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Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940 (Reid Professor of Music, University of Edinburgh)

 Person

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 11 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Donald Tovey from Julius Rontgen, 18 February 1904

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1553
Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 February 1904, Amsterdam, Julius Rontgen to Donald Tovey. Discussing Tovey's position as judge of the Prix d' excellence and enclosing composition work. Holograph signed.

Dates: 18 February 1904

Letter to Robert Bruce from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 11 June 1939

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L17
Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 June 1939, Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Robert Bruce. Thanking Bruce for his ideas about Oxford. Typescript.

Dates: 11 June 1939

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Helene and Albert Schweitzer, 30 April 1928

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1636
Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 April 1928, Amsterdam, Helene and Albert Schweitzer to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that Schweitzer will be unable to visit Scotland. Holograph signed.

Dates: 30 April 1928

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Johannes Rontgen, 24 October 1907

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1546
Scope and Contents

Letter, 24 October 1907, Amsterdam, Johannes Rontgen to Donald Tovey. Discussing forthcoming concerts and a Brahms festival, describing compositions Rontgen has written for violin and flute. Holograph signed.

Dates: 24 October 1907

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Julius Rontgen, 13 April 1921

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1539
Scope and Contents

Letter, 13 April 1921, Amsterdam, Julius Rontgen to Donald Tovey. Writing of his envy of J. P. E. von Stolzig, who is being taught by Tovey and discussing certain compositions. Holograph signed.

Dates: 13 April 1921

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Julius Rontgen, 16 May 1921

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1540
Scope and Contents

Letter, 16 May 1921, Amsterdam, Julius Rontgen to Donald Tovey. Offering Tovey an assesment of Mrs. Langdon, a pupil of Rontgen's and description of Rontgen's performances with the Busch quartet. Holograph signed.

Dates: 16 May 1921

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Robert Bruce, c07 July 1930

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L785
Scope and Contents

Letter, 7 June [n.y], Amsterdam, Robert Bruce to Donald Tovey. Details of Bruce's cello teacher and asking Tovey for advice in the continuation of Bruce's education. Holograph signed.

Dates: c07 July 1930

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Robert Bruce, 15 June 1939

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L786-L787
Scope and Contents

Letter, 15 June 1939, Amsterdam, Robert Bruce to Donald Tovey. Request for Tovey to send a reference for Bruce to Professor Beveridge at Oxford University. Holograph signed.

Dates: 15 June 1939

Postcard to Donald Tovey from Julius Rontgen, 09 May 1924

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1555
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 9 May 1924, Amsterdam, Julius Rontgen to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey to adjudicate an exam in Amsterdam and to select music for it. Holograph signed.

Dates: 09 May 1924

Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Johannes Rontgen, A. Adams and Robert Bruce, 28 October 1938

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1547
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 28 October 1938, Amsterdam, Johannes Rontgen, A. Adams and R. Bruce to Donald Tovey. Congratulating Tovey on a performance of the Reid orchestra. Holograph signed, on black and white postcard of an Amsterdam Street.

Dates: 28 October 1938