Joel Newman (1918–2014)

Below is Prof. Newman's obituary as it appeared in The New York Times on December 21, 2014.

Joel Newman, Ph.D. died in his home in Provincetown, Massachusetts on December 17, 2014. Born in Brooklyn, NY in 1918, he was 96. Dr. Newman played an important role in the early music revival in New York City. His 1962 doctoral thesis on the early Italian composer, Salamone Rossi, remains the definitive work on him. In the 1950's, Dr Newman became the musicologist for the New York Pro Musica and joined the music department at Columbia University. 

Dr. Newman taught at Columbia for more than 30 years and after retirement continued teaching as Professor Emeritus. Newman studied recorder with Bernard Krainis and played in the first American Recorder Society ensemble under Erich Katz. He was proficient on early instruments, piano, organ and harpsichord. He received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Record Society in 2007 for his work as a musicologist, music editor and musician. After retirement, Joel Newman settled in Provincetown, Massachusetts, ran his own sheet music business and was co- owner of the Provincetown Bookshop. He is predeceased by Elloyd Hanson, his husband and partner of 46 years, and by his brother, Morris Newman. Joel is survived by his twin sisters, Phoebe Sheres and Dorothy Swayze, and a host of fond nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Joel will be greatly missed and remembered for his pithy sense of humor, his erudition and his charm.

The members of the Department of Music express our collective sorrow at the passing of our colleague, Emeritus Professor Joel Newman, and offers our sincere condolences to his family, students, colleagues, and friends. 

Below is Prof. Newman's obituary as it appeared in The New York Times on December 21, 2014.

Joel Newman, Ph.D. died in his home in Provincetown, Massachusetts on December 17, 2014. Born in Brooklyn, NY in 1918, he was 96. Dr. Newman played an important role in the early music revival in New York City. His 1962 doctoral thesis on the early Italian composer, Salamone Rossi, remains the definitive work on him. In the 1950's, Dr Newman became the musicologist for the New York Pro Musica and joined the music department at Columbia University. 

Dr. Newman taught at Columbia for more than 30 years and after retirement continued teaching as Professor Emeritus. Newman studied recorder with Bernard Krainis and played in the first American Recorder Society ensemble under Erich Katz. He was proficient on early instruments, piano, organ and harpsichord. He received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Record Society in 2007 for his work as a musicologist, music editor and musician. After retirement, Joel Newman settled in Provincetown, Massachusetts, ran his own sheet music business and was co- owner of the Provincetown Bookshop. He is predeceased by Elloyd Hanson, his husband and partner of 46 years, and by his brother, Morris Newman. Joel is survived by his twin sisters, Phoebe Sheres and Dorothy Swayze, and a host of fond nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Joel will be greatly missed and remembered for his pithy sense of humor, his erudition and his charm.

The members of the Department of Music express our collective sorrow at the passing of our colleague, Emeritus Professor Joel Newman, and offer our sincere condolences to his family, students, colleagues, and friends.