Music!
This word must start any statement on the life of Arthur Abrams.
Born Groundhog's Day 1937 in The Bronx, NY to Harry Jack and Gertrude Abrams, at the earliest ages, music became interwoven with the things Arthur loved most - family, beauty and the miracle of life. He listened to orchestras, operas and the music of Yiddish theater and life.
He took so much in by the age of ten that he needed to bring some of it back out of him and he first started piano lessons with the full support of his parents. This started a lifelong relationship that took him to Music and Art High School, Juilliard and overseas to Germany, perfecting his craft.
In his college years, he met his wife June Hildebrand, a renowned artist herself and began a series of adventures to start their lives together that included stops all around the country and the world. They were married at a City Hall ceremony in 1958.
It was around this time that Arthur became a working pianist and entertainer. He was known to play at The Joffrey Ballet, La MaMa experimental theater, restaurants around New York City and upscale holiday parties and galas. He also shared his love of music with middle school children in the public schools as their teacher, specifically in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
Arthur's love of and ability to play Yiddish music led him to eventually provide music for the documentary film The Golden Age of Second Avenue, where a young Arthur enjoyed the thrill of a lifetime accompanying Molly Picon singing Yonkel on film.
Arthur soon transitioned from fostering scholastic performances to creating music for new dramatic works produced mainly off-Broadway. From his East Village studio, he wrote music and was musical director for countless works, enjoying his opportunities to collaborate on new productions primarily at The Theater for the New City with Crystal Field, Tom Attea (whom he missed dearly), Mark Marcante, David Willinger and Herb Lattner, among others.
Arthur experienced a terrible brain injury in 1997. Hospitalized, it was thought that he would not regain much brain function but in a miracle of sorts, Arthur kept hearing music and playing with his fingers on his hospital trays, regenerating his abilities in remarkable ways. A testament to the healing power of music.
Arthur and June spent summers at their beloved Mt. Shasta retreat, where in his spry days he could be seen riding a motorcycle or fitting himself for crampons to scale Mt. Shasta itself.
A lifelong student of the piano, even at the age of eighty five, Arthur experienced a revelation in his playing. He'd mention it each and every phone conversation and from this author's ears, it was worth the excitement. He played better than he ever had before. A sustaining gift he cherished deeply.
Arthur is survived by his wife June and his sister Barbara Hyman, his niece Gretchen (and her husband Christopher) and nephews Gregg (and his wife Rosanna) and Alexander, who love and miss him very much, as do his grand nephews Demetrius, Marcus and Edward and his grand niece Josephine. Arthur had friends and family all over and loved them generously.
In lieu of flowers, Arthur's family would like to direct any giving in Arthur's name to The Theater for the New City - https://theaterforthenewcity.net/donate/
And The Yiddish Theatrical Alliance, who created a place for Arthur to rest among his heroes of the Yiddish theater would appreciate any donation very much. They are not a 501C.
They spent thousands of dollars just last year redoing the cement walk that really needed to be repaired/ replaced. They assist those actors/ theater people who cannot afford a final resting place. That is a big mitzva.
To make a contribution,
Send a check made out to the Yiddish Theatrical Alliance and send to:
Yiddish Theatrical Alliance
141 Harrison Ave
Island Park NY
11558
*In memory of Arthur Abrams
The Golden Age of Second Avenue - https://vimeo.com/122429077
Arthur Abrams Oral History for Yiddish Book Center - https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/collections/oral-histories/interviews/woh-fi-0000979/arthur-abrams-2017
A graveside service for Arthur will be held Monday, June 5, 2023 from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Mount Hebron Cemetery, 130-04 Horace Harding Expressway, Flushing, NY 11367.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NevskyYablokoff.com for the Abrams family.
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