Meyer Freistadt

Meyer Leo Freistadt was born on 9 November 1909 in New York City (USA). His parents were of Russian descent and emigrated to the USA in 1905 and 1907, respectively. The Freistadts were a musical family; the father himself, Jacob Freistadt, was a professional musician. They had four sons and a daughter, and most of them opted for a musical career. The oldest brother of Meyer Freistadt, Harry Freistadt, became a professional trumpeter and performed with Leroy Anderson and in Paul Taubman’s All-American Big Brass Band. His younger brother, Ancel Freistadt, also became a trumpeter and played in the CBS Symphony Orchestra.
It seems that Meyer Freistadt did not accept his “musical fate” and first studied psychology and guidance at Long Island University, New York University, and the City College of New York. During that time, he earned some money as a pianist with dance orchestras. At one of these events, he met Jack Zilbert, a former student of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, who encouraged him to compose. Meyer Freistadt therefore also studied music at Long Island University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1932. He later took composition lessons with David Diamond and Henry Brant, but his main source of income became his position as a psychologist at the New York State Labor Department. His work as a composer was dedicated only to his leisure time.
Meyer Freistadt was a close friend of Sidney Powers, the conductor of the New Rochelle Symphony Orchestra, and therefore many of his compositions were premiered by this ensemble.
Meyer Freistadt died on 29 December 1986 in New York City (USA).

Meyer Freistadt composed a large work catalogue including 6 symphonies, concertos for piano, violin, cello and flute, several string quartets and chamber music. Notable works are the Violin sonata which was premiered 1957 by Yvette Rudin (violin) and the Symphony No.4 which is dedicated to the late Martin Luther King.

Sidney Powers (left) and Meyer Freistadt discussing the score of the Symphony No.4 in 1969