Richard Franko Goldman

About

American conductor, educator, author, music critic, and composer.

Born December 7, 1910.
Died January 19, 1980 aged 69 in Baltimore, Maryland.

After graduating from Townsend Harris High School in Queens, New York he attended Columbia University, graduating in 1930 with an A.B. (with honors). He then went to Paris to study composition with Nadia Boulanger. He also studied privately with Wallingford Riegger.

He was associate conductor 1937-1956 and then succeeded his father Edwin Franko Goldman as conductor of the Goldman Band of New York City [The Goldman Band]. 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.

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, and Seaside Park. His contributions to The Musical Quarterly as New York critic insured early recognition to Wallingford Riegger, Henry Cowell, and Elliott Carter.