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 1-25 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Berliner 79 7-in. Aug. 1897-Mar. 1899 The crack regiment Sousa's Band Band composer  
Berliner 4804 7-in. Before Apr. 1899 Hearts and flowers Artists vary Violin solo composer  
Berliner 0480 7-in. 4/14/1899 Hearts and flowers Chris de Arth Violin solo composer  
Berliner 0615 7-in. 10/18/1899 Cocoanut dance Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo composer  
Berliner 01178 7-in. 4/11/1900 The crack regiment Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]338 10-in. 6/17/1902 The crack regiment patrol Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]338 7-in. 10/3/1900 The crack regiment patrol Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]499 7-in. 11/9/1900 Hearts and flowers Herbert L. Clarke Cornet solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix C-]1172 12-in. 6/19/1902 Hearts and flowers Herbert L. Clarke ; Sousa's Band Cornet solo, with band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1172 10-in. 12/31/1901 Hearts and flowers Herbert L. Clarke ; Sousa's Band Cornet solo, with band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1172 7-in. 12/31/1901 Hearts and flowers Herbert L. Clarke ; Sousa's Band Cornet solo, with band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1209 10-in. 1/21/1902 Hearts and flowers Charles D'Almaine Violin solo, with piano composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1209 7-in. 1/21/1902 Hearts and flowers Charles D'Almaine Violin solo, with piano composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix D-]2005 14-in. 1903 Hungarian fantasia Victor Grand Concert Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix C-]2005 12-in. 1903 Hungarian fantasia Victor Grand Concert Band Band arranger  
Victor B-248 10-in. 8/11/1903 Hearts and flowers Sousa's Band Band, with cornet solo composer  
Victor A-248 7-in. 8/11/1903 Hearts and flowers Sousa's Band Band, with cornet solo composer  
Victor B-853 10-in. 12/18/1903 Cupidetta Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor A-853 7-in. 12/18/1903 Cupidetta Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor C-1333-D 12-in. 5/20/1904 United States Army lancers Victor Dance Orchestra [i.e., Pryor's Band] Band composer  
Victor B-1333-B 10-in. 5/20/1904 U.S. Army lancers Victor Dance Orchestra [i.e., Pryor's Band] Band arranger  
Victor C-1333-A 12-in. 5/20/1904 United States Army lancers Victor Dance Orchestra [i.e., Pryor's Band] Band composer  
Victor A-1364 7-in. 5/27/1904 Hearts and flowers Charles D'Almaine Violin solo, with piano composer  
Victor C-1381 12-in. 5/27/1904 Parsifal fantasia Arthur Pryor's Band Band arranger  
Victor B-1949 10-in. 11/18/1904 Don't be cross Arthur Pryor's Orchestra ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra arranger  
(Results 1-25 of 268 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tobani, Theodore Moses," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

Tobani, Theodore Moses. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246.

"Tobani, Theodore Moses." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102246

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