Joseph Kerman

Joseph Kerman (1924–2014) was a preeminent American musicologist and music critic who profoundly shaped the academic study of classical music. He earned his Ph.D. from Princeton University and taught for decades at the University of California, Berkeley.

He authored several seminal books in musicology, including Opera as Drama and Contemplating Music, in which he championed music criticism and a more humanistic approach to music history. His critical essays challenged traditional formalism in music scholarship.

Kerman’s intellectual rigor and passionate advocacy for opera and Beethoven’s music left an indelible mark on music education. His writings remain foundational texts for university music departments worldwide.