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 26-50 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-2188 10-in. 2/1/1905 Loveland waltzes Pryor's Orchestra [i.e., Victor Orchestra] Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-2324 10-in. 2/23/1905 Sunny Italy waltz Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor C-2324 12-in. 2/23/1905 Sunny Italy waltz Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor B-2326 10-in. 2/23/1905 My college chum Arthur Pryor's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-2326 12-in. 2/23/1905 My college chum Arthur Pryor's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-2328 12-in. 2/23/1905 Hearts and flowers Arthur Pryor's Orchestra ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor CVE-2328 12-in. 1/14/1927 Hearts and flowers Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-2328 10-in. 6/18/1908 Hearts and flowers Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor E-2328 8-in. 3/22/1906 Hearts and flowers Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-2408 12-in. 3/24/1905 Attila selection Arthur Pryor's Band Band arranger  
Victor B-2554 10-in. 4/20/1905 Twilight shadows Chris Chapman Bells solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-2900 12-in. 11/21/1905 Robert the devil selection Arthur Pryor's Band Band arranger  
Victor C-3072 12-in. 1/31/1906 Naila intermezzo Arthur Pryor's Band Band arranger  
Victor C-3231 12-in. 3/30/1906 Morning, noon and night overture Arthur Pryor's Band Band arranger  
Victor C-3279 12-in. 4/13/1906 Siegfried fantasie Sousa's Band Band arranger  
Victor E-4382 8-in. 4/9/1907 Maiden's blush Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-4403 12-in. 4/16/1907 Echoes from the Metropolitan Opera House Arthur Pryor's Band Band arranger  
Victor C-4406 12-in. 4/16/1907 Providence Arthur Pryor's Band Band arranger  
Victor C-4412 12-in. 4/17/1907 Hungarian fantasia Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor B-4475 10-in. 5/9/1907 Anvil chorus Victor Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-4905 10-in. 11/5/1907 The voice of love Emil Keneke ; Darius Lyons Flute and cornet duet, with orchestra arranger  
Victor B-6777 10-in. 2/5/1909 Sounds from Austria Herbert L. Clarke ; Emil Keneke Cornet duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-6885 12-in. 3/16/1909 U. S. Army lancers Victor Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-6886 10-in. 3/16/1909 U. S. Army lancers Victor Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-6887 12-in. 3/16/1909 U. S. Army lancers Victor Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
(Results 26-50 of 268 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tobani, Theodore Moses," accessed April 20, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

Tobani, Theodore Moses. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 20, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

"Tobani, Theodore Moses." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 20 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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