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 7 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1934
Letter, 1934, Czechoslovakia, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Suggestions for organisation of a choir, and recommendations on what they should sing. Holograph signed.
Letter to Miss Liddell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, cJuly 1904
Letter, [July 1904], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Miss Liddell. Outlining project on choral design. Holograph unfinished.
Letter to Mrs Rollo Russell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mrs. Rollo Russell. Covering note for a Hymn - tune written by Tovey. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Edward William Elgar, 04 May 1918
Letter, 4 May 1919, London, Edward Elgar to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for sending specimen choral scores and talking highly of Edinburgh. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 04 March 1895
Letter, 4 March 1894, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Expressing anxiety over the Amsterdam choir. Holograph signed, with envelope.
Telegram to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c06 July 1915
Telegram, 6 July [n.y], Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Advice on rehearsing the Reid choir. Typescript.
Telegram to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1915
Telegram, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Informing Grierson of Holst's practicality and suggesting she should consult choirmasters. Typescript.