Edwin Franko Goldman
Encyclopedia
Edwin Franko Goldman is one of America's prominent band composers of the early 20th century. He composed over 150 works, more notably his marches. He is known for founding the renowned Goldman Band of New York City
and the American Bandmasters Association
. Goldman's works are known for their pleasant and catchy tunes, as well as their fine trios and solos. He also encouraged audiences to whistle/hum along to his marches. This has become a tradition with his most famous march "On the Mall".
, the son of David Henry and Selma Franko Goldman. The family moved to Evansville, Indiana
in 1879 and, finally, to Terre Haute, Indiana
. His father died in Terre Haute on December 18, 1886, when Goldman was only eight years old, and the following year, Selma and her four children, Edwin, Mayer, Irma and Alfred, moved to New York City. Before her marriage, Goldman's mother was a professional pianist and part of the famous Franko Family, which made its debut at Steinway Hall
in New York on September 17, 1869.
At the age of nine, Goldman studied cornet with George Wiegand at the Hebrew Orphan Asylum
in New York
. In 1892, after winning a scholarship, he attended the National Conservatory of Music
, where he studied music theory and played trumpet in the Conservatory orchestra. He also studied under master cornetist Jules Levy
.
In 1893 he became a professional trumpet player, performing in such organizations as the Metropolitan Opera House
orchestra alongside his uncle Nahan Franko
, the orchestra's concertmaster and assistant conductor.
Goldman founded the New York Military Band in 1911, later known as the famous Goldman Band
. The band played in many summer band concerts throughout New York
, especially The Green
at Columbia University
and then The Mall in Central Park
. In the 1930s the band performed three nights a week at the bandstand in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. They were also heard on many radio broadcasts. A feature every concert was the encore, almost always Ravel's "Boléro
" or Goldman's own composition "On the Mall," accompanied by the audience singing the theme.
Goldman was known for his very congenial personality and dedication to music. He was very close to city officials and earned three honorary doctorates. Eventually in 1929, he founded the American Bandmasters Association
and served as Second Honorary Life President after John Philip Sousa
.
Edwin Franko Goldman died at Montefiore Hospital in New York on February 21, 1956, and his son Richard Franko Goldman
succeeded him as conductor of the Goldman Band. For his contribution to the radio industry, Goldman has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
at 6410 Hollywood Boulevard. The Goldman Bandshell in Allentown
, Pennsylvania
's West Park is also named in his honor. For over 100 years, the bandshell has been the home to the Allentown Band
, of which Goldman was the first guest conductor in 1927.
He was also the composer of many cornet solos and other short works for piano and orchestra.
Goldman Band
The Goldman Band was formed by American musician and composer Edwin Franko Goldman in 1918 from the earlier New York Military Band. Goldman had organized the New York Military Band in 1911...
and the American Bandmasters Association
American Bandmasters Association
The American Bandmasters Association was formed in 1929 by Edwin Franko Goldman to promote concert band music. Goldman sought to raise esteem for concert bands among musicians and audiences...
. Goldman's works are known for their pleasant and catchy tunes, as well as their fine trios and solos. He also encouraged audiences to whistle/hum along to his marches. This has become a tradition with his most famous march "On the Mall".
Biography
Goldman was born January 1, 1878, in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, the son of David Henry and Selma Franko Goldman. The family moved to Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
in 1879 and, finally, to Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
. His father died in Terre Haute on December 18, 1886, when Goldman was only eight years old, and the following year, Selma and her four children, Edwin, Mayer, Irma and Alfred, moved to New York City. Before her marriage, Goldman's mother was a professional pianist and part of the famous Franko Family, which made its debut at Steinway Hall
Steinway Hall
Steinway Hall is the name of buildings housing concert halls, showrooms and sales departments for Steinway & Sons pianos. The first Steinway Hall was opened 1866 in New York City. Today, Steinway Halls and Steinway-Häuser are located in world cities such as New York City, London, Hamburg, Berlin,...
in New York on September 17, 1869.
At the age of nine, Goldman studied cornet with George Wiegand at the Hebrew Orphan Asylum
Hebrew Orphan Asylum of New York
The Hebrew Orphan Asylum of New York was a Jewish orphanage in New York City. It was founded in 1860 by the Hebrew Benevolent Society. It closed in 1941, after pedagogical research concluded that children thrive better in foster care or small group homes, rather than in large institutions...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In 1892, after winning a scholarship, he attended the National Conservatory of Music
National Conservatory of Music
National Conservatory of Music may refer to:* CNSM de Lyon, in Lyon, France* National Conservatory of Music * National Conservatory of Music of America, a school founded by Jeannette Thurber in New York City in 1885...
