Moshe Nathanson (August 10, 1899 - February 24, 1981) was a Canadian musicologist,

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

, and cantor who is known for promoting Jewish folk music. Nathanson's most notable work is ''Zamru Lo'' and the ''

Hava Nagila Hava Nagila ( he, הָבָה נָגִילָה, ''Hāvā Nāgīlā'', "Let us rejoice") is a Jewish folk song. It is traditionally sung at celebrations, such as weddings. Written in 1918, it quickly spread through the Jewish diaspora. History ...

''.

Biography

Early life and education

Nathanson was born on August 10, 1899, in

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

, the son of Rabbi Nachum Hirsh Nathanson and Rosa (née Silberstern) Nathanson. He attended a

heder A ''cheder'' ( he, חדר, lit. "room"; Yiddish pronunciation ''kheyder'') is a traditional primary school teaching the basics of Judaism and the Hebrew language. History ''Cheders'' were widely found in Europe before the end of the 18th ...

school. When Nathanson was ten he was sent to study at Bet Sefer Lemell an elementary school in Jerusalem. The school choir was run by

Abraham Zvi Idelsohn Abraham Zevi Idelsohn ( he, אַבְרָהָם צְבִי אידלסון ''Avrohom Tzvi Idelsohn'' in Ashkenazi Hebrew; middle name also rendered ''Tzvi'', ''Zvi'', ''Zwi'', or ''Zebi''; June 11, 1882 – August 14, 1938) was a prominent Jewish e ...

challenged his students to select words for a

nigun A nigun ( he, ניגון meaning "tune" or "melody", plural nigunim) or niggun (plural niggunim) is a form of Jewish religious song or tune sung by groups. It is vocal music, often with repetitive sounds such as "Bim-Bim-Bam", "Lai-Lai-Lai", " ...

and create a modern Hebrew song. It cited that a twelve year old Nathanson suggested (Psalm 118: 24), ''"Zeh hayom asah Adonai; nagila v’nismekha vo"'' inspiring the famous

. Nathanson left Jerusalem and immigrated to Quebec, Canada on September 7, 1920, where he later began to attend McGill University in 1922 where he pursued a law degree but later transferred to

Juilliard School of Music The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

to pursue his passion for music.

Career

Nathanson began his career in 1924 when he joined The Society for the Advancement of Judaism ( SAJ) as their cantor during the tenure of

Rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...

Mordecai M. Kaplan Mordecai Menahem Kaplan (born Mottel Kaplan; June 11, 1881 – November 8, 1983), was a Lithuanian-born American rabbi, writer, Jewish educator, professor, theologian, philosopher, activist, and religious leader who founded the Reconstructio ...

. partook in many educational programs to promote Israeli folk and worked for The Bureau of Jewish Education and focused on teaching Jewish youth about their culture and heritage through song and worked as the musical director of The Kvutzah and Camp Achva. Among other works, he set Esther Zweig's text "Salute to Haganah" to music in 1948.

Personal life

Moshe married Zipora Bor (April 2, 1901 - January 12, 1978) on July 1, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, with whom he had three children: Deena Starr (January 16, 1931 - March 27, 2014), Naomi Brettler (July 16, 1932), and Yaron Nathanson (July 22, 1926 - February 23, 200

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?n=deena-starr&pid=170400024&fhid=2088]. On February 24, 1981 Moshe Nathanson died at his home on 15 West 86th Street, in Manhattan. He was buried at Mount Hebron Cemetery alongside his wife Zipora who predeceased him.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nathanson, Moshe Canadian musicologists Canadian male composers Hazzans 1899 births 1981 deaths 20th-century Canadian male musicians 20th-century musicologists Jewish musicologists People from Jerusalem Jewish composers McGill University alumni Juilliard School alumni Mandatory Palestine emigrants Immigrants to Canada