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 56 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Jean. M. Mill, 10 March 1952
Letter, 10 March 1952, Dumbartonshire, Jean. M. Mill to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, suggesting that the French quotations in the book be translated. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from John Mackay, 10 April 1952
Letter, 10 April 1952, Edinburgh, John Mackay to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from John W. Tanen, c 12 March 1942
Letter, 12 March [n.y], Surrey, John W. Tanen to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from L. Zwingli, 02 March 1952
Letter, 2 March 1952, London, L. Zwingli to Mary Grierson. Congratulating Grierson on her biography of Tovey and enclosing some articles on Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Leonard C. Somervell, 06 March 1952
Letter, 6 March 1952, Kendal, Leonard C. Somervell to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Typescript signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from M. Perwick Jones, 09 March 1952
Letter, 9 March 1952, Surrey, M. Perwick Jones to Mary Grierson. News of Elisabeth Trevelyan's ill health and a transcript of a letter from Elizabeth Trevelyan to Mary Grierson, concerning Trevelyan's attempt to get a good review for Grierson's biography on Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Mabel McCormick, 27 March 1952
Letter, 27 March 1952, London, Mabel McCormick to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Margaret Read, 15 November 1952
Letter, 13 November 1952, Margaret Read to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, requesting a copy of Tovey's cello concerto. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Mary Jane Gillies Whittaker, 23 March 1952
Letter, 23 March 1952, Edinburgh, Mary Whittaker to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey and describing memories of Tovey and his contemporaries. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Molly Curtis, 21 February 1952
Letter, 21 February 1952, Inverness, Molly Curtis to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope, place from postmark.