I recently watched Maestro, the Leonard Bernstein biopic, which came out last September, and it has made me think about the long tradition of Jewish composers across genres. I thought I would take the chance to look at some of the most famous Jewish musicians and composers of the last century.
âMusical theater
Having written the music for âWest Side Storyâ and other musicals, Leonard Berstein was in good company. Many of the biggest names in musical theater are Jewish. Steven Sondheim, lyricist of âWest Side Storyâ and âGypsyâ; Rodgers and Hammerstein, who wrote âOklahomaâ and âThe Sound of Musicâ; Lerner and Loewe, who wrote âMy Fair Ladyâ and âCamelotâ; John Kander, who composed for âChicagoâ, âCabaretâ and âNew York, New Yorkâ; and many more.
Film Scores
Leonard Berstein also composed a score for the film âOn the Waterfrontâ, but there are other much more prolific Jewish film score composers: Bernard Hermann, composer for âNorth by Northwestâ, âCitizen Kaneâ and âPsychoâ; Max Steiner, composer for âKing Kongâ, âCasablancaâ and âGone with the Windâ; Danny Elfman, composer for âThe Nightmare Before Christmasâ and âBatmanâ; James Horner, composed the scores for âTitanicâ, âAvatarâ, âApollo 13â, âJumanjiâ, âThe Karate Kidâ, and many more.
More Composers
Other famous Jewish composers include George Gershwin, composer of âRhapsody in Blueâ; Aaron Copland, composer of âFanfare for the Common Manâ; Irving Berlin, who wrote âPuttinâ on the Ritzâ and âG-d Bless Americaââ; Gustav Mahler, known for his many symphonies; etc.
As Jewish people, music has always been an important part of our worship and our culture, and we have certainly left our mark on the world of music.
Samuel Mishkin is an Aleph from Montevideo, Uruguay and he's lived in 6 different countries.
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