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 76-100 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-12360 12-in. 9/11/1912 College overture Arthur Pryor's Band Band arranger  
Victor C-12599 12-in. 11/7/1912 La pepita : Intermezzo Vessella's Italian Band Band, with bells solo composer  
Victor C-12606 12-in. 11/12/1912 Surprise symphony Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-12607 12-in. 11/12/1912 Surprise symphony Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-12608 12-in. 11/12/1912 Surprise symphony Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-12609 12-in. 11/12/1912 Surprise symphony Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-12726 12-in. 12/17/1912 Andante from Beethoven's 5th symphony Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13176 12-in. 4/22/1913 Extase Rosario Bourdon Cello solo, with orchestra arranger  
Victor B-13176 10-in. 5/15/1913 Extase Rosario Bourdon Cello solo, with orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13205 12-in. 4/28/1913 Sixth symphony (Pastorale) : Allegro ma non troppo Victor Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13206 12-in. 4/28/1913 Sixth symphony : Pastorale : Andante molto moto Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13316 12-in. 5/15/1913 Sixth symphony : Pastorale : Andante molto moto Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13317 12-in. 5/15/1913 Sixth symphony : Pastorale : Allegro Victor Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13321 12-in. 5/16/1913 Symphony in B minor (Unfinished) Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13322 12-in. 5/16/1913 Symphony in B minor (Unfinished) Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13341 12-in. 5/21/1913 Wedding day at Troldhaugen Victor Herbert's Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13346 12-in. 5/23/1913 Unfinished symphony: Allegro moderato Victor Herbert's Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13347 12-in. 5/23/1913 Unfinished symphony: Andante con moto Victor Herbert's Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13355 12-in. 5/24/1913 Largo Victor Herbert's Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13389 12-in. 6/5/1913 Military symphony : Allegro Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13390 12-in. 6/5/1913 Military symphony : Allegretto Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-13453 10-in. 6/18/1913 Hearts and flowers Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor B-13669 10-in. 8/5/1913 Jupiter symphony Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13670 12-in. 8/5/1913 Jupiter symphony : Menuetto allegretto Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-13670 10-in. 12/22/1914 Jupiter symphony Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
(Results 76-100 of 268 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tobani, Theodore Moses," accessed April 17, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

Tobani, Theodore Moses. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 17, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

"Tobani, Theodore Moses." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 17 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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