Eda Rothstein Rapoport (25 December 1890 – 9 May 1968 in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

) was a Jewish-American

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

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

born in the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

Biography

Rapoport was born in

Daugavpils Daugavpils (; russian: Двинск; ltg, Daugpiļs ; german: Dünaburg, ; pl, Dyneburg; see other names) is a state city in south-eastern Latvia, located on the banks of the Daugava River, from which the city gets its name. The parts of the c ...

, in the

Vitebsk Governorate Vitebsk Governorate (russian: Витебская губерния, ) was an administrative unit ( guberniya) of the Russian Empire, with the seat of governorship in Vitebsk. It was established in 1802 by splitting the Byelorussia Governorate and ...

of the

(present-day

Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...

), into a

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

family.Columbia University Libraries Archival Collections: Eda Rothstein Rapoport papers, ''ca.''1915–1968.
Retrieved 30 August 2012. She emigrated to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, where she married noted

anesthetist Anesthesiology, anaesthesiology, or anaesthesia is the medical specialty concerned with the total perioperative care of patients before, during and after surgery. It encompasses anesthesia, intensive care medicine, critical emergency medicine, ...

Boris Rapoport (1888–1948) and lived much of her life in

. Rapoport studied composition with

Walter Piston Walter Hamor Piston, Jr. (January 20, 1894 – November 12, 1976), was an American composer of classical music, music theorist, and professor of music at Harvard University. Life Piston was born in Rockland, Maine at 15 Ocean Street to Walter Ha ...

Aaron Copland Aaron Copland (, ; November 14, 1900December 2, 1990) was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later a conductor of his own and other American music. Copland was referred to by his peers and critics as "the Dean of American Com ...

and

Arnold Schoenberg Arnold Schoenberg or Schönberg (, ; ; 13 September 187413 July 1951) was an Austrian-American composer, music theorist, teacher, writer, and painter. He is widely considered one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. He was as ...

. She composed several hundred works including music for piano, violin, voice and symphony orchestra. In 1943 she presented a program of her own compositions in Carnegie Chamber Music Hall (now

Weill Recital Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th and 57th Streets. Designed by architect William Burnet Tuthill and built by ...

), and was also accompanist for her songs. The

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

Department of Music sponsors the Boris and Eda Rapoport Prize in Composition.

Selected works

Several of Rapoport's compositions have been published by Transcontinental Music, White-Smith Music Publishing, Maxwell Weaner, Axelrod Publications, Associated Music Publishers, and El. Cantor Music. ;Stage * ''The Fisherman and His Wife'', Opera-Fantasy in 1 act; libretto after the Grimm's fairy tale * ''GI Joe'', Opera in 1 act, 3 scenes; libretto by Boris Rapoport * ''The Hobo and the Old Maid'', Ballet ;Orchestral * ''Adagietto'' for strings and flute * ''Adagio'' for string orchestra * ''Israfel'', Tone Picture after

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

for flute, string orchestra and harp * ''The Mathmid'' (Hamathmid), Symphonic Poem after

Hayim Nahman Bialik Hayim Nahman Bialik ( he, חיים נחמן ביאַליק; January 9, 1873 – July 4, 1934), was a Jewish poet who wrote primarily in Hebrew but also in Yiddish. Bialik was one of the pioneers of modern Hebrew poetry. He was part of the vangu ...

* ''Miniature Symphony'' * ''Petite Suite'' for string orchestra * ''Revolt in the Warsaw Ghetto'', Lament for string orchestra * ''Suite'' for orchestra :# At the Sea :# A Starry Night (after

Van Gogh Vincent Willem van Gogh (; 30 March 185329 July 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history. In a decade, he created about 2,100 artworks, inclu ...

