Eda Rapoport facts for kids

Eda Rothstein Rapoport (born December 25, 1890 – died May 9, 1968) was a talented Jewish-American composer and pianist. She was born in Latvia, which was part of the Russian Empire back then. Later, she moved to the United States and became a well-known musician in New York City.

Eda Rapoport's Life Story

Eda Rapoport was born in a city called Daugavpils. This city is now in Latvia, but at the time, it was part of the Russian Empire. She grew up in a Jewish family.

Later, Eda moved to the United States. She married Boris Rapoport, who was a famous doctor who helped people sleep during surgery. They lived most of their lives in New York City.

Her Musical Education

Eda Rapoport loved music and studied composition with some very famous teachers. These included Walter Piston, Aaron Copland, and Arnold Schoenberg. Learning from such great composers helped her become a wonderful musician herself.

Performing and Composing

Eda Rapoport wrote hundreds of musical pieces. These included music for the piano, violin, and even full symphony orchestras. She also wrote songs for singers.

In 1943, she had a special concert at Carnegie Chamber Music Hall. This hall is now known as Weill Recital Hall. At this concert, she played her own compositions. She also played the piano for her own songs.

A Lasting Legacy

Today, Columbia University has a special award in music. It's called the Boris and Eda Rapoport Prize in Composition. This prize helps new composers and keeps Eda's musical legacy alive.

Eda Rapoport's Compositions

Eda Rapoport wrote many different kinds of music. Her works were published by several music companies. Here are some examples of the types of music she created:

Music for the Stage

Eda Rapoport wrote music for plays and ballets.

• The Fisherman and His Wife: This was an opera based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
• GI Joe: Another opera she wrote.
• The Hobo and the Old Maid: This was a ballet.

Orchestral Music

She composed many pieces for orchestras. An orchestra is a large group of musicians playing different instruments.

• Adagietto and Adagio: These were pieces for string orchestras.
• Israfel: A tone picture inspired by a poem from Edgar Allan Poe.
• The Mathmid: A symphonic poem based on a work by Hayim Nahman Bialik.
• Miniature Symphony and Petite Suite: Shorter pieces for orchestras.
• Revolt in the Warsaw Ghetto: A sad piece for string orchestra.
• Suite for orchestra: This piece had different parts, like "At the Sea" and "A Starry Night."
• Symphonic Dances: Music meant for dancing.
• Three Pastels: Originally for piano, these were also arranged for string orchestra.

Concertos

Eda Rapoport wrote concertos, which are pieces for a solo instrument with an orchestra.

• Concerto for violin and orchestra.
• Concerto for piano and orchestra.
• Lamentations: A piece for cello and orchestra.

Chamber Music

Chamber music is for a small group of instruments, usually played in a smaller room.

• She wrote many pieces for violin and piano, like Agada and Arabesque.
• She also wrote for cello and piano, such as Elegy and Lamentations.
• There were pieces for flute, clarinet, saxophone, and viola.
• She composed several string quartets, which are for two violins, a viola, and a cello.
• She also wrote quintets, which are for five instruments.

Organ Music

Eda Rapoport also composed pieces for the organ.

• Capriccio
• Notturno
• Prelude

Piano Music

As a pianist, she wrote many pieces for the piano.

• The Acrobat
• Four Episodes from the Life of Moses
• The House on the Bay
• Rocks and Sea
• Sonata No. 1 and Sonatina
• Suite for 2 pianos: This piece had parts like "Out for a Stroll" and "Dance of the Fireflies."
• Three Etchings and Three Impressions: Collections of shorter piano pieces.

Vocal Music

She wrote many songs for singers, often with piano accompaniment.

• The Angel
• Drinking Song
• Five Songs: A collection of different songs.
• The Raven: Based on a poem by Edgar Allan Poe.
• The River
• Sleep, Little Baby
• Thoughts in the Night ...: Based on a poem by Hayim Nahman Bialik.