Reid (real name, Robertson), General John

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Reid (real name, Robertson), General John

Reid (real name, Robertson), General John , Scottish amateur flutist and composer, and music patron; b. Straloch, Perthshire, Feb. 13, 1721; d. London, Feb. 6, 1807. He studied law at the Univ. of Edinburgh, then entered the army in 1745, attaining the rank of general. He was a talented flutist, numbering some 20 marches, 9 menuets, and several flute sonatas among his works. He left £52, 000 to found a chair of music at the Univ. of Edinburgh, also providing that an annual concert of his own compositions should be given. The chair was founded in 1839, and among its occupants were Herbert Oakeley (1865–91) and Donald Tovey (1914–40).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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