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JOEL NEWMAN Obituary

NEWMAN--Joel. On December 17, 2014 Joel Newman, Ph.D. died in his home in Provincetown, Massachusetts. 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. He 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.

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Published by New York Times on Dec. 21, 2014.

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6 Entries

David Sokol

December 26, 2014

Joel Newman was one of the great professors, musicologists, performers and human beings. Professor Newman inspired all of us to be our best, showed us the path to a deeper understanding and love of music. Thirty eight years have passed and the seminars are still fresh in my mind.

December 22, 2014

My heart felt sympathies to Family and Friends.May the God of all Comfort, Comfort you. 2Corth.1:3,4. P.F.

heather scheid

December 22, 2014

I first met Uncle Joel about 4 years ago through his niece, Martha. We went to P-town to check in on him. We found a very independent and disciplined gentleman. He was involved with the daily operations of the bookshop, giving music lessons, and playing piano daily. He was not just practicing piano, he was challenging himself by learning new pieces! When visiting with him, he had great recall of his and his family's past history. He was one of America's greatest generation, a person who had lived through the Great Depression, World War, and all the changes that followed. He was humble while always seeking to interject some humor into his stories. Uncle Joel will be missed by many friends and family.

December 21, 2014

Great memories of "Uncle Joel" and the part he played in the magical days of Provincetown of my youth. The west end gang loved our visits to his bookshop and his erudition. Heidi O.Donnell Eastman

Melanie Richards

December 21, 2014

Although I interacted with him for only 2 years at Columbia, Professor Newman influenced my future by strengthening in me an interest and love of music history and research, which became part of what I did and who I am. He was a delightful teacher and human being and leaves behind a rich legacy.

Barry Levine

December 21, 2014

As an undergraduate at Columbia ('65C), my first encounter with classical music came with Joel Newman's Music Humanities course as part of the Core Curriculum. It opened up a world that I previously could not imagine or appreciate. It also started a lifelong love of music which I have passed on to my children and grandchildren. I owe this mostly to Professor Newman.

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