Richard Franko Goldman (December 7, 1910 – January 19, 1980)
was a
conductor
Conductor or conduction may refer to:
Biology and medicine
* Bone conduction, the conduction of sound to the inner ear
* Conduction aphasia, a language disorder
Mathematics
* Conductor (ring theory)
* Conductor of an abelian variety
* Cond ...
,
educator
A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching.
''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...
, author,
music critic
'' The Oxford Companion to Music'' defines music criticism as "the intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres". In this sense, it is a branch of m ...
, and
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and def ...
.
Born Richard Henry Maibrunn Goldman (Maibrunn being his mother's family name), he adopted the same middle name as his father, the conductor
Edwin Franko Goldman
Edwin Franko Goldman (January 1, 1878 – February 21, 1956) was an American composer and conductor. One of the most significant American band composers of the early 20th century, Goldman composed over 150 works, but is best known for his March ...
, whose middle name came from the latter's mother's musical family.
After graduating from
Townsend Harris High School
Townsend Harris High School (THHS; often also shortened to Townsend Harris or simply Townsend) is a public high school for the humanities in the New York City borough of Queens. It is located on the campus of Queens College, a public college p ...
in Manhattan, New York, Richard Goldman attended
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
, graduating in 1930 with an A.B. (with honors). After a year of graduate study at Columbia, he then went to Paris to study composition with
Nadia Boulanger
Juliette Nadia Boulanger (; 16 September 188722 October 1979) was a French music teacher, conductor and composer. She taught many of the leading composers and musicians of the 20th century, and also performed occasionally as a pianist and organis ...
. He also studied privately with
Wallingford Riegger. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
he served in the
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the first intelligence agency of the United States, formed during World War II. The OSS was formed as an agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines ...
.
He was associate conductor 1937–1956 and then succeeded his father as conductor of the
Goldman Band of New York City. He led that band from 1956 until poor health caused him to stop conducting in the summer of 1979. He dissolved the band, but it returned to perform as the Guggenheim Concerts Band in 1980 and the Goldman Memorial Band in 1984.
He taught at the
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...
1947–1960 and was a visiting professor at
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private university, private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial ...
1952–1956. He also was director of the
Peabody Conservatory of Music in
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...
1968–1977 and president of the
Peabody Institute
The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University is a Private university, private music and dance music school, conservatory and College-preparatory school, preparatory school in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1857, it became affiliat ...
1969–1977. He was initiated as a national honorary member of
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (legally Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha, PMA, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for men with a special interest ...
music fraternity in 1969.
Amongst his compositions are the Lee Rigg (1942) for orchestra, Sonata for Violin and Piano (1964), and a Duo for Tubas or bassoons (1950). He also wrote several marches, including The Foundation, Pride of the 97, National Intercollegiate Band (named for the
Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity (, colloquially referred to as KKPsi) is an honorary Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for school band, college and university band members in the United States. It was founded on November ...
and
Tau Beta Sigma
Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority (, colloquially referred to as TBSigma or TBS) is a co-educational recognition and service sorority for collegiate band members.
The sorority, headquartered at the historic Stillwater Santa Fe Depot in Still ...
–sponsored
ensemble), and Seaside Park. His contributions to ''
The Musical Quarterly
''The Musical Quarterly'' is the oldest academic journal on music in America. Originally established in 1915 by Oscar Sonneck, the journal was edited by Sonneck until his death in 1928. Sonneck was succeeded by a number of editors, including C ...
'' as New York critic ensured early recognition to Wallingford Riegger,
Henry Cowell
Henry Dixon Cowell (; March 11, 1897 – December 10, 1965) was an American composer, writer, pianist, publisher, teacher Marchioni, Tonimarie (2012)"Henry Cowell: A Life Stranger Than Fiction" ''The Juilliard Journal''. Retrieved 19 June 2022.C ...
, and
Elliott Carter
Elliott Cook Carter Jr. (December 11, 1908 – November 5, 2012) was an American modernist composer who was one of the most respected composers of the second half of the 20th century. He combined elements of European modernism and American " ...
.
Awards and honors
*Juilliard Music Foundation award 1955
*
Ditson Conductor's Award
The Ditson Conductor's Award, established in 1945, is the oldest award honoring conductors for their commitment to the performance of American music. The US$5,000 purse is endowed by the Alice M. Ditson Fund at Columbia University, increased in ...
1961
*
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are Grant (money), grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, endowed by the late Simon Guggenheim, Simon and Olga Hirsh Guggenheim. These awards are bestowed upon indiv ...
1962
*
Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity (, colloquially referred to as KKPsi) is an honorary Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for school band, college and university band members in the United States. It was founded on November ...
Distinguished Service to Music Medal, 1971
*National Patron of
Delta Omicron
Delta Omicron () is a co-ed international professional music honors fraternity whose mission is to promote and support excellence in music and musicianship.
History
Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity was founded on September 6, 1909 a ...
, an international professional music fraternity.
Personal life
He married Alexandra Rienzi on June 8, 1934. Together they had one child, Daniel Franko Goldman. Richard Franko Goldman died aged 69 at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore.
[Ericson, Raymond. "Richard Goldman, Leader of Goldman Band, Dies", ''New York Times'', January 22, 1980, p. B15.]
Bibliography
*(1977/1965). ''Harmony in Western Music''. New York: W. W. Norton. (1965).
Sources
Further reading
*''Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians''. Schirmer, 2001.
*Contemporary Authors Online, 2007.
*
Grove Music Online'
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldman, Richard Franko
1910 births
1980 deaths
American bandleaders
American male composers
American music critics
Columbia College (New York) alumni
Distinguished Service to Music Medal recipients
Jewish American musicians
Juilliard School faculty
Musicians from Queens, New York
Peabody Institute faculty
Princeton University faculty
20th-century American composers
20th-century American non-fiction writers
Townsend Harris High School alumni
20th-century American male musicians
20th-century American Jews
Chávez scholars