Edwin Franko Goldman
Edwin Franko Goldman (January 1, 1878 – February 21, 1956) was an American composer and conductor. One of the most significant American band composers of the early 20th century, Goldman composed over 150 works, but is best known for his marches. He founded the renowned Goldman Band of New York City and the American Bandmasters Association.
Also recorded as Edwin F. Goldman · Edwin Goldman
Edwin Franko Goldman

Bain News Service, publisher · Library of Congress Catalog: https: Image download: https: Original url · Public domain
- Name
- Edwin Franko Goldman
- Born
- 1878
- Birthplace
- Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
- Died
- 21 February 1956
- Place of death
- Montefiore Einstein Medical Center, The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
- Occupation
- Musician, composer & conductor
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- march · art
- Education
- National Conservatory of Music of America
- Teachers
- Antonín Dvořák
- Honours
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Edwin Franko Goldman (January 1, 1878 – February 21, 1956) was an American composer and conductor. One of the most significant American band composers of the early 20th century, Goldman composed over 150 works, but is best known for his marches. He founded the renowned Goldman Band of New York City and the American Bandmasters Association.
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wikidata · Q322210 · wikipedia · Edwin Franko Goldman
In this article
Biography
Biography
Goldman's works are characterized by their pleasant and catchy tunes, as well as their fine trios and solos. He also encouraged audiences to whistle/hum along to his marches. He wrote singing and whistling into the score of "On the Mall" (which vies with "Chimes of Liberty" as his two most-enduring marches).
Edwin Franko Goldman studied at National Conservatory of Music of America. Training under Antonín Dvořák is recorded. The recorded working language is English. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are march and art. Employment is recorded with The Metropolitan Opera. Distinctions recorded are star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Caption text says "Edwin Franko Goldman, Who Directs the First Band Concert in Central Park Tomorrow Evening."
Underwood · The New York Times, June 1, 1924
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Edwin Franko Goldman • Born — 1878 • Birthplace — Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. • Died — 21 February 1956 • Place of death — Montefiore Einstein Medical Center, The Bronx, New York City, U.S. • Father — David Henry Goldman • Mother — Selma Franko Goldman • Occupation — Musician, composer & conductor • Relatives — Nahan Franko (uncle)
Early life and education
Early life and education
Goldman was born January 1, 1878, in Louisville, Kentucky, 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 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 City. 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.
Career
Career
• Illustration — The Goldman Band at a performance in 1922 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. He married Adelaide Maibrunn (1885–1975) in 1908. The next year, he left the Metropolitan Opera orchestra and went to work for the publishing house Carl Fischer Music, where he remained for ten years. Goldman founded the New York Military Band in 1911, later known as the Goldman Band. The band played in many summer band concerts throughout New York, especially The Green at Columbia University and then in the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts, at the Naumburg Bandshell, 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 march composition "On the Mall" accompanied by the audience singing the theme. From 1920 to 1926, Goldman moonlighted as the first professional "coach" of the bands at Columbia University, directing both the Columbia University Marching Band and the university's symphonic band. During their nearly 50 years of their marriage, Adelaide wrote lyrics for several of Goldman's more popular pieces, including "On the Mall". 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.
Death
Death
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 Band Shell in Allentown, Pennsylvania's West Park is also named in his honor. For over 100 years, the band shell has been the home to the Allentown Band, of which Goldman was the first guest conductor in 1927.
Goldman's works
Goldman's works
In his lifetime, Goldman composed over 150 works, including: • 1922 Chimes of Liberty (revised by Goldman in 1937) • 1923 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 Jubilee March • 1943 The Bugler (For Leonard B. Smith) • 1949 Introduction and Tarentella (For James F. Burke) • 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 • "Pioneer March" • "Bluejackets on Parade" He was also the composer of many cornet solos and other short works for piano and orchestra.
Identity
Identity
Edwin Franko Goldman is recorded as conductor, bandleader, composer, bandmaster and cornetist.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1956
Edwin Franko Goldman died at New York City.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Louisville.
Birth place
New York City.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Edwin Franko Goldman”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q322210: Edwin Franko Goldman
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Edwin Franko Goldman Dies; Bandmaster and Composer, 78 - Conductor of Outdoor Summer Concerts in Central and Prospect Parks Wrote 'On the Mall,' Many Other Marches. The New York Times. 27. February 22, 1956.
- 2.Hansen, Richard K. The American Wind Band: A Cultural History Chicago 2006, GIA Publications, p. 364, n. 5
- 3.Columbia University Band Alumni Association. Coaches and Conductors. columbiabandalumni.org.
- 4.Edwin F. Goldman | Hollywood Walk of Fame. 25 October 2019.
- 5.Whelan, Frank. West Park the iconic home for Allentown bands. The Morning Call. E.1. May 29, 2005.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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