Anthony Newman (born May 12, 1941) is an American classical musician. While mostly known as an organist, Newman is also a harpsichordist (including the pedal harpsichord), pianist, composer, conductor, writer, and teacher. He is a specialist in music of the Baroque period, particularly the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, and has collaborated with such noted musicians as Kathleen Battle, Julius Baker, Itzhak Perlman, Eugenia Zukerman, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Leonard Bernstein, Michala Petri, and Wynton Marsalis, for whom he arranged and conducted In Gabriel’s Garden, the most popular classical record of 1996.Polkow, Dennis, "Anthony Newman Gets Some Respect", Calendar Archives, April, 1988.
Early life Newman was born in Los Angeles, California. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was a professional dancer and an amateur pianist. Early in life he was "delighted, elated and fascinated" with the music of Bach.Armstrong, Jon, Interview with Musician Anthony Newman. From the age of ten to seventeen he studied the organ with Richard Keys Biggs.Donahue, Thomas, Anthony Newman: Music, Energy, Spirit, Healing, 2001, Scarecrow Press, Inc., Lanham
At age seventeen Newman went to Paris, France, to study at the École Normale de Musique, where he received a diplôme supérieur.
Newman returned to the United States and received a B.S. in 1963 from the Mannes School of Music having studied organ with Edgar Hilliar, piano with Edith Oppens and composition with William Sydemann. He worked as a teaching fellow at Boston University while studying composition with Leon Kirchner at Harvard University. He received his M.A. in composition from Harvard in 1966 and his doctorate in organ from Boston University in 1967 where he studied organ with George Faxon and composition with Gardner Read and Luciano Berio for whom he also served as teaching assistant.
Professional life
Newman's professional debut, in which he played Bach organ works on the pedal harpsichord, took place at the Carnegie Recital Hall in New York in 1967. Of this performance The New York Times wrote, "His driving rhythms and formidable technical mastery...and intellectually cool understanding of the structures moved his audience to cheers at the endings."Klein, Howard, A Harpsichordist Dazzles in Debut, The New York Times, February 16, 1967. Newman also drew young audiences, as noted by Time magazine in a 1971 article in which they dubbed him the "high priest of the harpsichord.""Hip Harpsichordist", Time, August 28, 1972, p. 37. Newman has gone on to make solo recordings for a variety of labels including Digitech, Excelsior, Helicon, Infinity Digital/Sony, Moss Music Group/Vox, Newport Classic, Second Hearing, Sheffield, Sine Qua Non, Sony, Deutsche Grammophon, and 903 Records. Newman has recorded most of Bach's keyboard works on organ, harpsichord and piano as well as recording works of Scarlatti, Handel, and Couperin. On the fortepiano he has recorded the works of Beethoven and Mozart. As a conductor Newman has led international orchestras such as the Madeira Festival Orchestra, the Brandenburg Collegium, and the English Chamber Orchestra.
For thirty years, starting in 1968, while Newman continued to record, concertize, compose, conduct and write, he taught music at The Juilliard School, Indiana University, and State University of New York at Purchase.Cummings, Robert, Anthony Newman Biography
Although initially intensely interested in composition, he became discouraged by the non-tonal music that was the focus of conservatory composition departments in the 1950s and '60s. He returned to composition in the 1980s, and has written music for a range of instruments including organ, harpsichord, orchestra, guitar, violin, cello, flute chamber ensemble, piano, choral music and opera. In 2011, Newman released a 20-CD set of his compositions on 903 Records.
Newman is music director of Bach Works and Bedford Chamber Concerts and is on the board of Musical Quarterly magazine. He is also music director at St. Matthew's Church, Bedford New York.
Personal life Newman married fellow conductor and organist Mary Jane Newman in 1968. They have three sons.
