- Ernest Newman
Ernest Newman (
Everton, Liverpool ,November 30 ,1868 –Tadworth ,Surrey ,July 7 ,1959 ) was an Englishmusic critic .Life
Born the son of a master tailor, Newman's name at birth was William Roberts. When he began writing music criticism he adopted the name Ernest Newman, because, as an advocate of progressive ideals, he saw himself as a "new man in earnest".
His musical education was entirely self-conducted. After studying at
Liverpool University , he entered theBank of Liverpool as a clerk in 1889. While in this job he read voraciously, training himself in literature and philosophy and learning nine languages. Having contributed articles to "The National Reformer" from 1889, he published his first book, "Gluck and the Opera", in 1895, followed by "A Study ofWagner " in 1899. In 1904 Newman gave up banking and went toBirmingham to teach music theory and singing at theMidland Institute , at the invitation of its director,Granville Bantock .Publications
Newman was critic of the
Birmingham Daily Post from 1906 to 1918 and of the Sunday Times from 1920 until 1958, as well as writing forThe Manchester Guardian , theGlasgow Herald and other media.Newman's approach to criticism was dominated by the attempt to be logically rigorous and by the scrupulous sifting of relevant background knowledge. His 'magnum opus' was his four-volume study "The Life of
Richard Wagner ", on which he worked from 1928 until 1947.Two books on opera, "Opera Nights" (1943) and "Wagner Nights" (1949) are still in print and provide very informative, if opinionated, guides for the opera-goer to the standard repertoire.
Other works include a study of the
player-piano (1920) and "Confessions of a Musical Critic" (1923). Another work, "A Musical Motley," is a very amusing collection of articles published by Bodley Head in 1919.References
*
Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians
*Herbert Van Thal , "Fanfare for Ernest Newman". (London : A. Barker, 1955)
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