MOYSHE RATNER

MOYSHE RATNER (ca. 1875-1910)

            He was a singer and member of a duet, born in Focșani, Romania.  He knew Yiddish, Hebrew, Romanian, and German.  He was popular in Romania, Galicia, and Germany with his songs for Yiddish variety theaters.  In 1900 he came to the United States.  There as well he composed songs and couplets, as well as several one-act operettas.  His best-known songs include: “Dos fishele” (The little fish) and “Di nyu-yorker trern” (New York tears).  He died in New York.

Sources: Zalmen Zilbertsvayg, Leksikon fun yidishn teater (Handbook of the Yiddish theater), vol. 6 (Mexico City, 1969); A. Forsher, in Forverts (New York) (June 24, 1973).

Yekhezkl Lifshits