Discography Note: * indicates Newman's composition
903 Records J.S. Bach: Six Partitas J.S. Bach: Well Tempered Clavier Book 2, 1742 J.S. Bach: Works for Pedal Harpsichord and Organ, 230 J.S. Bach: Inventions in 2 Parts and Sinfonias in 3 Parts J.S. Bach: Great Works for Organ, 114 The Music of J.S. Bach, 552 J.S. Bach: French Suites, 30 Variations on Walsingham, 1722 J.S. Bach: Six Partitas, 599 J.S. Bach: English Suites, 1723 My Favorite Bach Recordings, 2013 J.S. Bach: Aria with 30 Variations Selections from Bach's Brandenburg Concerti J.S. Bach: Concerto in D Minor, Seven Toccatas for Harpsichord The Complete Collected Harpsichord Works of J.S. Bach The Complete Collected Organ Works of J.S. Bach Ad Nos, Ad Salutaremudam & Fantasia and Fugue on BACH, Music of Franz Liszt 3 Great Piano Duets Three Symphonies for Organ Solo *, 240 Nicole and the Trial of the Century *, 1994 Complete Works for Cello and Piano *, 121 Complete Works for Violin and Piano *, 253 Te Deum Laudamus *, 2007 Large Chamber Works: Chamber Concerto, String Quartet #2, Piano Quintet * Complete Works for Organ *, 17501941, 2016 American Classic Symphonies 1 and 2 *, 200 Ittzes Plays Newman: Complete Works for Flute *, 309 12 Preludes and Fugues in Ascending Key Order for Piano Solo * Complete Music for Violin *, 112 The Complete Original Works of Anthony Newman on 20 CDs * Concertino for Piano & Orchestra * On Fallen Heros: Orchestral Works * 6 Concertos *, 1915, 2015 9 Sonatas for Piano Solo *, 1331, 4 Symphonies *, 16851750, 2017 Complete Works for Piano *, 10964, 2015 Complete Chamber Works *, 1516 Angel Oratorio * Complete Choral Works *, 2017 Three Commissioned Works ^ 3-2015, 2015 Lectures on Bach's Well Tempered Clavier, Books I and II, 1724, 2015 Anthony Newman Plays Vierne, Mozart, Stravinsky, Newman, Bach, and Couperin Eugenia Zukerman and Anthony Newman play Bach, Haydn, and Hummel, 4143 New Music for Heard and Mind *, 713 Wedding Album, 170 Wedding Album, Great Music for a Great Occasion Danielle Farina Plays Anthony Newman, 2013 Complete Works for Piano Four Hands, 10814, 2016 Great Works for the Organ Taken From Operas, 502 Celebratory Music for Harpsichord, 215 Albany Records Absolute Joy, TROY 327, 1999 Bach 2000 A Musical Tribute, 357, 2000 Nicole and the Trial of the Century, 351, 20000 Air Force Strings Label Newman: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra * Arabesque Recordings Newman's Valentine Songs, 2016 Great Christmas Music for the Organ, Z6881, 2015 Cambridge Records Music by Anthony Newman *, CRS B 2833, 1978
CBS Masterworks/Columbia Anthony Newman Harpsichord, M 30062,1968 Anthony Newman – JS Bach, MS 7421, 1969 Music for Organ, M 31127, 1969 Anthony Newman Plays and Conducts Bach and Haydn, MQ 32300, 1973 Anthony Newman Plays Harpsichord, Organ, and Pedal Harpsichord, M 32229, 1973 Anthony Newman Plays J.S. Bach on the Pedal Harpsichord and Organ, MS 7309, 1968 Bach: Goldberg Variations, M 30538, 1971 The Well Tempered Clavier Book I, M2 32500, 1973 The Well Tempered Clavier Book II, M2 32875, 1971 Bach: The Six Brandenburg Concertos, M2 31398, 1972 Lutheran Organ Mass, M2-32497, 1973 Bhajebochstiannanas *, M 32439, 1973 Organ Orgy, M 33268, 1975 J.S. Bach/Anthony Newman, MS 7421, 1970
Connoisseur/Arabesque Brahms: The Two Cello Sonatas Mozart: Sonata in D for Two Fortepianos, 8125
Delos Productions Toning – Music for Healing and Energy *, DE 3213, 1997 Music for a Sunday Morning, DE 3173, 1995
Deutsche Grammophon J.S. Bach: Arias, 429737, 1990
Digitech Handel: Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks, DIGI 103, 1979
Epiphany Records Concerts Royaux, EP-23, 2017
Essay Martin: Concerto for Seven Wind Instruments, 1014, 1991
Excelsior Records Masterpieces for Flute, 1982 J.S. Bach: The Ultimate Organ Collection, EXL-2-5221, 1994
Helicon Bach at Lejansk, HE1010, 1996 Bach In Celebration, 5107, 2000 Bach: The Goldberg Variations Infinity Digital/Sony Bach Favorite Organ Works, QK 62385, 1992 Bach: Goldberg Variations, QK 625882, 1996 Bach: Toccatas, 1996
