Berkowitz, Freda Pastor.

Freda Pastor Berkowitz was born October 11, 1908, in Newark, New Jersey. She graduated with a degree in piano from the Curtis Institute of Music, and spent more than fifty years as a piano teacher in the Philadelphia area and a member of the Curtis faculty. Berkowitz wrote three books for children about classical music: "Popular Titles and Subtitles of Musical Compositions" (1962), "Unfinished Symphony" (1963), and "On Lutes, Recorders, and Harpsichords" (1967). In her books, Berkowitz told the story of how familiar pieces of music received their famous nicknames. She included biographical sketches of composers as well, focusing on anecdotes that would appeal to a young audience. Berkowitz died on December 23, 1994.

Freda Pastor Berkowitz was born October 11, 1908, in Newark, New Jersey. She graduated with a degree in piano from the Curtis Institute of Music, and spent more than fifty years as a piano teacher in the Philadelphia area. In addition to teaching privately, Berkowitz was on the faculty of Curtis until 1990, and taught at the New School of Music and Settlement Music School.

Berkowitz wrote three books for children about classical music: Popular Titles and Subtitles of Musical Compositions (1962), Unfinished Symphony (1963), and On Lutes, Recorders, and Harpsichords (1967). In her books, Berkowitz told the story of how familiar pieces of music received their famous nicknames, like “The Moonlight Sonata” for Beethoven’s “Sonata opus 27 no 2 in C# minor.” She included biographical sketches of composers as well, focusing on anecdotes that would appeal to a young audience. Berkowitz died on December 23, 1994.

Bibliography:

“Freda Berkowitz, A Curtis Classic.” Philadelphia Inquirer, December 28, 1994.

Something About the Author, vol. 12.