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 13 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Donald Tovey from Pablo Casals, 14 October 1934
Letter, 14 October 1934, Barcelona, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Discussing a radio broadcast with the B.B.C, and the completed concerto score. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Walter W, 14 March 1941
Letter, 14 March 1941, Belfast, Walter W to Mary Grierson. Discussing a radio broadcast, praising Grierson success with concerts and news of the 'W' family. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Betty Balfour, 04 March 1937
Letter, 4 March 1937, Surrey, Betty Balfour to Donald Tovey. Details of the excitement of hearing Tovey's symphony on the ' wireless'. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Fritz Busch, 11 February 1936
Letter, 11 February 1936, Copenhagen, Fritz Busch to Donald Tovey. Expressing concern for Tovey's illness, requesting Tovey's ' Essays in musical analysis' news that Tovey's cello concerto is to be played in Copenhagen, and plans for Danish State Radio to broadcast music by Tovey. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Harvey Grace, 06 March 1936
Letter, 6 March 1936, Chichester, Harvey Grace to Donald Tovey. Praising a performance of Tovey's minor fugue, as broadcast on the radio. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c 01 October 1930
Letter, 10 October [n.y], New York, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey of concerts in New York and Canada and Radio Broadcasts, asking Tovey for a letter of introduction to Serbivolli and expressing concern for the European political situation. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Prague, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Discussing plans for concerts in the United Kingdom and a radio broadcast with the B. B. C and Adrian Boult, plans to play Tovey's Cello concerto wirth Casals. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c 14 January 1930
Letter, 14 January [n.y], Prague, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Discussing the Radio braodcast of Tovey's Brahm's concert and discussing other concerts and broadcasts. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Discussing Casal's and Szells concert performance, and plans to perform works by Tovey and a Radio broadcast with the Czechoslovakian philharmonic orchestra. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, 22 February 1937
Letter, 22 February 1937, Prague, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that Swoboda read an article about Tovey in the Musical Courier, news of a radio broadcast from Budapest and offering to broadcast Tovey's songs on Prague radio. Typescript signed.