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Ben Steinberg
Encyclopedia
Ben Steinberg is a Canadian composer
, conductor
, organist
, and music educator. A member of the Canadian League of Composers
and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre
, he is particularly known for his contributions to Jewish music
. He has presented numerous programs of Jewish music (many featuring his own compositions) for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
and has presented similar programs in lecture-recitals throughout Canada, the United States, Australia, and Japan. He has also contributed articles on Jewish music to numerous publications. Several of his original manuscripts and papers are now held in the collection at the library of the University of Calgary
.
, Steinberg was the son of cantor and conductor Alexander Steinberg. By the age of 8 he was singing as a soloist with his father's synagogue choir and by the age of 12 he was also conducting choirs. He was a pupil of Samuel Dolin
(piano), Weldon Kilburn (singing), and John Weinzweig
(composition) at The Royal Conservatory of Music from 1948-1951 and 1957-1960. He also studied music education at the University of Toronto
where he earned a Bachelor of Music
in 1961.
In 1950 Steinberg was appointed director of the music program at the school at Holy Blossom Temple
in Toronto, a position he held until 1960 when he became the temple's music director. He remained in that post until he became music director at Temple Sinai in 1970. From 1953-1958 he taught at various public schools in the Toronto area. He became the head of the music department at Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute
in 1961. He left there in 1964 to become the head of the music program at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute where he remained until 1986. In 1961 the Union of American Hebrew Congregations commissioned and published his method for youth choirs, Together Do They Sing.
During the 1960s Steinberg composed three sacred services which were published by Transcontinental Music. He later wrote two more services of which one was published in 1990. Transcontinental has also published several of Steinberg's choral, organ, orchestral, and vocal works, including The Vision of Isaiah (1970) for tenor, choir, and organ or instrumental ensemble; Yerushalayim (1973) for soprano, choir, and orchestra; and Echoes of Children (1979), a cantata for soloist, narrator, chorus, and orchestra. The latter composition was awarded the International Gabriel Award and was twice performed on nationally televised broadcasts on PBS in the United States.
In 1978 and 1980 Steinberg was the artist-in-residence for the city of Jerusalem. In 1980 Paul Brodie
commissioned his Suite Sephardi and in 1983 his Suite for String Orchestra was commissioned by the Chamber Players of Toronto. In 1983 he won a composition award from the American Harp Society
for his Suite for Flute, Viola and Harp (1981) and was awarded the Kavod Award of the Cantor's Assembly. In 1989 baritone
Richard Allen recorded several of his works on the cassette A Ben Steinberg Concert and in 1990 his Invocations was commissioned by Lawrence Cherney
. He was commissioned to write a total of 18 compositions by temples, synagogues, and congregations in the USA between 1980 and 1991.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, and music educator. A member of the Canadian League of Composers
Canadian League of Composers
The Canadian League of Composers is an organization formed in 1951 of Canadian composers primarily interested in raising awareness and acceptance of Canadian music. The activities of the League are overseen and directed by an executive and a National Council...
and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre
Canadian Music Centre
The Canadian Music Centre holds Canada's largest collection of Canadian concert music. The CMC exists to promote the works of its Associate Composers in Canada and around the world....
, he is particularly known for his contributions to Jewish music
Jewish music
Jewish music is the music and melodies of the Jewish People which have evolved over time throughout the long course of Jewish History. In some instances Jewish Music is of a religious nature, spiritual songs and refrains are common in Jewish Services throughout the world, while other times, it is...
. He has presented numerous programs of Jewish music (many featuring his own compositions) for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
and has presented similar programs in lecture-recitals throughout Canada, the United States, Australia, and Japan. He has also contributed articles on Jewish music to numerous publications. Several of his original manuscripts and papers are now held in the collection at the library of the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
.
Life and career
Born to Jewish parents in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Steinberg was the son of cantor and conductor Alexander Steinberg. By the age of 8 he was singing as a soloist with his father's synagogue choir and by the age of 12 he was also conducting choirs. He was a pupil of Samuel Dolin
Samuel Dolin
Samuel Joseph Dolin was a Canadian composer, music educator, and arts administrator. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a founding member of the Canadian League of Composers , he served as the CLC's vice president in 1967-1968 and president from 1969-1973...
(piano), Weldon Kilburn (singing), and John Weinzweig
John Weinzweig
John Weinzweig, OC, O.Ont was a Canadian composer of classical music.Born in Toronto, Weinzweig went to Harbord Collegiate Institute, and studied music at the university. In 1937, he left for the United States to study under Bernard Rogers...
(composition) at The Royal Conservatory of Music from 1948-1951 and 1957-1960. He also studied music education at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
where he earned a Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
in 1961.
In 1950 Steinberg was appointed director of the music program at the school at Holy Blossom Temple
Holy Blossom Temple
The Holy Blossom Temple is a Reform synagogue located at 1950 Bathurst Street in Toronto, Canada. It is the oldest Jewish congregation in Toronto. Founded in 1856, it has more than 7,000 members. W. Gunther Plaut, now retired, was a long time Senior Rabbi for this synagogue...
in Toronto, a position he held until 1960 when he became the temple's music director. He remained in that post until he became music director at Temple Sinai in 1970. From 1953-1958 he taught at various public schools in the Toronto area. He became the head of the music department at Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute
Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute
Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute is a public high school in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario. Although the language of instruction is English, 59 percent of the students do not use English as their primary language, and 26 percent have resided in Canada less than five years...
in 1961. He left there in 1964 to become the head of the music program at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute where he remained until 1986. In 1961 the Union of American Hebrew Congregations commissioned and published his method for youth choirs, Together Do They Sing.
During the 1960s Steinberg composed three sacred services which were published by Transcontinental Music. He later wrote two more services of which one was published in 1990. Transcontinental has also published several of Steinberg's choral, organ, orchestral, and vocal works, including The Vision of Isaiah (1970) for tenor, choir, and organ or instrumental ensemble; Yerushalayim (1973) for soprano, choir, and orchestra; and Echoes of Children (1979), a cantata for soloist, narrator, chorus, and orchestra. The latter composition was awarded the International Gabriel Award and was twice performed on nationally televised broadcasts on PBS in the United States.
In 1978 and 1980 Steinberg was the artist-in-residence for the city of Jerusalem. In 1980 Paul Brodie
Paul Brodie
Paul Brodie was a Canadian saxophonist. In 1994, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honour, for having "shown true mastery of his art through his ability to reach all ages with his music".Since 1960, he performed over 2500 concerts in Canada, U.S.A., Mexico,...
commissioned his Suite Sephardi and in 1983 his Suite for String Orchestra was commissioned by the Chamber Players of Toronto. In 1983 he won a composition award from the American Harp Society
American Harp Society
The American Harp Society is a non-profit organization whose mission is "to promote and foster the appreciation of the harp as a musical instrument, to encourage the composition of music for the harp and to improve the quality of performance of harpists." Founded in 1962, the AHS is a member of...
for his Suite for Flute, Viola and Harp (1981) and was awarded the Kavod Award of the Cantor's Assembly. In 1989 baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
Richard Allen recorded several of his works on the cassette A Ben Steinberg Concert and in 1990 his Invocations was commissioned by Lawrence Cherney
Lawrence Cherney
Lawrence Cherney, CM is a Canadian oboist and the current Artistic Director of Soundstreams Canada. As a proponent of new music in Canada, Cherney commissioned more than 30 new works for oboe during his career...
. He was commissioned to write a total of 18 compositions by temples, synagogues, and congregations in the USA between 1980 and 1991.