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When Sidney Newman arrived in Edinburgh as Reid Professor of Music in 1941,
the Museum of Instruments established by Profesor John Donaldson in the period 1845-65 was in a state of virtual stagnation.
When Newman retired in 1970, he had brought the Raymond Russell Collection to the University,
acquired St Cecilia's Hall as its home and opened it as a flourishing concert hall and museum,
and had returned the galleries at the Reid Concert Hall to their original purpose.
All this was in addition to his inspirational teaching and the growth under his leadership of the Faculty of Music
from a small subject specialism in the University to a flourishing centre of teaching, creativity and research.
These achievements are testimony to Newman's vision and perception of the academic needs of the time.
In the case of the instrument collections,
this was a well-judged response to the growing interest in the study of historic instruments
and the performance of early music on instruments appropriate to the period.
This collection of personal reminiscences is an entertaining and thoughtful tribute to
a man who transformed the position of music in the University of Edinburgh.
It also provides a fascinating insight into the very different world of university teaching 30-50 years ago.
The reminiscences have been written by
- Peter Williams,
- Leon Coates,
- Raymond Monelle,
- David Kimbell,
- Graham Melville-Mason, and
- Alexander Scott
Sidney Newman Remembered 1906-1971: a centenary collection of personal reminiscences by Edinburgh colleagues, edited by Anne Stirling-Whyte.
Published by Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments.
First edition: 2006-2007. 40 pages, illustrations.
ISBN 978 0 907635 57 4
Price: 4.00 pounds sterling, packing and postage extra:
0.50 pounds to addresses in the United Kingdom,
1.00 pounds overseas surface postage.
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