) :# Valse * ''Symphonic Dances'' * ''Three Pastels'' for string orchestra, Op. 12; original for piano solo :# A Weeping Willow :# The Boatman :# In the Garden ;Concertante * Concerto for violin and orchestra * Concerto for piano and orchestra * ''Lamentations'' for cello and orchestra (1933, revised 1940); original for cello and piano; dedicated to cellist Jean Bedetti ;Chamber music * ''Agada'' (Legend) for violin or cello and piano (published 1939) * ''Caprice'' for violin alone * ''Arabesque'' for violin and piano * ''Berceuse'' for violin and piano * ''Chant hébraïque'' for viola or cello and piano, Op. 13 (published 1939) * ''The Clown'' for violin and piano * ''Conga'' for violin and piano * ''Echoes from the Forest'' for violin and piano * ''Elegy'' for cello and piano * ''Essay'' for flute and piano * ''Etching'' for flute and piano * ''Explorations'' for clarinet and piano * ''Fantasia'' for saxophone and piano * ''Impressions'' for solo flute * ''Impressions'' for violin solo or violin and piano * ''Indian Legend'' for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon (published 1949) * ''Invocation and Caprice'' for cello and piano * ''Kol Nidrei'' for violin alone * ''Lamentations Based on Hebrew Themes'' for cello and piano (published 1933); also for cello and orchestra * ''Legend'' for violin alone * ''Looking Through My Window'' for violin alone * ''Meditation'' for violin alone * ''Melodie'' for violin and piano * ''Midrash'' for violin and piano (published 1939) * ''Moods'' for cello and piano * ''Moods of the Past'' for violin alone * ''Mysterious Forest'' for flute and string quintet * ''Mystique'' for flute alone * ''Nigun'' (Melody) for violin or cello and piano (published 1939) * ''Nocturne in E'' for violin and piano * ''Pastoral Quartet'' * ''Petite Poem'' for violin and piano * '' Pieces' for violin and piano, Op. 21 (published 1941) :# ''Berceuse'' :# ''Perpetuum Mobile'' * ''Poem'' for viola and piano, Op. 14 (published 1939) * ''Quartet in G'' for 2 violins, viola and cello, Op. 16 (published 1939) * ''String Quartet on Hebrew Themes'' for 2 violins, viola and cello (published 1944) * String Quartet in C major for 2 violins, viola and cello * String Quartet No. 3 for 2 violins, viola and cello * Quartet for flute, violin, cello and piano * Quartet for violin, viola, cello and piano * Quintet No. 1 for flute and string quartet * Quintet No. 2 for flute and string quartet * ''Rendezvous'' for violin and piano * ''Romanze'' for violin and piano * ''Sea Fog'' for violin and piano * ''Sholom Aleichem Suite'' for violin and piano * Sonata for cello and piano * Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano * ''Song and Dance'' for violin alone * ''Song of the Gondolier'' for violin alone * ''Song of the River'' for cello and piano * ''A Study'' for violin alone * ''Thoughts in the Night ...'' (Harhorëy Lailah) for violin or cello and piano (published 1946); based on a poem by

; also for voice and piano * Trio in A minor ;Organ * ''Capriccio (with Hammond registration)'' (published 1947) * ''Notturno (with Hammond registration)'' (published 1947) * ''Prelude'' ;Piano * ''The Acrobat'' * ''Four Episodes from the Life of Moses'' * ''The House on the Bay'' * ''Rocks and Sea'' * ''Silhouette'' * Sonata No. 1 * Sonatina * Sonata No. 3 * Sonatina No. 4 * Suite for 2 pianos (composed 1941) :# Out for a Stroll :# By the Sea :# Sunset :# Dance of the Fireflies * ''Three Etchings'' :# The Old Castle :# Lake Louise :# The Grand Canyon * ''Three Impressions'' (published 1943) :# In the Forest :# Nocturne :# The Brook * ''Three Pastels'', Op. 12 (published 1934); also orchestrated :# A Weeping Willow :# The Boatman :# In the Garden ;Vocal * ''The Angel'' for voice and piano * ''Drinking Song'' for voice and piano (published 1945); words from the Russian by Harry Fein * ''Five Songs'' for voice and piano :# A Little Madness :# Autumn Leaves :# Foolish Birds :# If Plot Is Not :# To an Air Cadet * ''The Raven'' for voice and string quintet or string orchestra, Op. 15 (published 1939); words by

* ''The River'' for voice and piano (published 1945); words by Paul Eisman * ''Sleep, Little Baby'' for voice and piano (published 1945) * ''Thoughts in the Night ...'' (Harhorëy Lailah) for voice and piano (published 1946); words by

; also for violin or cello and piano * ''To a Cactus'' for voice and piano (published 1945); words by Laurette Pizer * ''Vacation'' for voice and piano (published 1945); words by Boris Rapoport

References

External links

Columbia University Libraries Archival Collections: Eda Rothstein Rapoport Papers, ''ca.''1915–1968.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rapoport, Eda 1890 births 1968 deaths Musicians from Daugavpils People from Dvinsky Uyezd Latvian Jews 20th-century classical composers American women classical composers American classical composers American classical pianists American women classical pianists Jewish American classical composers Jewish classical musicians Latvian classical composers Latvian women classical composers Latvian classical pianists Latvian women pianists Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States 20th-century classical pianists 20th-century American pianists 20th-century American women pianists 20th-century American composers 20th-century women composers 20th-century American Jews