Tansman, Alexandre

Polish-born pianist and composer Alexandre (Aleksander) Tansman (1897-1986) left his native country for France when he couldn't find acceptance for his modern, atonal compositions. Nazi anti-Semitism led him to reclaim his Jewish heritage and to leave Europe for the safety of the United States. He composed film music for a time in Hollywood. His maturing process continued when he moved back to Paris and slowly also reestablished connection with his Polish origins. He wrote orchestral, chamber, solo piano, guitar, choir, and operatic music and composed pieces specifically for young musicians.