Scrapbooks, photographs and music manuscripts relating to composer Isador Goodman, 1915-1954

MLMSS 8288/Boxes 1X-2X

fonds

1915-1954

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Manuscript Notated Music, Photographs

152269

0.54 metres of textual material (2 outsize boxes)

Moses Isidore (Isador) Goodman (1909-1982), pianist, composer and conductor, was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Although best known as a concert pianist who toured Australia extensively, Goodman also broadcast for radio and television and performed in stage productions. He often crossed the barrier between the worlds of classical and popular music, playing jazz and lighter music for clubs and cinemas.

He gave his first public performance at the age of six. From 1919 he studied at the Royal College of Music, London where he was appointed a piano professor in 1927. He came to Australia in 1930 to Join the staff of the New South Wales State Conservatorium where he taught for fifty years as well as continuing his career as a concert pianist, composer and conductor. In February 1930 he performed at the conservatorium and played in the ceremony for the inauguration of the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1932.

In 1942-1944 Goodman served in the Militia and the Australian Imperial Force, rising to temporary captain in the Australian Army Education Service. While attached to headquarters, New Guinea Force, in April-May 1944, he gave concerts and wrote New Guinea Fantasy, which was recorded by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Between 1946 and 1948 Goodman toured England, appearing with the Hallé, British Broadcasting Corporation Theatre, Phil-harmonia and London Symphony orchestras. He also played for radio and television and recorded for Decca Records Ltd. In 1949 he resumed his concert appearances in Sydney.

References:
Australian Dictionary of Biography http://adb.anu.edu.au (accessed 27 February 2012).
Warren Bebbington (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Australian Music.

Presented by Virginia Baccarini to Dennis Wolanski Library of the Performing Arts

BOX 1X
Portrait and stage photographs of Isador Goodman, 1923-1950, including photographs with Walter Lindrum, musicians from the A.I.F., Noel Coward and Strella Wilson and photographs of chorus girls on stage at the Palace Theatre, Melbourne

Two scrapbooks of programs relating to performances and recitals in South Africa, London and Australia, 1915-1954

Greta Garbo program, St James Theatre, Sydney, ca. 1934

BOX 2X
Music manuscripts by Isador Goodman. Includes 'Concerto a la Mode' Solo Pianoforte and Orchestra Opus 52, photocopy of 'Romanza' composed in 1915 when he was six years old and performed in 1917, and 'New Guinea Fantasy'

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Research & study copies allowed: Applies only to material in which the author has been deceased for more than 50 years
Out of copyright: Photographs in this collection created before 1955 are all out of copyright.
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2011-2012

Manuscript score of Concerto a la Mode (in Box 2) received preservation treatment in May 2010