Shabtai Petrushka

Shabtai Arye Petrushka [Sigmund Leo Friedmann] (1903-1997)

Sigmund Leo Friedmann - conductor, trumpeter, composer, arranger and educator. Was born 13 March 1903 in Leipzig, Germany.

Grew up in an orthodox family and served as a young cantor at the daily prayers in his Jewish school. Studied piano, violoncello and theory in Leipzig. Between 1919 and 1922 sang in the Gewandhaus Choir in Leipzig under the direction of Arthur Nikisch. 

In 1916 joined the Zionist youth organization "Blaw-Weiss / Blue-White" under the leadership of Josef Markus.

In 1923 moved to Berlin intending to study mechanical engineering. Simultaneously started to study trumpet and contrabass. 

In 1926 founded, together with Kurt Kaiser, the jazz ensemble "Sid Kay’s Fellows". He gave up the idea of becoming an engineer and devoted all his energy to the ensemble which, under his baton, accompanied various theatrical performances and performed in many places including Vienna, Budapest, Frankfurt, Barcelona and Munich. 

In 1933 the ensemble was disbanded and he, under the Shabtai Petrushka name, founded a new one, while playing with The Orchestra of the Jewish Cultural Society and composing music for various plays (among them the Shalom Aleichem play "Amcha"). Using pseudonyms, to disguise his being a Jew, he worked as music arranger for the Deutsche Gramophone Gesellschaft and for UFA films, Berlin. 

In 1938 he immigrated to Palestine, where since 1925 his sister lived, and joined the Palestine Broadcasting Service as composer, conductor and arranger of its orchestra. In the first decade of the independent State of Israel Petrushka served as Deputy director of the Music Programs Department of “Kol Yerushalaym” (“Voice of Jerusalem”) and in 1958 was appointed the Director of Music Section in “Kol Israel” ("Voice of Israel”) and held this post until his retirement. 

Petrushka served as a jury member in international competitions for composers as well as a representative of the Israeli Broadcast Authority in European forums. In the years 1969-1981, he was senior lecturer for orchestration at the Rubin Academy of Music and Dance, Jerusalem. 

Shabtai Petrushka died 14 December 1997 in Jerusalem, Israel.

с дополнениями The Jewish National and University Library

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Bo Dodi (Itzhak Vogel) Kol Israel Orchestra  Hed Arzi 773 (801)

Der Rebe Elimelekh (Moshe Nadir) Alexander Edgar  Lukraphon 1140 B 1936

Der Rebbe Hot Gehaissen Frailech Sain (Abraham Goldfaden) Dora Gerson  Lukraphon 1127 A 1935

Erstes Jiddisches Volkslieder Potpourri Sid Kay's Fellows  Lukraphon 1114 A/B 1935

Hanoded Kol Israel Orchestra  Arzi A-2003 (R311-2)

Hanoded Kol Israel Orchestra  Hed Arzi 773 (802)

Kumah Achah (Itzhak Shneur - Shalom Postolski) Channa Kipnis  Lukraphon 1130 B 1935

Shir Haemek (Natan Altermann - Daniel Samburski) Channa Kipnis  Lukraphon 1130 A 1935

Sissu v'Sissu Kol Israel Orchestra  Arzi A-2002 (R311-1)

Sissu v'Sissu Kol Israel Orchestra  Hed Arzi 773 (802)

 conducted by Shabtai Petrushka

Last update 25-09-2022