Newman, Anthony
Newman, Anthony
Newman, Anthony, multifaceted American organist, harpsichordist, fortepianist, conductor, and composer; b. Los Angeles, May 12, 1941. He received keyboard training before pursuing studies in Paris with Cortot, Boulanger, and Cochereau, receiving a diplome supérieur from the École Normale de Musique. Following further studies at the Mannes Coll. of Music in N.Y. (B.S., 1962) and composition with Kirchner and Berio at Harvard Univ. (M.A., 1963), he completed his education at Boston Univ. (D.M.A., 1966). In 1967 he made his professional debut in a pedal harpsichord recital at N.Y.’s Carnegie Hall, and subsequently toured extensively in the U.S. and abroad as both a keyboard player and conductor. He also was active as conductor of his own period-instrument orch., the Brandenburg Collegium. After teaching at the Juilliard School in N.Y. (1968–73), he was on the faculty of the State Univ. of N.Y. at Purchase (from 1975), where he later was head of its graduate program in music. He also taught at the Indiana Univ. School of Music in Bloomington (1978–81) and gave master classes. Newman’s dedication to community outreach programs led him to organize and serve as director of Hands on Outreach, which provides food to the indigent. He publ. the books Bach and the Baroque: A Performing Guide with Special Emphasis on the Music ofj. S. Bach (1985; 2nd ed., rev, 1994) and How Music is Composed: Models in Composition (1995).
Works
dramatic:opera:Nicole and the Trial of the Century (1998). orch.: Violin Concerto (Indianapolis, Oct. 26, 1979); Concerto for Viola or Clarinet, Strings, Piano, and Timpani (1985); On Fallen Heroes, symphonic poem (1988); Piano Concerto (1989); Organ Concerto (1994; Englewood, N.J., Feb. 23, 1995); Concerto for Harpsichord, Oboe, and Strings (reconstruction of J. S. Bach’s BWV 1059; Seattle, April 15, 1998); 2 syms.: No. 1, American Classic (1999) and No. 2 (1999). chamber: Cello Sonata (1978); Violin Sonata (1980); Introduction and Toccata for Flute and Piano (1983); Piano Quintet (1983; rev. 1995); Suite for Flute and Guitar (1985); Sonata for Viola or Clarinet and Piano (1986); String Quartet (1994); Variations and Toccata for Violin (1994); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1995); Bassoon Sonata (1995); Sonata for Oboe or Clarinet and Piano (1997). keyboard: piano:Variations and Fugue on “BACH” (1992); Sonata of the Americas (1992); The Equal Tempered Pianoforte, 12 preludes and fugues (1992); Toccata and Fugue (1995). harpsichord:Chimaeras (1968); Suite (1989). o r g a n: 2 syms. (1985, 1991); Concert Etude (1990); Preludes and Fugues (2 vols., 1991, 1994); Toccata and Fugue on B-A-C- H (1999). guitar:Prelude and Grand Contrapunctus (1989); Suite (1990); Ride the Wind Horse (1992). vocal:Grand Hymns of Awakening for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1984); Lives and Times of Angels, oratorio (Mt. Kisco, N.Y., April 26, 1998); choruses; songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire