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 6 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Edward Joseph Dent from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 November 1931
Letter, 14 November 1931, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Joseph Dent. Description of Tovey's ideas of university musical education, comparison of Edinburgh degrees with that of Oxford and Cambridge. Typescript copy.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 03 November 1912
Letter, 3 November 1912, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Emphasising that music should be a faculty, not part of an arts faculty. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 26 March 1934
Letter, 26 March 1934, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Discussion of two pupils success in the degree examinations, and one pupils interfering mother. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from L. M. Prentis, 26 March 1934
Letter, 26 March 1934, Edinburgh, L. M. Prentis to Donald Tovey. From the guardian of a student of music at the University of Edinburgh criticising the teaching in harmony and suggesting the student would had been better studying at The Royal Academy of Music. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Percy Carter Buck from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Sir Percy Carter Buck. Discussion of the music degree including discussion of examinations and a merge with Arts courses. Holograph.
Letter to the Secretary of the University court from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 07 October 1919
Letter, 7 October 1919, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to the Secretary of the University court. Informing the University court how much money is needed for the Historical concerts, Reid orchestra and the musical interpretation class. Dictated signed.