Nathan Abas and the WPA's Bay Area Orchestra, California

Above: Nathan Abas (1896-1980), conducted the WPA's Bay Area Orchestra, California, from 1939-1942, for a total of 400 concerts. Photo from The Los Angeles Times, February 23, 1936, newspapers.com, used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.

  

Above: Listen to the WPA's Bay Area Orchestra. There is an introduction mentioning Nathan Abas; then a musical number; then, at around 6:24, there is a discussion of the WPA's role in reducing the prevalence of typhoid fever (a serious and sometimes deadly bacterial infection spread by poor sanitation); and finally a second music performance beginning at 8:21.

Above: The digital recording above came from this transcription record. Transcription records were a little bigger and often made of different materials than the records most of us are familiar with today. This record was probably used to broadcast WPA music on the radio, back in the day. Photo by Brent McKee.

Above: A closer look at the label on the transcription record. The WPA's Bay Area Orchestra seems to have gone by several names, for example, the "Northern California WPA Symphony Orchestra," the "Federal Symphony Orchestra of Northern California," the "Bay Region Federal Symphony Orchestra," and the "Bay Area Federal Symphony Orchestra." Some of this name variety probably stems from the change that occurred to the major federal art projects in 1939. Beginning in fiscal year 1939-1940, art projects were no longer sponsored by the WPA, but instead by states & localities (however, the WPA continued to provide funds).

Above: An announcement in The Los Angeles Times (5-16-1943), showing yet another name variation for Abas and his (former) WPA orchestra. Image from newspapers.com, used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.

Above: An advertisement for Nathan Abas and the "Northern California Symphony Orchestra" (note "Works Progress Administration" at the bottom). Nathan Abas and his WPA orchestra played at many venues, such as the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Oakland Auditorium Theater, Junior College Auditorium (Sacramento), San Francisco Veterans' Building, Outdoor Theatre of the College of the Pacific, the Hanford Auditorium (Hanford, California), and the Curran Theater (San Francisco). Image from the Oakland Tribune, February 7, 1940, and newspapers.com; used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.

Above: Part of a longer article in the February 5, 1939 edition of the Oakland Tribune, noting the talent of Abas and his musicians. This would be the first of many praises. Image from newspapers.com, used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.