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Herman Wohl

1877 – 1936

Jewish American composer

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About Herman Wohl

Lived 1877 – 1936 (aged 58–59). Herman Wohl was an American composer, choir director and conductor.

Herman Wohl (; 1877–1936) was a Jewish–American composer closely associated with the American Yiddish Theatre.

Galicia Wohl was born in Otyniia near Stanislavov (now called Ivano-Frankivsk) in eastern Galicia, now Ukraine. He was raised in a Chasidic home and studied with cantors from the age of 9. He soon began composing, directing choirs, and singing as a Hazzan himself. At the age of 16 he joined Kalman Juvelier's troupe in Galicia, acting, singing in the chorus, and writing songs for their repertoire.

America In 1896 he was brought to America to teach; he soon began writing for several theater troupes. He partnered with Aaron (Arnold) Perlmutter and over the course of 16 years they wrote music for many operettas including , and dozens of others by Moshe Hurwitz (Horowitz), Anshel Shor's (The Widow) and (One should be a decent person) also Motashevski's , and

Working with Edelstein in the People's Theater, he composed music to Mikhl Goldberg's musical comedy (Lived and laughed) Adam Mesko's operetta (The night of love) Boris Thomashefsky's (The holy song) Itskhok Lesh's , 1921 Israel Rozenberg's Tomashevski's Lebedik un freylekh and Thousand and One Nights William Siegel's and (The Galitsian wedding) Israel Rozenberg's

Some of his hundreds of songs, most composed with Arnold Perlmutter, are listed at Florida Atlantic University's website:

(A little bit of ground) 1911 (A Child Is The World's Happiness) 1917 (often translated as Quintessential Jew, regarded as one of the most classic bar-mitzvah songs) 1909 (If you can't do it and don't know, don't undertake it) 1911 (You're my little gift) 1907 (Village Maiden) 1911 (This is the love of Jacob and Rachel) from Galitsianer khasene (A True Jewish Heart) 1906 (Song Of The Diaspora) 1921 (The Husband Is The Ruler) 1910 (Long Live Columbus) 1915 (My Most Loving Friend Is My Mother) 1921 (They're Dancing in America) 1908 (Maiden, You'll Yet Be happy) (with Jennie Goldstein) (Second Wife) 1910 (Women, Make Me President) 1910 (Everybody is Striking Now) 1919

Besides being a Second Avenue songwriter and composer in the Yiddish Theater District, Wohl continued to work as a synagogue choirmaster and liturgical composer. For many years he conducted the choir for the most widely acclaimed and revered cantor of the time—and probably of all time—Yossele Rosenblatt. His many cantorial-choral compositions for Sabbath, High Holy Days, and Festivals remain in manuscript, and the whereabouts of many of these are not even known. He died in 1936.

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Important facts

Born
1877, Galicia
Birth century
Died
1936, New York City
Nationality

People in Herman Wohl's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Herman Wohl's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Herman Wohl?

Jewish American composer

When was Herman Wohl born?

Herman Wohl was born in 1877 in Galicia.

When did Herman Wohl die?

Herman Wohl died in 1936 in New York City.

What was Herman Wohl's occupation?

Herman Wohl was a composer, choir director and conductor.

What nationality was Herman Wohl?

Herman Wohl was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Herman Wohl

· Wikidata: Q16025323

· DBpedia: Herman Wohl

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Herman Wohl. https://biography.guide/herman-wohl/

MLA: "Herman Wohl." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/herman-wohl/.

Chicago: "Herman Wohl." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/herman-wohl/.

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