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 16 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Alan Frank, 21 September 1950
Letter, 21 September 1950, London, Alan Frank to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Holograph signed, on black and white photograph of Chateau de Beloeil.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Denis James Matthews, 20 April 1952
Letter, 20 April 1952, London, Denis Matthews to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography on Tovey, and pointing out some mistakes in the text. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from E. d' Arba, 06 July 1952
Letter, 6 July 1952, London, E. d' Arba to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography on Tovey and attempting to arrange a meeting. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Hubert James Foss, 12 February 1952
Letter, 12 February 1952, London, Hubert Foss to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Holograph signed.
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 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 Oxford University Press, 18 January 1952
Letter, 18 January 1952, London, A. Peacock, for Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press to Mary Grierson. Sending Grierson an early copy of her book on Tovey. Typescript signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Roger Oliver, 04 March 1952
Letter, 4 March 1952, London, Roger Oliver to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey and Tovey himself. Holograph signed.
Letter to Erik Chisholm from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1920
Letter, [n.d], London, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Erik Chisholm. Letter thanking Chisholm for editing work, and suggested he edit a collection of biographies. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from G. L. Marshall, 10 December 1941
Letter, 10 December 1941, London, G. L. Marshall to Hubert Foss. Responding to an advert in 'The Listener' for material for a biography of Tovey. Typescript signed.