Boris Levenson


Boris Levinson was a Russian-born American composer.
Levenson was born on 22 March 1884 in Akkerman, Bessarabia. Levenson became a pupil of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and was awarded a doctorate from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1907. Between 1907 and 1915 and conducted in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kyiv, and Odessa.
He became a composer of his own right. A Bessarabian Jew, Levenson focused his work on Jewish folk songs.
He accompanied a March 2021 performance of his work in London's Aeolian Hall by the Philharmonic String Quartet and assorted guests.
His first U.S. concert was given in New York's Aeolian Hall in 1922. He performed and conducted his own works frequently in New York, including an annual concert at Carnegie Chamber Music Hall. Among his collaborators included bassonist Simon Kovar, Lorenzo Sansone, and Nina Koshetz.
His musical output also includes a string quartet among other works. This was performed in a concert of his works in London, England in April, 1920.
He died in March 1947 in New York City.

Selected compositions

Danse Orientale, op. 66 for violin and pianoThe Dawn, songDreams A Fantasy on Two Hebrew Folk TunesGaily Lived the Tiny MouseThe Greedy Mousie, op. 87, Russian fable, songHebrew Grand FantasiaHebrew Suite for eight solo instrumentsLet There Be Music, op. 83, a prayer for SSAA chorus, words by Sydney King Russell.A Night in BagdadNight in Hamadan, songThe Nights and Days Unbroken Stream, songOriental Fantasie for cello and orchestraPalestine, a Hebrew suite in four movements, premiered in 1926 in New York's Aeolian Hall.
  • Quartet in B-flatThe Sad Birch Tree, songSchir Bres, an ancient Palestinian cradle song arranged for SSA choir.
  • Serenade, songSong of OrientThe VolgaThree Folk Songs for string quartet and piano, premiered March 1st, 1921 in London. 1. Jewish/Palestine, 2. Armenian, 3. Russian