy, USSR, now Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi is the administrative center of Chernivtsi Oblast in southwestern Ukraine. The city is situated on the upper course of the River Prut, a tributary of the Danube, in the northern part of the historic region of Bukovina, which is currently divided between Romania and Ukraine...
, 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...
).
Biography
Shteynberg started playing violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
at an early age being taught by his stepfather, a renowned local wedding toast-master and fiddler
Fiddler
A fiddler is a person who plays a fiddle or violin.Fiddler may also refer to:*Fabrangen Fiddlers, an American musical group founded in 1971*Tupolev Tu-28 "Fiddler", a fighter aircraft*Fiddler , a DC Comics villain...
, and later by the private teachers. Demonstrating a great talent for music, he was accepted into the newly founded Odessa Conservatory
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
in the class of Witold Maliszewski
Witold Maliszewski
Witold Maliszewski , was a Polish composer, first Rector and founder of Odessa Conservatory and professor at Warsaw Conservatory, pupil of N. Rimsky-Korsakov.- Biography :...
. After graduation Shteynberg continued composing, first as a freelancer and later as a music director of Russian and Yiddish theaters in Ukraine. He became the music director and the major composer of the Kiev Jewish Theater since its inception in the 1920s till its liquidation at the height of Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign
Rootless cosmopolitan
Rootless cosmopolitan was a Soviet euphemism widely used during Joseph Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign of 1948–1953, which culminated in the "exposure" of the alleged Doctors' plot...
. His great-grandson Vladislav Adelkhanov
Vladislav Adelkhanov
Vladislav Adelkhanov is a Georgian classical violinist, born in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 7 March 1970.-Family:His maternal great-grandfather, Ivan Ter-Grigorian was one of the founders and later the director of the Emergency Medical Services in Tbilisi...
is an internationally acclaimed violinist.
Compositions
S.Shteynberg composed music to more than 100 plays, including “Tevye the Milkman”, “Wandering StarsWandering Stars (novel)
Wandering Stars is a novel by Sholem Aleichem, serialized in Warsaw newspapers from 1909 to 1911. In it, Leibel, the son of a wealthy shtetl family, falls in love with cantor's daughter Reizel, and both fall for a traveling Yiddish theatre group...
”, ”Stempenyu
Stempenyu
Stempenyu: A Jewish Novel is an 1888 novel by Sholem Aleichem.The title character is an exceptionally talented itinerant klezmer violinist who seduces a woman in every town he visits. In one town, while playing at a wedding, he is attracted to one of the guests, Rachel, a talented singer...
” by
Shalom Aleichem
Shalom aleichem
Shalom aleikhem is a greeting version in Hebrew, literally meaning "peace be upon you". The appropriate response is "aleikhem shalom", or "upon you be peace"....
,”Favourful people” after Mendele Mocher Sforim
Mendele Mocher Sforim
Mendele Mocher Sforim , December 21, 1835 = January 2, 1836 , Kapyl — November 25, 1917 = December 8, 1917...
, ”Uprising in Ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
” by Peretz Markish
Peretz Markish
Peretz Davidovich Markish was a Soviet/Russian Jewish poet and playwright who wrote in Yiddish.Peretz Markish was born in Polonnoye in 1895. His distant ancestors lived in Spain. As a child he attended a cheder and sang in the choir of the local synagogue. He served as a private in the Russian...
, ”In fire” by M.Daniel, ”Russian People” by Konstantin Simonov
Konstantin Simonov
Konstantin Mikhailovich Simonov was a Russian/Soviet author, known especially as a war poet.-Early years:He was born in Petrograd. His mother was born Princess Obolenskaya, of a Rurikid family. His father, an officer in the Tsar's army, left Russia after the Revolution in 1917. He died in Poland...
, ”The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic...
”, “The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591.The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the Induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself...
” by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
etc. Along with Lev Pulver and Lev Yampolsky, he contributed to the bulk of incidental music
Incidental music
Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, film or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack"....
in Jewish theaters of the former USSR. Shteynberg was also a prolific writer of symphonic and chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, songs, arrangements of ethnic tunes (Jewish, Ukrainian, Kazakhian, Middle Asian). His music, rooting into the classical tradition at the turn of 20th century as well as Jewish cantor
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
ial and klezmer
Klezmer
Klezmer is a musical tradition of the Ashkenazic Jews of Eastern Europe. Played by professional musicians called klezmorim, the genre originally consisted largely of dance tunes and instrumental display pieces for weddings and other celebrations...
heritage
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
, was recognized for its beauty, expressivity, compositional depth and sophistication. However, it fell into obscurity due to decades-long attitude of Soviet authorities toward everything Jewish. In December 1987 the Music College of Chernivtsi, where Shimon Shteynberg used to teach, commemorated his 100th anniversary
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
with an evening of his music, which was exceptionally warm received by public. There are no known audio recordings of his music available.