author
Lawrence Gilman
1878–1939
An American music critic and author from the early 20th century, remembered for writing vividly about opera, orchestral music, and the changing musical tastes of his time. His books helped curious listeners approach serious music with confidence and pleasure.
4 Audiobooks
Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande A Guide to the Opera with Musical Examples from the Score
by Lawrence Gilman
Aspects of Modern Opera: Estimates and Inquiries
by Lawrence Gilman
Edward MacDowell: A Study
by Lawrence Gilman
About the author
Lawrence Gilman (July 5, 1878 – September 8, 1939) was an American author and music critic. He wrote about music for major publications, including Harper’s Weekly, and later contributed program notes for the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra, building a reputation as a thoughtful guide to concert and opera life.
Born in Flushing, New York, Gilman came from a literary family and was largely self-taught in music. His writing focused especially on modern music and opera, and his books include Phases of Modern Music, Aspects of Modern Opera, The Music of To-morrow, and Stories of Symphonic Music. He had a gift for explaining serious music in a way that invited readers in rather than shutting them out.
Today, Gilman is remembered less as a performer or composer than as an interpreter: someone who listened closely, wrote clearly, and helped audiences understand what made new music exciting. For listeners interested in how American critics once introduced the concert hall to the wider public, his work still offers a lively window into that world.