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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 5 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Patricia, 28 March 1952

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2746
Scope and Contents

Letter, 28 March 1952, Bristol, Patricia to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, and news of Patricia's family and her life in Bristol. Holograph signed.

Dates: 28 March 1952

Letter to Hubert James Foss from Hubert W. Hunt, 23 November 1944

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2241
Scope and Contents

Letter, 23 November 1944, Bristol, Hubert W. Hunt to Hubert Foss. Memories of Tovey from a young boy, his exceptional talent and a typical Toveyism. Holograph signed.

Dates: 23 November 1944

Letter to Hubert James Foss from Hubert W. Hunt, 23 November 1944

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2242
Scope and Contents

Letter, 23 November 1944, Bristol, Hubert W. Hunt to Hubert Foss. Memories of Tovey from a young boy, his exceptional talent and a typical Toveyism. Typescript copy.

Dates: 23 November 1944

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from J. F. Dobson, 14 June 1938

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1082
Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 June 1938, Bristol, J. F. Dobson to Donald Francis Tovey. Asking Tovey about the form of a certain Brahms sonata, and whether Tovey's composition ' Je suis le frere du bon Cocher was ever published ' and remembering days at Oxford. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 June 1938

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from M. H. Carre, 11 February 1934

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L852
Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 February 1934, Bristol, M. H. Carre to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for his letter on The Busch variations for string quartet. Holograph signed, Paper headed The University of Bristol, Department of Philosophy.

Dates: 11 February 1934