Historian, composer win Pulitzers

Holocaust historian Saul Friedlander and Jewish composer David Lang won Pulitzer Prizes this week.

Friedlander, 75, was awarded a Pulitzer in the general nonfiction category for his book “The Years of Extermination: Nazi Germany and the Jews, 1939-1945.” The prize comes with a $10,000 award.

The Prague-born Friedlander survived the Holocaust and moved to Israel, eventually winning the nation’s top civilian honor, the Israel Prize, for his scholarship. He currently serves as a UCLA professor.

Lang, co-founder and co-artistic director of the music collective Bang on a Can, was awarded a Pulitzer in music for his composition “The Little Match Girl Passion.” — jta