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Fraser, Marjory Kennedy-, 1857-1930 (singer, pianist, folk-song collector and arranger)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1857 - 1930

Biography

Marjory Kennedy-Fraser, singer, pianist, folk-song collector and arranger, was born in 1857. She was the daughter of singer David Kennedy (1825-1886). Her series of works The songs of the Hebrides published variously between 1909 and 1922 remain a useful resource for both Gaelic and English speakers. She collected songs chiefly in the Western Isles. Aware that the material collected would, in the concert performance, lose something of the original essence, she provided the songs with sensitive accompaniment. For service rendered to the cause of music in Scotland, an honorary degree of Doctor of Music was conferred on her in 1928. Marjory Kennedy-Fraser had also been awarded the C.B.E. She died on 22 November 1930.

Found in 9 Collections and/or Records:

Book, medals, and printed ephemera relating to Helen Patuffa Hood and Marjory Kennedy Fraser

 Fonds — Box CLX-A-1592
Identifier: Coll-1978
Content Description This collection includes a printed book with two enclosures, printed ephemera, and two medals related to harpist Helen Patuffa Hood and her mother Marjory Kennedy-Fraser, Scottish musician and folk-song collector. The printed book is a signed copy of The Road to the Isles (Edinburgh: Robert Grant & Son, 1927) by Kenneth Macleod given by the author himself to Patuffa...
Dates: 1889; 1925-1928; 1946

Marjory Kennedy-Fraser Lectures, Part 1, 2, 3, & 4, 12 August 1895-5 November 1918

 File
Scope and Contents Marjory Kennedy-Fraser Lectures, Part 1, 2, 3, & 4. ‘Schubert Lecture’, 21 November 1903, modified and re-read two years later [1905], also various notes, and Schumann lecture, [23 January 1904], manuscripts. ‘When asked by your secretary to read a paper before you [...]’, lecture, undated, manuscript. ‘On listening to music’, lecture, [Edinburgh] Summer Meeting,...
Dates: 12 August 1895-5 November 1918

Marjory Kennedy-Fraser Lectures, Part 1 & 2, 11 May 1895-16 May 1923

 File
Scope and Contents Marjory Kennedy-Fraser Lectures, Part 1 & 2. ‘Paper read to E.M.E.S. [Edinburgh Musical Education Society], 13 January 1915’, text on reverses of various recital programmes, mainly from Marjory Kennedy-Fraser’s Art Song recitals in 1905-1907, some pages missing, manuscript. ‘Matthay Paper to Boston, M.K.F. [Marjory Kennedy-Fraser]’, manuscript, letter from Mr C....
Dates: 11 May 1895-16 May 1923

Miscellaneous items, Part 1, 2, & 3, 1891-1928

 File
Scope and Contents Miscellaneous items, Part 1, 2, & 3. ‘General’, bundle of miscellaneous notes, wrapped in ‘Songs of the Hebrides (Ancient Scots Minstrelsie). From the Western Isles of Scotland’, Music Hall, Edinburgh, 21 January 1913, recital programme, containing various lecture notes, notes, excerpts, etc., in no particular order, manuscripts. & typescripts, texts often on reverses of...
Dates: 1891-1928

Miscellaneous working material, Part 1, 2, 3, & 4, 26 January 1907-1925

 File
Scope and Contents Miscellaneous working material, Part 1, 2, 3, & 4. ‘My first Heb. [Hebridean] Lecture’, also marked ‘Pan-Celtic’, lecture, [1907], manuscript. ‘Tonality’, lecture, [30 March 1910], manuscript. ‘“Monster” Scribbling Book’, notepad, 22 x 14 cm, marked ‘E61/19’, including various notes, manuscript. Several loose pages, in no...
Dates: 26 January 1907-1925

Recital programmes and publicity leaflets, c 1916-c 1931

 File
Scope and Contents Recital programmes and publicity leaflets. Publicity leaflet, with photograph of Marjory and Patuffa Kennedy-Fraser (at the harp), ‘Songs of the Hebrides, Folk Songs from the Scottish Isles’, [1916], New York. Leaflet/advert, unknown publication, [New York], with photograph of Marjory and Patuffa Kennedy-Fraser (at the harp), ‘Mrs. Kennedy-Fraser, Miss Patuffa...
Dates: c 1916-c 1931

‘Songs of Scotland – Programmes 1882-6’, 1882-1886

 File
Scope and Contents

‘Songs of Scotland – Programmes 1882-6’. Scrapbook, softbound, cover missing, 23 x 18 cm, 88 pages, marked: ‘E61/19, Gen. 519’, containing pasted Kennedy recital programmes and press cuttings from Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand, also two loose recital programmes.

Dates: 1882-1886

Various items, c 1907-1928

 File
Scope and Contents Various items. Some music sheets, presumably Marjory Kennedy-Fraser’s original notations of the songs, sheet including ‘Capt. [Captain] Ritchie, Iona, June 1928’, ‘Angus Macphail, Iona, June 1928’ (also on separate sheet, marked ‘Iona Waulking Song d A Angus Macphail’), ‘Rope-hauling chanty’, double-sheet, marked ‘Lewis’, including ‘Waulking Tunes – from the Lewes’: ‘Herman Dubh’, ‘’S...
Dates: c 1907-1928

Various Publications, c 1910-c 1920

 File
Scope and Contents Various publications. Winter Journey/Die Winterreise, by Franz Schubert, ed. by E. Pauer, London: Augener & Co., [n.d.], softbound, binding broken, some leaves missing, various leaves from a different copy appended, also loose leaves from other song collections. Programme, Boston Symphony Orchestra,...
Dates: c 1910-c 1920