Bauman, Mordecai

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Mordecai Bauman (1912-) has had a long and varied musical career as a singer and recording artist, a music administrator, educator and producer, much of which occurred in the context of progressive and labor movement cultural activity during the 1930s and 1940s, and he was personally and professionally associated with Hanns Eisler and Marc Blitzstein. Born in the Bronx, New York, Bauman received degrees from the Julliard School of Music (1934), Columbia University (B.A., 1935), and Case Western Reserve University (M.A., 1949). From 1952 to 1975 he was the founder and owner, with his wife Irma Commanday Bauman, of the Indian Hill, a summer workshop in the arts in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, which he then donated to Brooklyn College, where he was Professor of Music and, from 1970-1972, managing director of Symphony Hall (Newark, NJ). Bauman was the founding director of the Bread and Roses Project, the ongoing cultural program of District 1199, National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Bauman also conceived and produced The Stations of Bach (1990) a documentary filmed in Germany, and has recorded the collaborative works of Bertolt Brecht and Hanns Eisler, the works of Charles Ives, and American folk, labor and popular songs.

From the description of Papers, 1926-2000. (New York University, Group Batchload). WorldCat record id: 61070527

Mordecai Bauman (1912-2007) had a long and varied musical career as a singer and recording artist, a music administrator, educator and producer, much of which occurred in the context of progressive and labor movement cultural activity during the 1930s and 1940s. Additionally, he was personally and professionally associated with Hanns Eisler and Marc Blitzstein. Born in the Bronx, New York, Bauman received degrees from the Julliard School of Music (1934), Columbia University (B.A., 1935), and Case Western Reserve University (M.A., 1949). From 1952 to 1975 he was the founder and owner, with his wife Irma Commanday Bauman, of the Indian Hill, a summer workshop in the arts in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, which he then donated to Brooklyn College, where he was Professor of Music. From 1970 to 1972 he was managing director of Symphony Hall (Newark, NJ). Bauman was the founding director of the Bread and Roses Project, the ongoing cultural program of District 1199, National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Bauman also conceived and produced The Stations of Bach (1990) a documentary filmed in Germany, and has recorded the collaborative works of Bertolt Brecht and Hanns Eisler, the works of Charles Ives, and American folk, labor and popular songs.

From the guide to the Mordecai Bauman Papers, 1926-2006, (Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archive)

American baritone singer, Mordecai Bauman (b. March 2, 1912) was involved with progressive politics throughout his career; this commitment informed his choice of repertoire.

A graduate of both the Juilliard School and Columbia University, Bauman would specialize in performing the music of contemporary American composers, including the works of such close friends and associates as Hanns Eisler, Earl Robinson, and Elie Siegmeister. It was Bauman who introduced Robinson's song, "The House I Live In" (later made popular by Frank Sinatra) in the revue, Let Freedom Sing (1942). In addition to his performing and recording career, Bauman helped to found Indian Hill, a summer arts school in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, which he and his wife, Irma Commanday, ran from 1952 until 1976. Later in life, Bauman also produced The Stations of Bach (1990), a documentary about the composer that appeared on public television.

From the description of Mordecai Bauman papers, 1930-1952. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 79468159

Mordecai Bauman (b March 2, 1912) was a politically motivated artist who was at the far left wing of progressive politics in the 1930s. A baritone singer, he graduated from the Juilliard School of Music and went on to introduce many important works of the 20th century. He championed the music of his contemporaries, including Charles Ives, and founded the innovative summer arts school, Indian Hill, with his wife, Irma. He also produced a significant documentary about Bach.

Source Ard, Jamée. “A Passion for Music”, Alumni NewsSpotlight. Online version. (Accessed 07 April. 2005), <http://www.juilliard.edu/alumni/aspot_0402_Bauman.html>

From the guide to the Mordecai Bauman papers, 1930-1952, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Adomián, Lan. [Letter], 1934 Jan. 9, to Mordecai Bauman. Princeton University Library
creatorOf Mordecai Bauman papers, 1930-1952 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
referencedIn Ives, Charles, 1874-1954. The Charles Ives papers, 1874-1983 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn The Charles Ives Papers, 1874-1983 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Mordecai Bauman Papers, 1926-2006 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Bauman, Mordecai. Mordecai Bauman papers, 1930-1952. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Bauman, Mordecai. Papers, 1926-2000. New-York Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Abileah, Joseph. person
associatedWith Abilieah, Joseph. person
associatedWith Adomián, Lan. person
associatedWith American Music Collection corporateBody
associatedWith American-Soviet Musical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Bauman, Irma. person
associatedWith Bean, Betty. person
associatedWith Bean, Betty. person
associatedWith Blitzstein, Marc person
associatedWith Blitzstein, Marc. person
associatedWith Bread and Roses Cultural Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Brecht, Bertolt, 1898-1956. person
associatedWith Brooklyn College. Dept. of Music. corporateBody
associatedWith Cohen, Ronald D., 1940- person
associatedWith Conte, Silvio O. (Silvio Ottavio), 1921-1991. person
associatedWith Drinan, Robert F. person
associatedWith Drinan, Robert F. person
associatedWith Dvorakova, Karolina person
associatedWith Dvorakova, Karolina. person
associatedWith Dvořák, Stanislav person
associatedWith Dvořák, Stanislav. person
associatedWith Eisler, Hanns, 1898-1962. person
associatedWith Fairley, Barker, 1887-1986. person
associatedWith Grossman, Victor, 1928- person
associatedWith Indian Hill Music Camp (Stockbridge, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Ives, Charles, 1874-1954. person
associatedWith Ives, Harmony Twichell. person
associatedWith Janz, Peter. person
associatedWith Panzéra, Charles, 1896-1976. person
associatedWith Puner, Samuel. person
associatedWith Puner, Samuel. person
associatedWith Rebling, Eberhard, 1911-2008. person
associatedWith Robinson, Earl, 1910- person
associatedWith Schmidt, Werner, 1910- person
associatedWith Siegmeister, Elie, 1909-1991. person
associatedWith Society for Middle East Confederation. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
United States
Subject
Baritones (Singers)
Baritones (Singers)
Baritones (Singers)
Baritones
Communism and music
Music
Music
Political ballads and songs
Political ballads and songs
Progressivism (United States politics)
Occupation
Baritones (Singers)
Activity

Person

Birth 1912-03-12

Death 2007-05-16

Americans

English

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