JUDAS MACCABEUS: AN ORATORIO FOR CHILDREN

New York; Bloch Pub. Co, 1919. Original wraps. 4to. 31 pages. 27 cm. First edition. Music and libretto by Abraham Wolf Binder, Musical Director of the Y. M. H. A. , and Jewish Center, New York City. Judas Maccabeus, An Oratorio in Two Parts. Judas Maccabeus "was successfully produced three months after it was composed. It was enthusiastically received by all who heard it. The children comprised the chorus and soloists, and a special orchestral arrangement was played by the Y. M. H. A. Symphony Club. This work can be given as an opera (with action accompanying the music) , or as an oratorio without action. " (Preface) Abraham Wolf Binder (1895-1966) "was an American Jewish composer and scholar active in the intellectual and artistic Jewish music circles of early 20th-century New York. Revered alike as a composer, pedagogue, and writer, Binder also founded the Jewish Music Forum. ...As a composer, Binder is remembered chiefly for his numerous liturgical choral settings, which include many individual prayers as well as entire services. Some of his once-popular earlier works, such as his children's oratorio Judas Maccabeus (1919) , are long forgotten, but many of his later prayer settings became part of the standard repertoire in Reform congregations and are sung to this day. He also wrote several classically oriented Hebrew and Yiddish art songs, which may be considered worthy components of the aggregate American Jewish lieder repertoire. " (Milken Archive) Subjects: Oratorios - Juvenile - Vocal scores with piano. Hanukkah - Songs and music. OCLC lists 2 copies (HUC, Jtsa) . Light soiling and edge wear to wrap, otherwise clean. Good condition. Scarce (MUSIC-3-52).