Howard Taubman

Hyman Howard Taubman(July 4, 1907 – January 8, 1996) was an American music critic, theater critic, and author.

Taubman, circa 1970

Biography

Born in Manhattan, Taubman attendedDeWitt Clinton High Schooland then won a four-year scholarship toCornell University,from which he graduated, as aPhi Beta Kappamember, in 1929.

He then returned to New York and began working forThe New York Times.He joined the Music Department there in 1930. In 1935, he was named Music Editor. For about a year, from 1944 to 1945, Taubman served in the Army and worked in Italy as a writer forStars and Stripes.

In 1955, he became the chief music critic at theTimes,replacingOlin Downesupon Downes' death. Also in the 1950s, Taubman acted as theghostwriterofMarian Anderson's autobiographyMy Lord, What a Morning.

In 1960, he took the post of chief drama critic for theTimesafterBrooks Atkinsonretired from that position. Taubman remained in that role until 1965.

In 1961, Taubman, along with six other theater critics, was the victim of a famous hoax when Broadway producerDavid Merrickplaced a newspaper ad for his showSubways Are for Sleeping.The ad appeared to quote praise from Taubman,Walter Kerr,and other prominent New York critics for the commercially faltering musical. The individuals quoted, however, were not the theater critics themselves, but like-named New Yorkers hired by Merrick to provide positive quotes.

From 1966 until he retired in 1972, Taubman was a critic-at-large for theTimeswriting about cultural events from around the globe. After retiring from the Times, Taubman worked as a consultant toExxon Corporationfor the PBS seriesGreat Performances.

Taubman was the author of several books, primarily related to music. He was the recipient of honorary degrees from thePhiladelphia Academy of Music,Oberlin College,andTemple University.

Taubman was twice married and the father of two sons,Williamand Philip. Taubman died inSarasota, Florida,at the age of 88.

Works

• The Pleasure of Their Company(Amadeus Press, 1994)
• The Making of the American Theatre(Coward McCann, 1965)
• How to Bring up your Child to Enjoy Music(1958)
• How to Build a Record Library(1953)
• The Maestro: The Life ofArturo Toscanini(Simon and Schuster, 1951)
• Music on My Beat: An Intimate Volume of Shop Talk(1943)
• Music as a Profession(C. Scribner's Sons, 1939)
• Opera: Front and Back(C. Scribner's Sons, 1938)

Sources

• "Howard Taubman, 88, a Times Music Critic",The New York Times,January 9, 1996
• Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Centennial Edition. Nicolas Slonimsky, Editor. Schirmer, 2001

Further reading

• Berk, Ellyn (1978).An Analysis and Comparison of the Aesthetics and Philosophy of Selected Music Critics in New York: 1940–1975(PHD).New York University.OCLC53779819.