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 5 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from H. F. Giles, 03 March 1930
Letter, 3 March 1930, Edinburgh, H. F. Giles to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for providing music for a play and describing how the music enhanced the play. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Lucy Sklovsky, 16 May 1922
Letter, 16 May 1922, Edinburgh, Lucy Sklovsky to Donald Tovey. News of Slovsky's family, an outbreak of Scarlet fever and a production of Carmen. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Percival W. Hulbert, 14 November 1924
Letter, 14 November 1924, Edinburgh, Percival W. Hulbert to Donald Tovey. Praising a concert at the Usher hall, and commenting on how similar Tovey is in appearance to his mother. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir James Alfred Ewing, 25 March 1922
Letter, 25 March 1922, Alfred Ewing to Donald Tovey. A letter of appreciation of a ' beautiful' musical performance. Holograph signed, annotated in blue ink at top of page by Miss. Weisse.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 March 1916
Letter, [March 1916], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of a successful Reid concert, criticism of a music critic in 'The Scotsman', and news of life in Edinburgh. Holograph unfinished, on University of Edinburgh headed notepaper.