Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1951-1993 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.058 cubic metres (2 boxes).
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Sir Charles Groves (1915-1992) studied piano and organ at the RCM. In 1937, while still a student, he accompanied choral rehearsals of Brahms's German Requiem under Toscanini; the following year he joined the BBC as a chorus master. In 1944 he became conductor of the BBC Northern Orchestra, a post he held until 1951, when he he left to become musical director of the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra (Bournemouth SO from 1954). In 1961 he became musical director of the Welsh National Opera, then in 1963 was appointed musical director of the Royal Liverpool PO. From 1967 he combined that position with associate conductorship of the RPO, whom he led on a tour of the USA. From 1978 he worked as a guest conductor with many orchestras in venues around the world. Groves achieved a high reputation as a devoted traditional conductor of a wide repertory, refusing to concentrate on any particular sub-genre. He was particularly noted for his mastery of large-scale works, and was the first English conductor to direct a complete cycle of Mahler symphonies. Like Boult, he supported British composers and made many authoritative recordings, particularly of works by Delius, Vaughan Williams, Sullivan, Jones and Mathias. Groves was twice made president of the ISM, and was president of the National Federation of Music Societies and the National Youth Orchestra. He was knighted in 1973.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Lady Hilary Groves, Sir Charles Groves's widow; London; Donation; May 1998
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The papers comprise correspondence including letters, 1962-1991, from Daniel Jones to Sir Charles Groves, and letters, 1968-1974, from Grace Williams to Sir Charles Groves; presentation copies, 1954-1987, of Daniel Jones's music scores; printed material, 1951-1974, relating to Daniel Jones and Grace Williams; and press cuttings concerning Daniel Jones, 1984-1993.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All papers have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are unlikely.
System of arrangement
Arranged as follows: correspondence; presentation copies (facsimiles) of Daniel Jones music scores; printed material; press cuttings.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions noted on the 'Modern papers - data protection' form issued with their Readers' Tickets.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright regulations apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales at NLW, Minor Lists and Summaries, 1999, pp. 41-43.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Groves, Charles, 1915-1992 -- Correspondence. (Subject)
- Jones, Daniel, 1912-1993 (Subject)
- Williams, Grace, 1906-1977. (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
July 2006.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by J. Graham Jones for the ANW project. The following source was used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Minor Lists and Summaries, 1999, pp. 41-43;