Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940 (Reid Professor of Music, University of Edinburgh)
Dates
- Existence: 1875 - 1940
Biography
Donald Francis Tovey was born at Eton on 17 July 1875. His father was an Assistant Master at Eton College. He was educated privately by the music and general teacher Miss Sophie Weisse (1851-1945) and later on studied under Sir Walter Parratt (1841-1924) and Sir C. H. Parry (1848-1918). Tovey then won a music scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford, graduating with a BA, Classical honours, in 1898. As a pianist, a series of chamber music concerts followed in London, Berlin and Vienna where he played with Halle, Joachim, Hausmann, Casals, and other artists. He also composed. In 1914 he was appointed to the Reid Chair of Music at Edinburgh University in succession to Professor Niecks (1845-1924). As Professor he broadened the music curriculum by instituting classes in musical interpretation, orchestration, history and analysis, thorough-bass, score reading, and advanced counter-point and composition. Tovey also established and conducted the Reid Orchestra and organised an annual series of concerts. His musical compositions were in many forms including chamber music, symphony, grand opera and concerto, and probably the most famous was his opera The bride of Dionysus produced in Edinburgh in 1929. His literary publications include the six volumes of Essays in musical analysis (1935-1939), and A musician talks (1941). Tovey was knighted in 1935. Sir Donald Francis Tovey died on 10 July 1940.
Found in 15 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Ernest Bryson, 30 December 1941
Letter, 30 December 1941, Gloucestershire, Ernest Bryson to Hubert Foss. Memories of Tovey, conducting the Reid Orchestra, programme notes, ' The Bride of Dionysus', and completion of the Bach fugue. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1938
Letter, 1938, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Hans Gals's discovery of a Haydn symphony in the Reid music library, and details of forthcoming concerts. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Frieda Busch, 19 November 1934
Letter, 19 November 1934, Frieda Busch to Donald Tovey. Requesting that Tovey write an introduction for Trio Opus 49, for a concert given by Erik Chisholm in Glasgow. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Fritz Busch, 28 June 1934
Letter, 28 June 1934, Buenos Aires, Fritz Busch to Donald. Requesting a copy of Tovey's version of Beethoven's Prometheus and notes on a performance by Fritz Busch. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Fritz Busch, 09 October 1922
Letter, 9 October 1922, Dresden, Fritz Busch to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey for material for a forthcoming concert and inviting Tovey to play in Dresden. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Fritz Busch, 16 February 1932
Letter, 16 February 1932, Dresden, Fritz Busch to Donald Tovey. Expressing regret that Tovey will not be performing and outlining Gottfried Muller's plans to perform his psalm composition. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Gerard von Brucken Fock, 16 April 1934
Letter, 16 April 1934, Holland, Brucken Fock to Donald Tovey. Request that Tovey perform Brucken Fock's suite. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Johannes Rontgen, 24 October 1907
Letter, 24 October 1907, Amsterdam, Johannes Rontgen to Donald Tovey. Discussing forthcoming concerts and a Brahms festival, describing compositions Rontgen has written for violin and flute. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Julius Rontgen, 29 April 1930
Letter, 29 April 1930, Julius Rontgen to Donald Tovey. Discussing Tovey's influence on the composer Jan de Boer, inviting Tovey to play at the Hague and memories of the Edinburgh festival. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Julius Rontgen, 27 August 1930
Letter, 27 August 1930, Bilthoven, Julius Rontgen to Donald Tovey. Plans for Rontgen's Edinburgh symphony and Reid concert. Holograph signed.