Schönberg, Jakob, 1900-1956

Schönberg was born in Fürth in 1900, and was active as a composer and music writer in Berlin in the 1920s and 1930s. He then emigrated to New York and died in 1956.

From the guide to the Jakob Schönberg Collection, 1920-1948, (Leo Baeck Institute Archives)

Jakob Schönberg was born in Fürth, Bavaria on September 8, 1900. His father, David Schönberg, was chazzan (cantor) at the Claus-synagoge in Fürth. Schönberg's first orchestral work, Prelude Symphonique, premiered in 1923. He received his doctorate from the University of Erlangen in 1925. His dissertation, Die traditionellen Gesänge des Israelitischen Gottesdienstes in Deutschland, was published the following year by Spandel Verlag of Nürnberg. During Germany's Weimar Republic years (1919-1933), Schönberg wrote articles for the Nürnberger Zeitung and served as a musical consultant for Bavarian Radio in Munich. Bavarian Radio performed some of his orchestral compositions. He also worked in films as a "musical conductor and illustrator" and some of his film music was published by Schott's Söhne, Mainz, and Hawkes and Son, London. Schönberg's style of composition took a decidedly Jewish turn after the Nazis took power in 1933. In 1934 he transcribed folk songs and dance tunes of halutzim (pioneers) visiting Germany from Palestine. The following year he published Shire Erets Yisra'el, an anthology of Hebrew songs. These Israeli melodies would figure prominently in Schönberg's work. His Suite für Orchester, 3 Sätze utilizes a Horra melody from the anthology. Schönberg's orchestral Horras were performed numerous times by the Jüdischer Kulturbünde between 1936 and 1938, in both Berlin and Frankfurt-am-Main. Schönberg emigrated to England in August 1939. He came to New York City in January 1948. His setting of the Sabbath prayer V'shomru premiered at the Park Avenue Synagogue in May of that year. The Hora movement from his Chassidic Suite for piano, 1937, was performed at Carnegie Hall by pianist Ray Lev in November 1948. Schönberg taught at New York's Trinity School and then at The Carnegie School of Music in Englewood, New Jersey. Jakob Schönberg succumbed to a brain tumor on May 1, 1956. He was survived by his wife, Fanny, and his sister, Mrs. Fraenkel of Berlin.

From the description of Music scores and papers, 1923-1966. (Jewish Theological Seminary of America). WorldCat record id: 58028993