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 88 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to [ Sir Donald Francis Tovey] from The Hispanic Society of America, 27 June 1922
Letter, 27 June 1922, London, The Hispanic Society of America to [ Donald Tovey]. Requesting a copy of Tovey's analysis of The Goldberg Variations. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Unknown, 26 May 1932
Letter, 26 May 1932, Berlin, Unknown to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's ' Art of Fugue', and comparing it to work by Riemann and Graeser. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from W. M. Tso, 06 March 1939
Letter, 6 March 1939, Hong Kong, W. M. Tso to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey to recommend books on the great composers, harmony and composition. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Wally Passer, 20 January 1925
Letter, 20 January 1925, Wally Passer to Donald Tovey. Introducing Passer's son Kurt who is coming to England and news of Passer's translation work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Wilibald Gurlitt, 06 November 1923
Letter, 6 November 1923, Friebourg, W. Gurlitt to Donald Tovey. Discussing Tovey's lecture on the middle ages to the University of Edinburgh and expressing a keenness to see the treasures of Edinburgh University library. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 02 April 1937
Letter, 2 April 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Planning to visit Tovey in London, thanking him for a birthday composition for his father, discussing a forthcoming book on Hindemith. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 03 July 1937
Letter, 3 July 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Enclosing Hindemith's book, informing Tovey that the translation is almost complete and asking Tovey's opinion of the work. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 21 July 1937
Letter, 21 July 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Discussing Hindemith's book of music teaching and Tovey's planned meeting with it's American translator, Remi Gassmann also mentions the publication of Tovey's compositions. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 27 July 1937
Letter, 27 July 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Discussing Hindemith's book on music theory and Tovey's help with Grassmann's translation. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir William Henry Hadow from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1910
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Sir William Henry Hadow. Tovey elucidating his differing view on fugues, after reviewing Hadow's work. Holograph unfinished.