Shalom Altman papers relating to teaching at Gratz College, 1961-1982.

Format:

Other

Author/Creator:

Altman, Shalom, creator.

Language:

English

Hebrew

Ladino

Multiple languages

Yiddish

Subjects (All):

Gratz College (Philadelphia, Pa.).

Music.

Jewish composers.

Songs, Hebrew.

Songs, Yiddish.

Jews.

Jews--United States.

Dissertations, Academic.

College students' writings.

Jewish college students.

College students.

Genre:

Songs.

student records

theses.

Penn Provenance:

Gift of Gratz College (part of the Gratz College-Eric Mandell Jewish Music Collection gift), 2023.

Physical Description:

1 box (1 linear foot)

Arrangement:

Organized into three series: I. Class information for Music M204; II. Sheet music for Music M204; and III. Dissertations and papers by Shalom Altman's students.

Place of Publication:

1961-1982.

Language Note:

In English, Hebrew, Ladino, and Yiddish.

Biography/History:

Shalom Altman was born in 1911 in New York City. He received two bachelor degrees, one from the Julliard School, where he majored in violin, and the other from New York University. In 1945, Altman became the director of the Bertha and Monte H. Tyson Music Department of Gratz College in Philadelphia. At Gratz College, Altman taught courses in Jewish music (including Hassidic Music, the Music of the Holocaust, the Popular Music of Israel and Jewish Music Education), established a Masters degree program in Jewish Music, and grew the college's Jewish music collections. In 1970, Eric Mandell, cantor and music collector, donated his collection as part of the new Abner and Mary Schreiber Jewish music library, which Shalom Altman helped acquire for the college. Altman also helped Mandell and his wife, Martha, with cataloging and organizing the collection at the college. As a result, Shalom Altman's academic materials were originally included in the Gratz-Mandell gift in 2023, but were separated out after an executive decision by scholars of the collection. Outside of his work at Gratz College, Altman was influential in founding organizations dedicated to Jewish music promotion including the National Jewish Music Council of the National Jewish Welfare Board, Jewish Children's Choir Festival, a community chorus and a choral festival. Altman also sat on the board of the National Council for Jewish Education and the Jewish Welfare Board Cultural Commission. With Altman's dedication to the education and dissemination of Jewish music, he received the Kavod Award of the Cantors Assembly, and awards for his service from the Jewish Music Directors of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Cantors Assembly, the New York Music Association and the Chapel of the Four Chaplains. After completing twenty-five years of service at Gratz College, the college celebrated Altman with a gala concert in 1971. Known by the Philadelphia community as "Mr. Jewish Music," Altman arranged hundreds of songs in Yiddish and Hebrew as well as composing the song "Lo Yisa Goy." Shalom Altman died in 1986 in Philadelphia.

Summary:

The Shalom Altman papers relating to teaching at Gratz College consists of materials Altman collected when he worked at Gratz College from 1945 until his death in 1986. The collection consists of administrative files including student contacts forms, administrative correspondence and admission cards. The majority of the collection consists of sheet music that Shalom Altman curated for his course "Music M204," including songs for Jewish holidays, Israeli songs, and songs in Yiddish. The last portion of the collection consists of academic papers, theses and dissertations produced for Shalom Altman's class. The Shalom Altman papers relating to teaching at Gratz College are arranged into three series: I. Class information for Music M204, II. Sheet music for Music M204, and III. Dissertations and papers by Shalom Altman's students.

OCLC:

1505920060