Theodore Moses Tobani

Theodore Moses Tobani (2 May 1855 − 12 December 1933) was a composer of popular music. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, and began studying violin when he was five years old. The family moved to the United States, where he attended the Rivington School in New York, but they returned to Europe when it became evident that Theodore was a musical prodigy. He was a concert violinist by the time he was 10. The family returned to the U.S. in 1870, and Theodore took positions as a violinist in several groups including Simpson's Theatre in Philadelphia, Wallack's Theatre, and several others.

His best known composition was "Hearts and Flowers", which he composed in half an hour in 1893, and which continued to sell more than 100,000 copies annually until the end of his life. He was so prolific that his publisher, Carl Fischer, insisted that he use multiple pseudonyms; Fischer was concerned that nobody would believe how much Tobani was composing. Another popular work was "Our Little Nestling", written in 1883 for Mrs. Lester Wallack, for which he was paid $35. He also composed "Around the Christmas Tree", subtitled "A Yule-Tide Potpourri", which was later arranged for band by Louis-Philippe Laurendeau

Tobani was also a real estate dealer and owned property in Queens. He died on 12 December 1933; seven children survived him, but his wife, Helen, had died some time earlier.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 2, 1855 (Hamburg), Died December 12, 1933 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1899 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: arranger, composer

Notes: Pseudonyms include: Florence Reed, Andrew Herman/Hermann, and Theodore Moses.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 226-250 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 48909 12-in. 9/7/1916 The last hope (Religious meditation) Columbia Symphony Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Columbia 49410 12-in. 5/11/1918 U.S. Army lanciers Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 49418 12-in. 5/15/1918 U.S. Army lanciers Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 49714 12-in. 11/29/1919 Hearts and flowers Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra ; Eugène Ysaÿe Orchestra arranger  
Columbia 49722 12-in. 12/13/1919 Faust : Selections Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Columbia 49723 12-in. 12/17/1919 Faust : Selections Giuseppe Bamboschek ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Columbia 49726 12-in. 12/17/1919 Traviata : Selections Giuseppe Bamboschek ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Columbia 49727 12-in. 12/17/1919 Traviata : Selections Giuseppe Bamboschek ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Columbia W98279 12-in. 6/14/1926 Peer Gynt suite Columbia Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Columbia W98284 12-in. 6/17/1926 Peer Gynt suite Columbia Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Columbia W98287 12-in. 7/9/1926 Peer Gynt suite Columbia Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Columbia W98288 12-in. 7/9/1926 Peer Gynt suite Columbia Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Columbia W205474 12-in. approximately October 1926 Around the Christmas tree (Part 1) Jacques Jacob's Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia W205475 12-in. approximately October 1926 Around the Christmas tree (Part 2) Jacques Jacob's Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
OKeh 192 10-in. ca. June 1918 Hearts and flowers OKeh Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
OKeh S-7008 10-in. ca. Sept. 1919 Foreign folk dances OKeh Concert Band Band composer  
OKeh S-7011 10-in. approximately Sept. 1919 Hearts and flowers OKeh Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
OKeh 8865 10-in. Jan. 1925 Cocoanut dance Royal Scotch Highlanders Band Band composer  
Brunswick [Br cat 5277-a] 10-in. approximately late 1918 Cocoanut dance Van Eps Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Brunswick 3567 10-in. approximately Jan. 1920 Hearts and flowers Brunswick Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Brunswick E28426 10-in. 9/26/1928 La cinquantaine Brunswick Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Brunswick E28429 10-in. 9/27/1928 Ballet égyptien Brunswick Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Brunswick E23964-E23965 10-in. 7/13/1927 Herzen und Blumen Rena Pfiffer Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 1359W-1361W 10-in. 9/18/1925 Days of hearts and flowers Tuxedo Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 156 Not documented approximately Aug. 1910 Hearts and flowers Orchestra (unidentified; Edison Records) Orchestra composer  
(Results 226-250 of 268 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tobani, Theodore Moses," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

Tobani, Theodore Moses. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

"Tobani, Theodore Moses." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246

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