SHMUEL-ARN FRIDMAN

SHMUEL-ARN FRIDMAN (1856-1918)

            He was born in Minsk, Byelorussia, into a wealthy family.  He received both a Jewish and a general education.  He later became well-known as the cantor of Ponevezh (Panevėžys).  In 1888 he came to the United States.  His first year there he worked as a cantor in St. Louis, and later until his death in Cleveland.  He published articles on Jewish music and the cantorial art in: Yidishes tageblat (Jewish daily newspaper) in New York; and Der idisher firer (The Jewish leader) in Boston.  From 1912 until his death, he was the music and theater reviewer for Di idishe velt (The Jewish world) in Cleveland.  In book form: Der harmonye-lerer (The harmony teacher) (St. Louis, 1895), 160 pp.; and in an enlarged edition with several articles from New York and other newspapers (Cleveland, 1918), 181 pp.  He died in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sources: Elyohu Zaludkovski, Kultur-treger fun der yidisher liturgye, historish-byografisher iberblik iber khazones, khazonim un dirizhorn (Culture bearer of Jewish liturgy, historical-biographical survey of the cantorial art, cantors, and conductors) (Detroit, 1930), p. 239; obituary notices in the Yiddish press.

Khayim Leyb Fuks