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[[File:Dr. Simon Bucharoff LCCN2014717957.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Simon Bucharoff in 1925]]
[[File:Dr. Simon Bucharoff LCCN2014717957.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Simon Bucharoff in 1925]]
'''Simon Bucharoff''' (April 20, 1881, [[Berdychiv]], [[Russian Empire]] – November 24, 1955) was an American pianist, composer and educator born in Berdychiv, Russian Empire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/O011617 |title=Bucharoff, Simon |work=[[Grove Music Online]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |accessdate=June 9, 2012 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> He graduated from the [[University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna|Vienna Conservatory]].<ref name="Obit">{{cite news |title=Los Angeles Composer Simon Bucharoff, Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97165012/simon-bucharoff-1881-1955/ |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 26, 1955 |location=Baltimore, MD |page=5 |accessdate=March 8, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He died in [[Chicago]].<ref name="Obit"/>
'''Simon Bucharoff''' (born Simon Buchhalter April 20, 1881, [[Berdychiv]], [[Russian Empire]] – November 24, 1955) was an American pianist, composer and educator born in Berdychiv, Russian Empire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/O011617 |title=Bucharoff, Simon |work=[[Grove Music Online]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |accessdate=June 9, 2012 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>


His father was a cantor. His brother Isadore Buchhalter was also a pianist and educator who settled in Chicago. His family emigrated to New York when he was 11, where he began his piano studies with Paolo Gallico and Leopold Kramer. He returned to Europe and graduated from the [[University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna|Vienna Conservatory]] in 1902, having studied piano with [[Julius Epstein (pianist)|Julius Epstein]] and [[Emil Sauer]] and composition with [[Stephen Stocker]] and [[Robert Fuchs (composer)|Robert Fuchs]].<ref name="Obit">{{cite news |title=Los Angeles Composer Simon Bucharoff, Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97165012/simon-bucharoff-1881-1955/ |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 26, 1955 |location=Baltimore, MD |page=5 |accessdate=March 8, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>
==Education==
[[Vienna Conservatory of Music]], 1902


He married Jennie G. Bluestone in 1902<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Maccab_Œan/ehBJAQAAMAAJ |title=The Maccab©Œan |date=1902 |publisher=Federation of American Zionists |pages=105 |language=en}}</ref>, and became a US citizen in 1904. He joined the Wichita College of Music in 1907, and in 1911 moved to Chicago and began focusing on composition. future US Vice President [[Charles G. Dawes|Charles Dawes]] was a patron<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Wikipedia Library |url=https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org |language=en |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-5000011617?rskey=rpmshh&result=1}}</ref>, his first opera ''A Lover's Knot'' was produced in 1916 (and saw a revival in 1923), and [[Harold Arlen]] was among his composition students.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rimler |first=Walter |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Man_That_Got_Away/x9EQCgAAQBAJ |title=The Man That Got Away: The Life and Songs of Harold Arlen |date=2015-09-15 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-09757-7 |pages=17 |language=en}}</ref>
===Teachers===
*Piano: [[Julius Epstein (pianist)|Julius Epstein]] and [[Emil Sauer]], Vienna
*Composition: [[Stephen Stocker]] and [[Robert Fuchs (composer)|Robert Fuchs]], Vienna


In 1919, he changed his last name from Buchhalter to Bucharoff and moved to Europe in an attempt to further his composition career. After failing to produce an opera based on André Geiger's ''La Reine Amoureuse'' with [[Pierre Maudru]], he moved to Germany and succeeded in producing his next opera ''Sakhara'' in 1924.<ref name=":0" />
==Career==

*Head of Piano Dept. of Wichita College of Music, 1907
His fortunes in Europe began to turn. There were disputes about revenue from ''Sakhara''. The climate for Jewish musicians in Germany exiled him to Italy, he left the score with Hofmeister in Leipzig; in the meantime, his planned production and publication of a new opera ''Der Golem'' with was pre-empted by [[Eugen d'Albert|Eugen D'Albert]]'s ''[[Der Golem (opera)|Der Golem]]''. He never stopped trying to get paid for ''Sakhara''; even posthumously his family fought for resitution via the [[War Claims Act of 1948|War Claims Act]], and he attempted to reconstruct the opera.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Feustle |first=Maristella |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc402456/m2/1/high_res_d/BucharoffPaper.pdf |title="In Case of Sudden Death, Burn This": The Simon Bucharoff Collection at the University of North Texas Music Library |date=October 5, 2012 |location=San Marcos, TX}}</ref>
*Piano concertist, 1906–16

