Philip Laskowsky: Composer, Conductor, Actor
Philip Laskowsky was born Pinchas Laskowsky in Warsaw, Poland in the year 1884. His father was a lumber merchant and follower of the Radzymin Chassidim. As a youth Philip was taught by Melameds and his father. Philip learned music from a Chazzan as well as from his brother, who was a music professor. His brother wanted to prepare Philip for the career of being a military bandleader.
Philip was apprenticed in the Bustnai opera company in Warsaw and after a short time, Philip was soon promoted to the second choir conductor. Philip became acquainted with a Yiddish Theatre actor named Strasfogel and before long began to act in small productions with him. Philip then began acting with traveling Yiddish theatre troupes in Poland and the Russian Empire until the World War 1 began. After Warsaw became occupied by Germany, a central theatre was organized. In this theater, Philip played as a character actor in operettas. Philip also began to compose music for other operettas at this time. Toward the end of the war, Philip married his wife Sarah, and in 1919 they had their daughter Chaya.
In 1921 Philip emigrated to the United States where he resumed acting and composing short works for the Yiddish theatre. He frequently worked on Boris Thomashefsky productions. In the 1920’s, Philip also had jobs in smaller Yiddish theatres. Philip frequently followed Thomashefsky to locations such as Los Angeles in 1925, Philadelphia in 1927 as well as other cities.
Philip collaborated with other prominent figures of the American Yiddish theatre such as Louis Gilrod, Isidore Lillian, Jacob Jacobs, and Rubin Doctor. Phillip has been credited for writing the music for the well-known Yiddish song Oyfn veg shteyt a boym.
In 1929 Philip got his first significant job writing full compositions. He became the director, conductor and composer at the Prospect Theatre with Nathan Goldberg and Jacob Jacobs. It was in this same year, on March 4, 1929, that there was a car accident. Goldberg, Laskowsky and actor Lucy Finkel were all in the car. The crash resulted in significant injuries. Philip suffered a broken spine and spent several months in recovery.
Philip continued to be highly productive in the Yiddish theatre throughout the 1930’s. He was involved not only composing but also in arranging the compositions of other composers. In 1930 and 1931 Philip was employed at the Hopkinson Theatre and also found work for a short time in Winnipeg, Canada. Philip returned to the United States in 1931 when he became employed by the Arch Street Theatre in Philadelphia. In 1932, Philip returned to New York in when he was employed at Brooklyn’s Liberty Theatre.
During and after World War II, when the Yiddish theatre began declining in popularity, Philip collaborated regularly with Israel Rosenberg and Vera Rozanka. Philip’s single contribution to film music was a partial credit for Catskill Honeymoon, which was a low-budget 1950 film directed by Josef Berne.
Philip Laskowsky died in New York on June 12, 1960. He was buried at Mount Hebron Cemetery in the Yiddish Theatrical Alliance section.
May his memory be a blessing.
~Blog by Renee Meyers
Selected list of plays and operettas Philip Laskowsky wrote music for:
Der griner melamed
Di griner kuzine (1922, written by Boris Thomashefsky)
Di khasene in Rumenien (1924)
Di bar mitzvah (1927, written by Boris Thomashefsky)
Khad gadya (1927, written by Boris Thomashefsky)
In rabins hoyf by Nestor
Der konig fun gamblers (1928, written by Meir Schwartz)
Dayn mames gelibter (1928, by H. Kalmanovitsh)
Avrahamale melamed
Farlangt a khosn (by Samuel H. Kohn)
Di kenigin fun meyn harts (1929, written by William Siegel and lyrics by Louis Gilrod)
Der kleiner bondit (1933, written by Samuel Steinberg)
Der kleyne rebele (1935, written by Anshel Schorr)
Farblondzhete mener (1951, written by Israel Rosenberg)
Gezang fun libe (Song of Love, 1951, written by Israel Rosenberg)
Hintern farlang fun lebn (1951, written by Israel Rosenberg), Yosef mit zayne brider (1955, written by Israel Rosenberg)
Philip Laskowsky: Recordings
Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-39361 10-in. 10/25/1927 Reizele David Medoff Male vocal solo, with orchestra director
Victor BVE-39362 10-in. 10/25/1927 Jankele nar David Medoff Male vocal solo, with orchestra director
Victor BVE-39363 10-in. 10/25/1927 Oif dem electrik chair David Medoff Male vocal solo, with orchestra director
Victor BVE-39364 10-in. 10/25/1927 Oif dem electrik chair David Medoff Male vocal solo, with orchestra and dramatic introduction director
Victor BVE-39365 10-in. 10/25/1927 Die aktrise Rae Soloviova Female vocal solo, with orchestra director
Victor BVE-39366 10-in. 10/25/1927 Die lebedige yesoimele Rae Soloviova Female vocal solo, with orchestra director
Victor BVE-39367 10-in. 10/25/1927 Di aktrise David Medoff Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble conductor
Victor BVE-39368 10-in. 10/25/1927 Zigonka worozska David Medoff ; Rae Soloviova Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra director
Victor BVE-39369 10-in. 10/25/1927 Udovitzia David Medoff ; Rae Soloviova Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra director
Columbia W109640 10-in. September 1928 Nehm fun dem leben vi es geht, fun "Zein Mame's geliebter" Pesach Burstein Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer
Columbia W110177 10-in. December 1928 Eliohu hanovi, eliyohu hatishbi Pesach Burstein Male vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with instrumental ensemble composer
Brunswick E5063-E5064 10-in. 5/16/1927 Erlich sein Aaron Lebedeff Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer
