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 126-150 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-16058 12-in. 6/2/1915 Symphony in G minor Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-16298 10-in. 8/2/1915 Victorious America Conway's Band Band composer  
Victor C-16540 12-in. 9/22/1915 Russian nights Conway's Band Band arranger  
Victor C-16730 12-in. 10/28/1915 Military symphony : Minuet Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-16731 12-in. 10/28/1915 Military symphony : Presto Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-16903 10-in. 12/15/1915 Peer Gynt suite no. 1; arranged Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-16922 12-in. 12/21/1915 Symphony no. 1 Victor Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-16923 12-in. 12/21/1915 Symphony no. 1 Victor Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-16924 12-in. 12/21/1915 Symphony no. 1 Victor Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-17308 12-in. 3/15/1916 Whispering flowers Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-17671 12-in. 5/11/1916 Andante cantabile Fritz Kreisler Violin solo, with string quartet arranger  
Victor B-17693 10-in. 5/16/1916 Fifth symphony : First movement : Allegro con brio Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-17694 10-in. 5/16/1916 Fifth symphony : First movement : Allegro con brio Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-17892 12-in. 6/19/1916 Fifth symphony : Second movement : Andante con moto Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-17893 12-in. 6/19/1916 Fifth symphony : Second movement : Andante con moto Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-18088 10-in. 7/10/1916 Poet's vision Conway's Band Band arranger  
Victor C-18300 12-in. 8/11/1916 Erminie : Selection Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-18310 10-in. 8/29/1916 Mikado : Selection Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-18311 10-in. 8/29/1916 Mikado : Selection Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-18744 10-in. 11/9/1916 Coconut dance Vessella's Italian Band Band composer  
Victor B-18902 10-in. 12/15/1916 Polish dance Charles Kellogg Bird imitations, with orchestra arranger  
Victor B-19196 10-in. 2/19/1917 Fifth symphony : Third movement : Allegro (Scherzo) Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-19342 10-in. 3/6/1917 Fifth symphony : Third movement : Allegro (Scherzo) Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-19343 10-in. 3/6/1917 Turkish march Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-19348 12-in. 3/7/1917 Fifth symphony : Fourth movement : Finale (Allegro) Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
(Results 126-150 of 268 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tobani, Theodore Moses," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

Tobani, Theodore Moses. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

"Tobani, Theodore Moses." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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