*Lecturer on musical subjects; master classes piano and composition 1931–36.
Upon returning to America in the 1920s, his works received prominent performances by the New York Philharmonic and at the Hollywood Bowl. But he never found commercial success as a composer. He attempted to convince [[Eugene O'Neill]] to let him adapt ''[[The Emperor Jones]]'' to the opera stage.<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Neill |first=Eugene |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Selected_Letters_of_Eugene_O_Neill/wBTqYNf9XQUC |title=Selected Letters of Eugene O'Neill |date=1994 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=978-0-87910-181-7 |pages=351 |language=en}}</ref> By 1934 he was living in Los Angeles, and the Depression found him unemployed. He was among many artists who entreated [[Federal Emergency Relief Administration|FERA]] to for grants and employment; Bucharoff wrote to [[Harry Hopkins]] directly.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Prologue/uTFC5l5UrHsC |title=Prologue: The Journal of the National Archives |date=2012 |publisher=National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration |page=58 |language=en}}</ref>
*From 1937 music editor and arranger, [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]]

In 1937 he began working as a music editor and orchestrator for [[Warner Brothers]]. Among the films he orchestrated were [[Devotion (1946 film)|Devotion]], [[Of Human Bondage (1946 film)|Of Human Bondage]], [[The Sea Hawk (1940 film)|The Sea Hawk]] and [[The Big Sleep (1946 film)|The Big Sleep]] (all composed by fellow Austrians [[Max Steiner]] and [[Erich Wolfgang Korngold|Erich Korngold]]).<ref name="Obit" />

Bucharoff was a member of ASCAP, and received the David Bispham Award. He died in [[Chicago]].<ref name="Obit" /> His archives are held at the University of North Texas.<ref name=":0" />


==Works==
==Works==


===Musical works===
===Musical works===
'''Opera:'''
'''Operas''': A Lovers Knot, Sakahra, Jewel, Addio, Wastrel, (received [[Bispham Memorial Medal Award|David Bispham Medal]] for A Lovers Knot and Sakahra).

'''Chorus and Orch.''': Salute to a Free World; Freedom on the March; Hear My Voice, O Lord; Jerusalem.
* The Lover's Knot, libretto by Cora Bennett-Stephenson, premiered January 16, 1916 by [[Chicago Opera Company]], conducted by [[Cleofonte Campanini]] published 1916 by [[G. Schirmer, Inc.|Schirmer]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Griffel |first=Margaret Ross |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Operas_in_English/Y8bQAwAAQBAJ |title=Operas in English: A Dictionary |date=2012-12-21 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-8325-3 |pages=289 |language=en}}</ref>
'''Orch.''': Four Tone Poems; The Wanderers Song; The Trumpeters Death (Pf. & Orch.); America; Moses; Prelude; Valse Brillante; Das Sterbe Gloecklein (trans.), Capriccio (trans.). For baritone and orch.: Parable of Nothin and Somethin; O Ye Peoples and Nations; Rejoicing, 1 Laugh and Laugh and Laugh (Ballad).
* Sakahra, libretto by Isabel Buckingham, premiered Oct 29 1924 by Frankfort Opera House Germany.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Musical_Digest/3BbiFBBhocUC |title=Musical Digest |date=1924 |publisher=Musical Digest, Incorporated |pages=16 |language=en}}</ref>
Also many compositions for piano, voice, violin and various combinations;
* Jewel: The Everlasting Man
* Addio
* Wastrel

'''Choral:'''

* Salute to a Free World
* Freedom on the March
* Hear My Voice, O Lord
* Jerusalem.

'''Orchestral:'''

* Four Tone Poems
* The Wanderers Song
* The Trumpeters Death (piano and orchestra)
* America
* Moses
* Prelude
* Valse Brillante
* Das Sterbe Gloecklein
* Capriccio

For baritone and orchestra:

* Parable of Nothin' and Somethin'
* O Ye Peoples and Nations
* Rejoicing
* Laugh and Laugh and Laugh


===Books===
===Books===
The Modern Pianist's Text Book
The Modern Pianist's Text Book

==Professional associations and awards==
*ASCAP, 1925
*Bispham Memorial Medal Award ("A Lovers Knot" and "Sakahra")


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0118104}}
*{{IMDb name|0118104}}
*[https://archives.library.unt.edu/repositories/3/resources/1082 the Simon Bucharoff Collection at UNT]


{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}

Revision as of 17:28, 3 July 2024

Simon Bucharoff in 1925

Simon Bucharoff (born Simon Buchhalter April 20, 1881, Berdychiv, Russian Empire – November 24, 1955) was an American pianist, composer and educator born in Berdychiv, Russian Empire.[1]

