Yet another one, via Carson Cooman:
Elias Tanenbaum, composer, teacher and long-time New Rochelle resident died on Thursday after a long illness. He composed over 140 works in all idioms, including music for concert, jazz, theater, television, ballet and electronic and computer music. His music has been performed extensively throughout this country, Europe and Japan and recordings of his music can be found on Albany, New World, MMC and other labels. Mr. Tanenbaum was the Founding Director of the Electronic Computer Music Studio at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, and he was a member of the composition faculty there for almost 30 years. Born in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York, Elias Tanenbaum studied trumpet at an early
age and played with many jazz bands. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in World War II, and lost his right leg above the knee in Southern France in 1944. After being awarded a Purple Heart, he received a Bachelor’s from the Juilliard School of Music in 1949, and an M.A. from Columbia University, all on the G.I. bill. Besides music, he loved art, movies, reading, cooking, politics and comedy. He lived in New Rochelle, New York from 1959. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, pianist Mary Tanenbaum, his brother Ray, two children, David and Jacob, and three grandchildren, Zachary, Simon and Nicky. 11 AM memorial gathering will be held on Sunday at the Funeral Home followed by a 12 PM service.
GEORGE T DAVIS FUNERAL HOME 14 Lecount Place New Rochelle, NY 914 632 0324
Thanks for posting this, and for the kind comments. He was a spirit. We have established an Elias Tanenbaum Fund with Mata, Inc, (matafestival.org) to help commission young composers.
Matthew Cmeil asked me to post this on his behalf:
My deepest sympathy goes to Elias Tanenbaum’s son David.
My former teacher David Tanenbaum is one of the world’s most admired classical guitarists. He has had music written for him by Aaron Jay Kernis, Terry Riley, Hans Werner Henze, Roberto Sierra, Lou Harrison, John Adams and many others.