Fromm, Leni, 1908-1997

Herbert Fromm was born in Kitzingen, Germany in 1905, and studied at the State Academy of Music in Munich. He was an assistant conductor for state operas in Bielefeld and Würzburg. After losing his position in 1933, he became involved with the Jüdischer Kulturbund in Deutschland. While working for the Kulturbund he began incorporating Jewish themes into his compositions, and it was also at the Kulturbund that he met his future wife, Leni Steinberg.

In 1937 Herbert Fromm immigrated to New York, where he found a position as the organist and choir director of Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo, New York. In 1941 he married Leni Steinberg. During the same year he began working at Temple Israel in Boston, where he became the Temple's music director and organist. He remained with the Temple until his retirement.

Herbert Fromm attained recognition for his liturgical music, and composed a number of works for use in synagogues. His work Song of Miriam received the Ernest Bloch Award in 1945; in 1966 he was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Langley College. In addition, he was the author of three books: The Key of See: Travel Journals of a Composer ; Seven Pockets ; and On Jewish Music: A Composer's View . By the late 1950s Leni Fromm was working as hostess of the German Radio Hour program at the Boston radio station WBOS (later WGBH). The program ran once a week from 1958 until 1973.

From the guide to the Leni and Herbert Fromm Collection, 1923-1994, bulk 1958-1973, (Leo Baeck Institute)