Samuel Lipman, Pianist and Critic, Dies at 60

Strategic Insights -

Samuel Lipman, a distinguished pianist and critic who played a significant role in the neo-conservative movement, has passed away at 60 due to leukemia. Lipman was the publisher of The New Criterion, a conservative journal of the arts, and was known for his insightful writings and lectures on politics and culture. As a leading figure in the neo-conservative movement, Lipman was involved in numerous high-profile initiatives, including the creation of the 1980 Heritage Foundation report criticizing the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lipman was a prominent figure in the neo-conservative movement, advocating for traditional values and cultural literacy.
  • He played a significant role in shaping government arts policy, serving on the National Council on the Arts from 1982 to 1988.
  • Lipman was a prolific writer, publishing four books of essays and contributing to numerous publications, including The New York Times.
  • He was a strong advocate for high culture and criticized the idea of multiculturalism, instead upholding the importance of traditional values and education.
  • Lipman was involved in the creation of the 1980 Heritage Foundation report, which sought to restrict government funding for the arts and humanities.
  • He served as the artistic director of the Waterloo Music Festival and School in Stanhope, N.J. from 1985 to 1993.
  • Lipman was born in San Jose, Calif. and made his first public appearance as a pianist at the age of 8.

Statistics:

  • Lipman served on the National Council on the Arts for six years (1982-1988).
  • He published four books of essays: "Music After Modernism" (1979), "The House of Music: Art in an Era of Institutions" (1984), "Arguing for Music, Arguing for Culture" (1990), and "Music and More: Essays, 1975-1991" (1992).
  • Lipman edited and contributed to a new edition of Matthew Arnold's "Culture and Anarchy" in 2023 (published by Yale University Press).
  • He had a son, Edward, who was a student at Oxford University in England at the time of his death.

Sources:

  • "Samuel Lipman, Pianist and Critic, Dies at 60" (The New York Times, [no date])
  • [Caption] Photo: Samuel Lipman. (Peter Schaaf, 1989)