Alexander Olshanetsky

Alexander Olshanetsky (October 23, 1892 – June 3, 1946) was a Russian-American composer, conductor, and violinist. He was a major figure within the Yiddish theatre scene in New York City from the mid-1920s until his death in 1946.

Biography

Early life and education Olshanetsky was born in Odessa of Lithuanian Jewish descent into a non-musical family. After showing early talent on the violin, Olshanetsky studied from age 6 to 15 at the Odessa Royal Music School, studying multiple instruments. In 1911 he joined the orchestra of the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater; notably touring with the ensemble throughout Imperial Russia. He quit to become chorusmaster for a touring operetta troupe in Russia.

Immigration to the United States In 1922 Olshanetsky emigrated to the United States, where he was introduced to the Yiddish theater scene by his uncle Hyman Mayzel, an actor and playwright. Within two years he had two shows produced: Hayntige Meydlekh (Today's Girls) written by Jacob Jacobs staged at Lenox Theater, and Zise Libe (Sweet Love) co-composed by Louis Gilrod and staged at Rolland's Liberty Theater.

Later years By the 1930s, Yiddish music had become so popular that Olshanetsky and other composers and performers sought means to guarantee royalties, similar to how ASCAP provided for Broadway and Tin Pan Alley musicians. Because ASCAP denied membership to Yiddish musicians, in 1932 Olshanetsky, along with Sholom Secunda, Joseph Rumshinsky, Abraham Ellstein, Henry Lefkowitch, and Harry Lubin, founded the Society of Jewish Composers, Publishers and Songwriters; Olshanetsky is sometimes given credit for the concept. In 1940, the society aligned with the new performers rights' organization BMI, founded to assist artists rebuffed by ASCAP. By 1954, the decline of Yiddish music sales led to the Society for Jewish Composers' dissolution.

Personal life Olshanetsky often went by the nickname Shura (and is often credited in Brunswick Records catalogs as Shura). He was married to Bella Mysell, and had a daughter Anita. Bella Mysell remarried to Herman Yablokoff. Aaron Lebedeff was his cousin.

Selected works

Theater Hayntige Meydlekh (Today's Girls), lyrics by Jacob Jacobs Zise Libe (Sweet Love), co-composed by Louis Gilrod A Night in California (A Nakht in Kalifornya), lyrics by Jacob Jacobs. First staged at the National Theater. Was Dave Tarras' first job in Yiddish theater, and starred Aaron Lebedeff. Paradise for Two The Golden Soldier, libretto by Isidore Lillian, 1925 Goldene Tege (Golden Days) Der Livtisher Yankee (The Lithuanian Yankee) Di Katerinchik (The Organ Grinder), operetta, libretto by Louis Freiman Lucky Boy, lyrics by W. Siegel, 1935. Launched Leo Fuchs' American career. The Secret of Love, lyrics by F. Freiman and M. Edelheit The Wise Fool, lyrics by Louis Freiman Happy Days, lyrics by Louis Freiman The Laugh Maker The Only Night (Di Ainstige Nakht), lyrics by Jacob Jacobs Soul of a Woman, 1930 What Girls Do, lyrics by Jacob Jacobs, 1935 My Baby's Wedding

Films Overture to Glory (1940, directed by Max Nosseck). Includes the song Unter Boymer The Fighting Jew, a 1946 pageant staged at Madison Square Garden to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jewish War Veterans of the United States.

Songs Ikh Hob Dikh Tsu Fil Lib (I Love You Much Too Much), lyrics by Chaim Towber, popular Yiddish tango from The Organ Grinder, originally performed by Luba Kadison. Later popularly sung in Yiddish by Seymour Rechtzeit, in English by Connie Francis, Dean Martin, and Ella Fitzgerald, and in a 1981 instrumental version by Carlos Santana that made the Rock & Roll Top 40 charts. Mein Shtetele Belz, lyrics by Jacob Jacobs. Originally written for Isa Kremer, in a failed attempt to persuade her to join their 1930 production of Ghetto Song. This nostalgic homage to the city of Belz become so popular that a city's people would substitute their own city for Belz, and the song is sometimes credited as simply Mein Shtetele. Shiroh, lyrics by Maurice Schwartz, from Schwartz's production Shabse Tzvi

Legacy After Olshanetsky's death, a scholarship in his name was endowed at Yeshiva University in New York. Among the scholarship's inaugural committee members were Charles Previn, Joseph Rumshinsky, and Maurice Schwartz.