The High Priest Of The Harpsichord Releases Life Work

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Nov. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This year continues to be a big one for modern classical composer and baroque virtuoso keyboardist, Anthony Newman.  Earlier this year, 903 Records released Newman's Complete Collected Organ Works of JS Bach, a 9-CD set and Complete Collected Harpsichord Works of JS Bach, a 10-CD set, both available at CDBaby.com.  Now, Complete Original Works of Anthony Newman is being released December 15^th by 903 Records and will be available at Amazon.com.

Newman is best known as a Baroque specialist. His specialties include: Harpsichord, pedal harpsichord, organ, and fortepiano. Newman shocked the early music world with his 1967 debut album, Anthony Newman Plays JS Bach on Columbia Records. His fast tempi, ornamentation and rhythmic alterations, all consistent with Baroque performance practice brought criticism from the "traditionalists," but it also brought back the original excitement of the music and won him many young admirers. In 1972 Time Magazine called him "The high priest of the harpsichord." This was echoed 24 years later by Wynton Marsalis who referred to him as "The high priest of Bach" after Newman collaborated with Marsalis on the award-winning CD Gabriel's Garden.

"None of my own compositions really cross the border of tonality but sometimes flirt with it. I believe that new music must have some kind of memorable melody and some kind of harmonic background to be truly worthy," Newman said. "This is gorgeous music" – Billy Joel. "Very daring, very adventurous. Bravo!" – Lukas Foss.  At 72, Newman's career is still blooming. He continues to perform, record and compose music.

Anthony Newman's compositions range from solo works for piano, organ, harpsichord, and flute, to smaller chamber duets, trios, and quartets, to works for chamber orchestra, to choral works, operas, and works for full orchestra.

Two single-CD review copies are available on request to members of the media:

• Selections from The Complete Original Works of Anthony Newman
• Anthony Newman: My Favorite Bach Recordings

Interested reviewers may also request a copy of the box-sets.

For more information on any of Anthony Newman's music, contact: Dean Farwood,  [email protected], 415-271-2763, 8 Beryl Lane, San Rafael, CA 94901, USA, Anthony Newman Website: www.anthonynewmanmusician.org

Contact: Dean Farwood
Telephone: 415-271-2763
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.anthonynewmanmusician.org

Video with caption: "Classical composer and virtuoso Baroque keyboardist Anthony Newman discusses and demonstrates the evolution of harmony from Palestrina to Stravinsky." Video available at: http://youtu.be/wfFYUac14Kg

Image with caption: "Classical composer and virtuoso Baroque keyboardist Anthony Newman." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131129/SF25433

SOURCE Anthony Newman