Alex Alexander(1898-1983)

Alexander Borisoff was born in Odessa, Russia. He attended the Russian Conservatory of Music where he majored in Composition and Cello. He graduated with a Doctorate in Music and performed as a concert cellist in a series of highly successful appearances throughout Europe before coming to America. While touring the United States, Alexander was invited by Dr. Otto Klemperer to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic as their first cellist. During his tenure with the Philharmonic, Alexander introduced his Cello Concerto and his Poeme Ancien for Cello, Narrator, Chorus & Orchestra. Alexander was commissioned by NBC to compose a tone poem for Symphony Orchestra based upon the theme Anerica which was played by the Los Angeles Philharmonic over a coast-to-coast broadcast and subsequently performed by major symphony orchestras throughout the United States. In 1971, Alexander's String Quartet was recorded by the American Chamber Virtuosi and in 1975 his Impressions of Hawaii was commissioned and performed by the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. He wrote scores for many Hollywood motion pictures and television programs and has also made musical arrangements for well-known vocalists and recording groups. He also wrote books on musical composition. Alexander sadly passed away in the early 1980s.