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Nicholas Toller (1954–2007)
Obituary |
Nicholas Toller, who died on 23 April
at the age of 52, will be remembered by SIUK members as a devoted
Schubertian who served on our committee and organised Schubert Days
in his home city of Cambridge. He was a Senior Lecturer in Music at
Angela Ruskin University (to give the institution its current name),
and Director of Music Performance Studies there. An accomplished
pianist and accompanist, he was also a violinist, and formed the
K239 Orchestra, which he conducted for 15 years. With them he also
played several piano concertos by his beloved Mozart.
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Nick had earlier written his doctoral
dissertation on 'Gesture and Expressive Purpose in Schubert's
Instrumental Music'. A proponent of 'listener-friendly analysis' -
concerned with music as the ear hears it - he was closely interested
in the creative process and made a special study of composers'
sketches for the light they throw on the finished product. Among his
more practical activities, Nick conducted the Cambridge Youth
Orchestra for 14 years and was an examiner for the Associated Board.
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Nick's dedication, along with his warm
humanity leavened with dry wit, won him many friends both among
generations of past students and in the musical world at large. He
leaves a widow, Jenny, to whom we send out condolences.
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Brian Newbould
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