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Harman came to TIME after five years as a music critic for the New York Times. Among his notable stories: TIME'S cover on Rosemary Clooney (Feb. 23). Harman keeps constant watch for new talent, e.g., Concert Pianist Charles Rosen (Dec. 29), Jazz Pianist Dave Brubeck (Nov. 10). He also spends days in his soundproofed, hi-fi-equipped office reviewing the most interesting new records. Musician Harman is often hard on Critic Harman, for this reason: "There's often no way to describe music except by music. Words can be fifth-rate. So my problem is to describe the music in terms of the other senses . . ."
As for his own music, Harman's professional career really started when he was studying at Columbia University after World War II. Columbia's Otto Luening told him, "You've got more in your head than you can write. It's all clogged up. Why don't you only put down the simple things you're sure of?" So Harman wrote some children's songs. They came out on a record entitled Mary Martin Sings for Children. It sells well.
He also continues work on his opera, and I am sure it will get a hearing soon. As a matter of fact, Harman's story seems to be a success story after all.
Cordially yours,