Kelos Bach: Great Works for Organ – Toccatas and Fugues, 2000
Khaeon Bach: The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1 (complete piano and harpsichord) Vol I, KWM6001031, 2001 Bach: The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1 (complete piano and harpsichord) Vol II, KWM6001032, 2001 Bach: The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1 (complete piano and harpsichord) Vol III, KWM6001033, 2001 Bach: The Great Works for the Organ Requiem *, KWM600102
Musical Heritage Society Telemann: Six “Konzerte” for Flute and Concertante Harpsichord, MHS 4523, 1982 Two Generations: Concerti for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra, MHS 7397A, 1986 Vivaldi Oboe Concerti, 513905X, 1993
Naxos The Four Seasons, 2006
Newport Classic Bach: Preludes and Fugues for Organ, Vol 1, NCD 60001, 1986 Bach: Preludes and Fugues for Organ, Vol 2, NCD 60002, 1986 Bach: Preludes and Fugues for Organ, Vol 3, NCD 60003, 1986 Bach: Preludes and Fugues for Organ, Vol 4, NC 60004, 1986 Bach: 6 Trio Sonatas, LC 8554, 1995 Bach: Favorite Works for Organ, NCD 60090, 1992 Bach Brandenburgs Beethoven: Four Great Sonatas (fortepiano), NCD 60040, 1988 Beethoven: Violin Sonatas, NCD 60097, 1990 Couperin: Two Organ Masses, NCD 60041, 1988 Falla: Harpsichord Concerto, NC 60017, 1986 Franck: Complete Works for the Organ, Vol I, NCD 60060, 1987 Franck: Complete Works for the Organ, Vol I, NCD 60061, 1987 J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations, NCD 60024, 1987 Bach: St. John Passion, NC 60015/1, 1986 For God and Country, NCD 85533, 1994 Keyboard Companion, NCD60026, 1991 César Franck; Complete Organ Works, Vol I, NCD060060, 1989 César Franck; Complete Organ Works, Vol II, NCD060061, 1989 Mozart: 6 Fortepiano Sonatas, Vol I, NCD 60121, 1990 Mozart: 4 Fortepiano Sonatas, Vol II, NCD 60122, 1990 Mozart: 4 Fortepiano Sonatas, Vol III, NCD 60123, 1990 Mozart: 4 Fortepiano Sonatas, Vol IV, NCD 60124, 1990 W.A. Mozart: Seven Sonatas for Flute and Keyboard, NCD 60120, 1992 Mozart: Complete Music for String Orchestra, NCD 60137, 1990 Romantic Masterworks for Organ, Vol I, NCD 60060, 1989 Romantic Masterworks for Organ, Vol II, NCD 60050, 1989 Scarlatti Sonatas, NCD 60080, 1989 Solo Organ Concerti, NCD 60071, 1989 Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 (fortepiano), NC 60031, 1987 Beethoven: Piano Concertos No. 2 and 4 (fortepiano), NCD 60081, 1988 Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 (fortepiano), NC60007, 1986 Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 (fortepiano), NC 60027, 1987 J.S. Bach: Concertos for One and Two Harpsichords, NC 60023, 1987 Schumann: Piano Concerto, NCD 60034 Beethoven: Violin Sonatas (fortepiano) Lutheran Organ Mass, NCD 60073 On Fallen Heroes, Orchestral Works by Anthony Newman *, NCD 60140, 1992 A Christman Album, NCD 60072, 1989 Newman New Music *, NCD 60032, 1988 Time Pieces, NCD 6044 Contemporary American Piano Music, NCD 60048
OUR Recordings Telemann: Complete Recorder Sonatas, 8226909, 2014
Peter Pan Midnight in Havana, 4411, 1999
Sheffield A Bach Organ Recital, S-6, 1966
Sine Qua Non Bach: Favorite Organ Music, SQN-7771, 1976 Bach: Organ Masterpieces, SA 2042, 1981 Bach: Harpsichord Collection, SQN-2050
Sonoma Music for Organ, Brass, and Timpani, SAC-001, 2004
Sony Handel: Harpsichord Suites, SBK 62834, 1997, 1992 Mozart: Famous Piano Sonatas, 63290, 1997 Scarlatti: Harpsichord Sonatas, SBK 62654, 1989, 1996 Baroque Duet, SK 46672, 1992 Grace, 62035, 1995 Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3, 'Organ', SK 53979, 1996 Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos, 62472, 1994 Classic Wynton, 60804, 1998 In Gabriel's Garden, 66244, 1996 Organ Orgy, 1974 Bach: Goldberg Variations, SICC 2107, 1972 Newman Plays Newman *, GS 9005, 1984 The Wedding Album, MDK 47273, 1991 Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik; Symphonies 35, 40, 41, 63272, 1997 Lease Breakers, 1985 Wynton Marsalis: The London Concert, 1995
Vox