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 'a Professor ' from Sir Hugh Percy Allen, 17 January 1943
Letter, 17 January 1943, Oxford, Hugh Allen to ' a Professor '. Regret that the recipient will not join the Tovey memorial committee, and a discussion of Tovey's written works. Holograph signed.
Letter to Arthur Melville Clark from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 July 1936
Letter, 1 July 1936, London, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Arthur Melville Clark. Describing the type of article that will be produced. Transcript.
Letter to Arthur Melville Clark from Sir Donald Francis Tovey,, 11 October 1937
Letter, 11 October 1937, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Arthur Melville Clark. Thanking Clark for editing a work, discussing musical scholarship. Typescript.
Letter to Charles Terry from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1917
Letter, [1917], Donald Tovey to Charles Terry. Informing Terry that Tovey wishes to remark on the editing of 16th century music, and detailed comments on Breitkopf Palestrina and Lasso. Holograph.
Letter to Clara Tovey from A. Rontgen, 10 March 1934
Letter, 10 March 1934, A. Rontgen to Clara Tovey. Asking if Rontgen may quote from Tovey's ' Times article', . Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Kenneth Anderson, 23 February 1952
Letter, 23 February 1952, Yorkshire, Kenneth Anderson to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, news of Anderson and his orchestra, his publications and work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Walter Schlapp, 28 April 1952
Letter, 28 April 1952, Manchester, Walter Schlapp to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey and describing an article written by Tovey on Hindemith, published in the Radio Times. Holograph signed.
Letter to Edward Joseph Dent from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 November 1936
Letter, 20 November 1936, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Joseph Dent. Discussion of Busoni's intellect, and covering note for cadenza's. Typescript copy.
Letter to Erik Chisholm from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c27 June 1910
Letter, [27 June 1910], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Erik Chisholm. Criticism of articles in The Encyclopaedia Britannica. Holograph in pencil.
Letter to Erik Chisholm from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Erik Chisholm. Discussion of articles for The Encyclopaedia Britannica. Holograph incomplete.