Bischofswerder, Boaz

Personal Papers Archives

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Authority Biography/Administrative History

Boaz BISCHOFSWERDER

Housing: 1 box Period: 1930's-1949

Boaz Bischofswerder was an "obercantor" at the Brunenstrasse synagogue (Reform) in Berlin. He left Germany in 1933 for London, but at the outbreak of world War II was interned by the British as an "enemy alien" and brought to Australia on the Dunera where subsequently, he was interned at Hay and Tatura.
His papers include manuscripts of traditional Jewish liturgical music created in the camps, (arrangements of the music of Levandowsky) and an original composition: Phantasia Judaica, first composed while on the Dunera, for four tenor voices, as well as a diary in Yiddish. After receiving a grant of $1000 from the Ethnic Affairs' Commission, and with the help of Felix Werder, his son, the Archive subsequently published Bischofswerder's music, which is currently available from the Archive. His papers also include an original collection of short stories Amol In Ger (Once Upon a time in Ger (name of a City) of almost two hundred hand written pages in Yiddish (in pencil).
Tapes: Cantor Boaz Bischofswerder sings a liturgical medley as well as his own compositions. From recording of 1926 (BBC) and Cantor Nachama (Berlin)(1970s) sings Ohavo by Bischofswerder from the Friday Adonoj night services. (Copied from recordings in the possession of Felix Werder in February 1997 (by the Archive of Jewish Music, Monash University) plus a tape and compact disc of the music (Aspect 1996) of Felix Werder. 

ProvenanceBISCHOFSWERDER, Boaz (BISCHOFSWERDERB)
Dates(s)1939 to 1949
Scope & ContentHis papers include manuscripts of traditional Jewish liturgical music created in the camps, (arrangements of the music of Levandowsky) and an original composition: Phantasia Judaica, first composed while on the Dunera, for four tenor voices, as well as a diary in Yiddish. After receiving a grant of $1000 from the Ethnic Affairs' Commission, and with the help of Felix Werder, his son, the Archive subsequently published Bischofswerder's music, which is currently available from the Archive. His papers also include an original collection of short stories Amol In Ger (Once Upon a time in Ger (name of a City) of almost two hundred hand written pages in Yiddish (in pencil). Tapes: Cantor Boaz Bischofswerder sings a liturgical medley as well as his own compositions. From recording of 1926 (BBC) and Cantor Nachama (Berlin)(1970s) sings Ohavo by Bischofswerder from the Friday Adonoj night services. (Copied from recordings in the possession of Felix Werder in February 1997 (by the Archive of Jewish Music, Monash University) plus a tape and compact disc of the music (Aspect 1996) of Felix Werder.