His father was a cantor. His brother Isadore Buchhalter was also a pianist and educator who settled in Chicago. His family emigrated to New York when he was 11, where he began his piano studies with Paolo Gallico and Leopold Kramer. He returned to Europe and graduated from the Vienna Conservatory in 1902, having studied piano with Julius Epstein and Emil Sauer and composition with Stephen Stocker and Robert Fuchs.[2]

He married Jennie G. Bluestone in 1902[3], and became a US citizen in 1904. He joined the Wichita College of Music in 1907, and in 1911 moved to Chicago and began focusing on composition. future US Vice President Charles Dawes was a patron[4], his first opera A Lover's Knot was produced in 1916 (and saw a revival in 1923), and Harold Arlen was among his composition students.[5]

In 1919, he changed his last name from Buchhalter to Bucharoff and moved to Europe in an attempt to further his composition career. After failing to produce an opera based on André Geiger's La Reine Amoureuse with Pierre Maudru, he moved to Germany and succeeded in producing his next opera Sakhara in 1924.[4]

His fortunes in Europe began to turn. There were disputes about revenue from Sakhara. The climate for Jewish musicians in Germany exiled him to Italy, he left the score with Hofmeister in Leipzig; in the meantime, his planned production and publication of a new opera Der Golem with was pre-empted by Eugen D'Albert's Der Golem. He never stopped trying to get paid for Sakhara; even posthumously his family fought for resitution via the War Claims Act, and he attempted to reconstruct the opera.[6]

Upon returning to America in the 1920s, his works received prominent performances by the New York Philharmonic and at the Hollywood Bowl. But he never found commercial success as a composer. He attempted to convince Eugene O'Neill to let him adapt The Emperor Jones to the opera stage.[7] By 1934 he was living in Los Angeles, and the Depression found him unemployed. He was among many artists who entreated FERA to for grants and employment; Bucharoff wrote to Harry Hopkins directly.[8]

In 1937 he began working as a music editor and orchestrator for Warner Brothers. Among the films he orchestrated were Devotion, Of Human Bondage, The Sea Hawk and The Big Sleep (all composed by fellow Austrians Max Steiner and Erich Korngold).[2]

Bucharoff was a member of ASCAP, and received the David Bispham Award. He died in Chicago.[2] His archives are held at the University of North Texas.[4]

Works

Musical works

Opera:

  • The Lover's Knot, libretto by Cora Bennett-Stephenson, premiered January 16, 1916 by Chicago Opera Company, conducted by Cleofonte Campanini published 1916 by Schirmer.[9]
  • Sakahra, libretto by Isabel Buckingham, premiered Oct 29 1924 by Frankfort Opera House Germany.[10]
  • Jewel: The Everlasting Man
  • Addio
  • Wastrel

Choral:

  • Salute to a Free World
  • Freedom on the March
  • Hear My Voice, O Lord
  • Jerusalem.

Orchestral:

  • Four Tone Poems
  • The Wanderers Song
  • The Trumpeters Death (piano and orchestra)
  • America
  • Moses
  • Prelude
  • Valse Brillante
  • Das Sterbe Gloecklein
  • Capriccio

For baritone and orchestra:

  • Parable of Nothin' and Somethin'
  • O Ye Peoples and Nations
  • Rejoicing
  • Laugh and Laugh and Laugh

Books

The Modern Pianist's Text Book

References

  1. ^ "Bucharoff, Simon". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Los Angeles Composer Simon Bucharoff, Dies". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, MD. November 26, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ The Maccab©Œan. Federation of American Zionists. 1902. p. 105.
  4. ^ a b c "The Wikipedia Library". wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-5000011617?rskey=rpmshh&result=1. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  5. ^ Rimler, Walter (2015-09-15). The Man That Got Away: The Life and Songs of Harold Arlen. University of Illinois Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-252-09757-7.
  6. ^ Feustle, Maristella (October 5, 2012). "In Case of Sudden Death, Burn This": The Simon Bucharoff Collection at the University of North Texas Music Library (PDF). San Marcos, TX.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ O'Neill, Eugene (1994). Selected Letters of Eugene O'Neill. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 351. ISBN 978-0-87910-181-7.
  8. ^ Prologue: The Journal of the National Archives. National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration. 2012. p. 58.
  9. ^ Griffel, Margaret Ross (2012-12-21). Operas in English: A Dictionary. Scarecrow Press. p. 289. ISBN 978-0-8108-8325-3.
  10. ^ Musical Digest. Musical Digest, Incorporated. 1924. p. 16.


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