Isadore Freed facts for kids

Isadore Freed (born March 26, 1900 – died November 10, 1960) was a Jewish composer from Belarus. He moved to the United States when he was young and became known for his music, especially pieces for religious services and for helping new, modern music become popular.

About Isadore Freed

Early Life and Music

Isadore Freed was born in Brest-Litovsk, which is now called Brest, Belarus. When he was three years old, his family moved to the United States and settled in Philadelphia. His father owned a music store there, which might have sparked Isadore's early interest in music.

Isadore started playing the piano when he was just seven years old. By the time he was nine, he was already composing his own music! He studied music formally at the University of Pennsylvania and earned his bachelor's degree when he was only 18.

Becoming a Composer and Teacher

After college, Freed briefly taught at The Curtis Institute of Music. In 1924, he married Riva Hoffmann, who was a dancer. He then traveled to Europe to continue his music studies. In Berlin, he studied piano, and in Paris, he learned composition from famous teachers like Ernest Bloch and Nadia Boulanger. He also studied piano and organ with other talented musicians.

Freed returned to the United States in 1934. He began teaching composition at Temple University in Philadelphia. Later, in 1944, he became the head of the composition department at the Hartt School of Music (now called The Hartt School). He taught there until he passed away in 1960. He also taught harmony at the Hebrew Union School of Sacred Music starting in 1951. Besides teaching, he was a radio commentator for performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Isadore Freed died in Rockville Centre, New York, on November 10, 1960.

Isadore Freed's Music and Ideas

Exploring Jewish Music

One of Isadore Freed's most important contributions was his book, Harmonizing the Jewish Modes. This book explored Jewish sacred music and how it connects to Western music. He looked at how Jewish synagogue music works, especially its unique melodies.

Freed was also very active as a musician in synagogues. He played the organ and led the choir at Temple Keneseth Israel in Philadelphia. His work in synagogues inspired him to write many pieces for Jewish religious services. His Sacred Service for Shabbat Morning, published in 1939, is often considered his most lasting musical work.

Important Musical Works

In 1946, the Julius Hartt Foundation asked Freed to write an opera called The Princess and the Vagabond. It was first performed at the Hartt School two years later. He also won awards for two other works in 1944: Triptych for violin, viola, cello, and piano, and Postscripts, a choral piece. His Rhapsody for Trombone and Orchestra was first broadcast on the radio in New York in 1951.

After Freed's death, the National Jewish Music Council published a short book about him called A Jewish Composer by Choice: Isadore Freed, His Life and Work. This book shared stories and memories about Freed from his friends and fellow musicians. One famous conductor, Pierre Monteux, even included Freed's piece Jeux de Timbres in concerts in 1937. In the same year, Freed became the first American composer to be a guest conductor for the NBC Symphony Orchestra.

Promoting New Music

Isadore Freed wrote both non-religious and religious music. He was very interested in Jewish religious music, but he also worked hard to help new, modern music become popular. He helped start the Philadelphia Society for Contemporary Music and the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra and Composers' Laboratory. This laboratory was later replaced by the WPA Music Project Composers' Forum Laboratory, showing his lasting impact on supporting new composers.