Re: [jewishshulmusic] Re: Who was Isaac Nathan?

[Robert Cohen <rlcm17...>]

>Who was Isaac Nathan?
>I assume you refer to some anthology of Jewish music?
>When was it published?

>From a recent listing of a first edition of the work below, etc., as shown.  
Keep reading.

--Robert Cohen


LORD BYRON/MUSIC BRAHAM, John and Isaac NATHAN. A Selection of Hebrew 
Melodies Ancient and Modern with Appropriate Symphonies and 
accom-paniments...the Poetry written expressly for the work by the Right 
Honorable Lord Byron.

Hebrew Melodies by Lord Byron. London, 1815. First edition, second issue 
rebound in 3/4" calf. Fine condition. ¡X and ¡X An Essay on The History and 
Theory of Music by I. Nathan, London, 1823. 230pp. original 3/4 calf. Very 
Good condition.

Lord George Gordon Byron (1788-1824) held a deep affection for the Old 
Testament as well as a romantic interest in oppressed peoples. His 
friendship with the Jewish composer, singer and writer, Isaac Nathan led him 
to collaborate in publishing Hebrew Melodies. Though not all are 
specifically Jewish in theme, some express sympathy for the plight of the 
Jews. One of the best known of the poems is "The Destruction of Sennacherib" 
¡X "Weep for those that wept by Babel's Stream...The wild dove hath her 
nest/the fox his cave/Mankind their Country/Israel but the grave!"

Byron's poems were translated into Hebrew in 1884 by J.L. Gordon as Zemirot 
Yisrael and into Yiddish in 1926 by Nathan Horowitz. There have been musical 
settings by Balakirev, Hiller, Loewe, Mendelssohn, Moussorgski, Schumann, 
Joachim, Hugo Wolf and others.

Isaac Nathan (1790-1864 Canterbury, England) studied with Solomon Lyon at 
Cambridge to enter the rabbinate, but in 1810 decided to devote himself 
entirely to musical composition and singing. Nathan's use of ancient Hebrew 
chants combined with Byron's passionate romantic choice of words, created an 
instant sensation. The London debut performance of the Melodies featured the 
tremendously popular singing star John Braham. Braham's name was featured on 
the title page of the first several editions of the book as a fellow 
composer, but in fact he contributed nothing other than the prestige of his 
name.

The popularity of this work cannot be underscored. The songs were performed 
both in the home and in many synagogues with astounding regularity until the 
late 1860's.






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