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 Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 09 August 1925
Letter, 9 August 1925, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Requesting information about the parts to Tovey's symphony for a performance in Dresden. Holograph signed.
Letter to Joseph Joachim from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1890
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Joseph Joachim. Birthday greeting and composition. Holograph, with two lines of music, with annotations in red ink by Sophie Weisse.
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 Henry Joachim from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mrs Henry Joachim. Covering letter for two canons. Holograph signed, with two canons, with envelope, and descriptive note.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Mary Herbert, c27 November 1934
Letter, 27 November 1934, Surrey , Mary Herbert to Donald Tovey. Praising a series of concerts, especially Casals performance of Toveys work. Holograph signed.