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 101-125 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-13671 12-in. 8/5/1913 Jupiter symphony Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13677 12-in. 12/22/1914 Jupiter symphony Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-13677 10-in. 8/8/1913 Jupiter symphony : Molto allegro Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13680 12-in. 8/8/1913 Symphony no. 2 in C minor Victor Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-13970 12-in. 10/20/1913 Hearts and flowers Florentine Quartet Instrumental quartet composer  
Victor CVE-13970 12-in. 9/30/1925 Hearts and flowers Florentine Quartet Instrumental quartet composer  
Victor B-14600 10-in. 3/20/1914 Sorella United States Marine Band Band arranger  
Victor B-14752 10-in. 4/23/1914 You and I William H. Reitz Bells solo, with orchestra arranger  
Victor B-14753 10-in. 4/23/1914 Fair maiden of Seville William H. Reitz Bells solo, with orchestra arranger  
Victor B-14933 10-in. 6/3/1914 An album leaf Florentine Quartet Instrumental quartet arranger  
Victor C-15119 12-in. 8/5/1914 Second Hungarian fantasia Conway's Band Band composer  
Victor B-15405 10-in. 11/18/1914 At the mountain inn Neapolitan Trio Instrumental trio, with bells arranger  
Victor C-15597 12-in. 1/14/1915 The Angelus Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-15638 12-in. 1/27/1915 Symphony no. 3, 'Eroica' : 2nd movement (Marcia funebre) Victor Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-15639 12-in. 1/27/1915 Symphony no. 3, 'Eroica' : 3rd movement (Allegro vivace) Victor Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-15670 12-in. 2/4/1915 Egmont overture Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-15710 12-in. 2/16/1915 Peer Gynt suite no. 1 Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-15711 12-in. 2/16/1915 Peer Gynt suite no. 1 Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor B-15741 10-in. 2/25/1915 Peer Gynt suite no. 1 Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-15748 12-in. 3/1/1915 Italian symphony : Con moto moderado Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-15749 12-in. 3/1/1915 Italian symphony : Andante con moto Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-15768 12-in. 3/8/1915 Symphony in G minor Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-15769 12-in. 3/8/1915 Symphony in G minor Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-15854 12-in. 4/1/1915 Symphony in G minor Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
Victor C-16039 12-in. 5/20/1915 Marche militaire Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
(Results 101-125 of 268 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tobani, Theodore Moses," accessed May 4, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

Tobani, Theodore Moses. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 4, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

"Tobani, Theodore Moses." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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