Newell Long Obituary
Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana), Thursday, January 7, 1999, page A2
Music educator Newell H. Long, a longtime band conductor and administrator
with the Indiana University School of Music and founding director of the
Bloomington Community Band, died Monday at his Bloomington residence. He was 93.
For much of his 40-year career with the university, Newell was associate
conductor of bands. He joined the IU School of Music as well as the
Bloomington schools in 1935, conducting the Bloomington High School band and orchestra until 1939 and the University School band from 1939 to 1943.
Long first played in the IU Band in 1923 along with Herman B Wells and
continued playing for alumni occasions past his retirement from IU in 1975. In
college, he had formed a jazz band to play between features at the Indiana
Theatre, with his friendly competitor Hoagy Carmichael up the street at the
Princess Theater. The founding director of the Bloomington Community Band, he
conducted the band as recently as 1997.
Long judged innumerable band festivals and contests, including the State Fair
Marching Band Contest. He received the Distinguished Service Award in 1969
from the Indiana Bandmaster’s Association. In 1977, he was named to the Phi
Beta Mu National Bandmasters Hall of Fame and in 1985 was named Hoosier
Musician of the Year by the Indiana Music Educators Association.
As an administrator at IU, Long served as the first assistant dean of the
School of Music and as chairman of the undergraduate division of the music
education department. He retired from administrative duties in 1970.
Long was born Feb. 12, 1905, in Markle, the son of Marshall G. and Lona
(Kelsey) Long. He received degrees in math, physics and music composition and
a doctorate in education from IU as well as a master’s degree in music
education from Northwestern University.
His teaching career included teaching math and heading band and orchestral
programs at the secondary level, as well as teaching 36 courses at IU,
including trombone, composition and high school methods courses.
As a composer, Long wrote 86 compositions and arrangements in a variety of
media, 26 of which have been published.
He was a former president of the Indiana School Music Association, a founding
editor of the Indiana Musicator and a former president of the National
Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors. He was a member of
Kappa Kappa Psi, Sinfonia, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Delta Kappa and ASCAP.
Long’s memberships also include First Presbyterian Church, the Thursday
Discussion Club and Kiwanis.
Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Rice Long; one son, Edward M. Long of
Dallas, Texas; one brother, Aden K. Long of Glendale, Calif.; one sister,
Marcile Hanna of Martinsville; and five nephews and nieces.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date.
The family will receive friends 2-5 p.m. Friday at the Long residence.
Allen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the IU Foundation for the Newell H.
Long scholarship for music education.