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 13 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Edward Joseph Dent from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 September 1931
Letter, 17 September 1931, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Joseph Dent. Requesting a copy of Dent's Fidelio. Typescript copy.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 01 February 1939
Letter, 1 February 1939, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Description of a score by Schumann in C major. Typescript signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Note informing of Tovey's finding an oboe part. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Carl Deis, 13 October 1925
Letter, 13 October 1925, New York, Carl Deis to Donald Tovey. Arranging a meeting to go over Tovey's Opus 8. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Keith [Faeker], 06 March 1931
Letter, 6 March 1931, Edinburgh, Keith [Faeker] to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for sending a note of encouragement before a performance and praising Tovey's arrangements. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Rodolphi Soiroy, c1920
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Rodolphi Soiroy to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's quartet, and reminding Tovey of a meeting. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from W. B. Moonie, 02 December 1933
Letter, 2 December 1933, Edinburgh, W. B. Moonie to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for putting Moonie's work on the Reid orchestra programme. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from W. B. Wordsworth, c 01 November 1934
Letter, 1 November 1934, Edinburgh, W. B. Wordsworth to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's cello concerto and refuting any criticism. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Walter Biggar Blaikie, 09 June 1919
Letter, 9 June 1919, Edinburgh, W. B. Blaikie to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for putting one of Blaikie's works to music. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 18 December 1920
Letter, 18 December 1920, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of music scores and Ms. Tovey has and news of correcting proofs of Bride of Dionysus. Holograph incomplete.