The music of composer Paul Schoenfield reflects folk -- specifically Jewish -- and popular influences. He was also a noted educator. For the first part of his career, Schoenfield was active as a concert pianist, and in 1987, he made his recording debut, backing violinist Robert Davidovici on the latter's self-titled album. His turn toward composition came later in life, with his Three Country Fiddle pieces for electric violin, percussion, and amplified piano appearing in 1980 as one of his first mature compositions. Major Schoenfield works include the opera The Merchant and the Pauper (1999). His Camp Songs (2003) brought a finalist nod for the 2003 Pulitzer Prize in Music. As of the early 2020s, more than 30 of Schoenfield's works had been recorded.