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 Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 03 July 1897
Letter, 3 July 1897, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's ' book' and his progress, expressing concern over Miss. Weisse. Holograph, with duplicate typescript copy, 26 x 21cm.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 23 October 1897
Letter, 23 October 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for a letter, Tovey's completion of a book and news of his contemporaries at Balliol. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1922
Letter, [1922], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Covering letter for a book by Arnold which Tovey believes to be his best. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, Hartree, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending Tovey a book by Danreuther on ornamentation, and a discussion of the work. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to the editor of The New Statesman from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to the editor of The New Statesman. In response to a Mrs. Turners criticism of his programme notes. Holograph signed.
Letter to Walter Willson Cobbett from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1930
Letter, [1930], Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Walter Willson Cobbett. Informing of the commencement of a work on Brahms. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Hubert James Foss from Geoffrey Parratt, 05 March 1942
Postcard, 5 March 1942, Surrey, Geoffrey Parratt to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss that Parratt's sister will not write on Tovey's life. Holograph signed, Postcard stamped.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 03 April 1897
Postcard, 3 April 1897, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Note of Tovey's work on ' Music and it's means of expression '. Typescript copy of postcard.