Abe Schwartz

Abe Schwartz (1881-1963) was a well-known klezmer musician of the 1920s.

Abe was born outside of Bucharest, Romania, and moved to the United States in 1899. He soon distinguished himself as a talented arranger and composer of music, as well as a violinist, pianist, and bandleader.

The famous klezmer clarinettist Naftule Brandwein played for a time in Schwartz's ensemble, notably on popular songs like Brandwein's own "Firn Di Mekhutonim Aheym" (Leading the In-Laws Home). They also performed Schwartz's famous number "Di Grine Kuzine" (The Greenhorn Cousin), still played today by klezmer revivalists.

References

Strom, Yale. "The Book of Klezmer: The History, The Music, The Folklore" 1st ed. p.157