, where he studied music theory and played trumpet in the Conservatory orchestra. He also studied under master cornetist Jules Levy
Jules Levy
Jules Levy was a cornetist, teacher, and composer.Born in London, England, he reportedly began his study of the cornet with only its mouthpiece; his family could not afford the instrument itself. After immigrating to the United States, he began a significant musical career as a cornet soloist and...
.
In 1893 he became a professional trumpet player, performing in such organizations as the Metropolitan Opera House
Metropolitan Opera House (39th St)
The Metropolitan Opera House was an opera house located at 1411 Broadway in New York City. Opened in 1883 and demolished in 1967, it was the first home of the Metropolitan Opera Company.-History:...
orchestra alongside his uncle Nahan Franko
Nahan Franko
Nahan Franko was an American violinist, conductor and concert promoter. His brother was violinist and conductor Sam Franko.Franko was born in New Orleans, and studied the violin in Europe with Joseph Joachim and August Wilhelmj...
, the orchestra's concertmaster and assistant conductor.
Goldman founded the New York Military Band in 1911, later known as the famous Goldman Band
Goldman Band
The Goldman Band was formed by American musician and composer Edwin Franko Goldman in 1918 from the earlier New York Military Band. Goldman had organized the New York Military Band in 1911...
. The band played in many summer band concerts throughout New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, especially The Green
The Green
The Green may refer to:* The Green , a central field at Dartmouth College* The Green, Cumbria, a village in Cumbria, England* St Mary's CBS , a secondary school in Tralee...
at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and then The Mall in Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. In the 1930s the band performed three nights a week at the bandstand in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. They were also heard on many radio broadcasts. A feature every concert was the encore, almost always Ravel's "Boléro
Boléro
Boléro is a one-movement orchestral piece by Maurice Ravel . Originally composed as a ballet commissioned by Russian ballerina Ida Rubinstein, the piece, which premiered in 1928, is Ravel's most famous musical composition....
" or Goldman's own composition "On the Mall," accompanied by the audience singing the theme.
Goldman was known for his very congenial personality and dedication to music. He was very close to city officials and earned three honorary doctorates. Eventually in 1929, he founded the American Bandmasters Association
American Bandmasters Association
The American Bandmasters Association was formed in 1929 by Edwin Franko Goldman to promote concert band music. Goldman sought to raise esteem for concert bands among musicians and audiences...
and served as Second Honorary Life President after John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
.
Edwin Franko Goldman died at Montefiore Hospital in New York on February 21, 1956, and his son Richard Franko Goldman
Richard Franko Goldman
Richard Franko Goldman was a conductor, educator, author, music critic, and composer.After graduating from Townsend Harris High School in Queens, New York he attended Columbia University, graduating in 1930 with an A.B. . He then went to Paris to study composition with Nadia Boulanger...
succeeded him as conductor of the Goldman Band. For his contribution to the radio industry, Goldman has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
at 6410 Hollywood Boulevard. The Goldman Bandshell in Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
's West Park is also named in his honor. For over 100 years, the bandshell has been the home to the Allentown Band
Allentown Band
The Allentown Band is a civilian concert band based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is oldest civilian concert band in the United States, having been in continuous existence since its first documented performance on July 4, 1828, although its origins may trace back to as early...
, of which Goldman was the first guest conductor in 1927.
Goldman's works
In his lifetime, Goldman composed over 150 works, his most famous being:- 1924 On the Mall
- 1931 Boy Scouts of America
- 1931 Onward-Upward
- 1934 The Children’s March
- 1934 The Interlochen Bowl
- 1936 Bugles and Drums
- 1937 'Chimes of LibertyChimes of LibertyThe Chimes of Liberty is a military march by Edwin Franko Goldman and his greatest hit. Many think it is a re-wording of the Liberty Bell by John Philip Sousa, however, it is a totally different march by a different composer. However, like "The Liberty Bell", It has a unique use of chimes. It...
' - 1937 Jubilee March
- 1953 March Illinois
- A Bit of Syncopation, character piece
- Cheerio
- Espanita for cornet solo and brass band
- Jupiter for cornet solo and brass band
- Kentucky
- On the Green, waltz intermezzo
- On the Hudson
- Scherzo Cornet/Euphonium Solo
- Springtime Fancies, waltz
- Star of the Evening, waltz-intermezzo
- Sunshine and Shadows, waltz
He was also the composer of many cornet solos and other short works for piano and orchestra.