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 11 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Mr. and Mrs. Strecker, 14 February 1935
Letter, 14 February 1935, Mainz, Mr. and Mrs. Strecker to Donald Tovey. Congratulating Tovey on his knighthood. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 25 March 1937
Letter, 25 March 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey for help with Remi Grassman's English translation of Hindemith's book on the theory of musical composition and its teaching. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 02 April 1937
Letter, 2 April 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Planning to visit Tovey in London, thanking him for a birthday composition for his father, discussing a forthcoming book on Hindemith. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 03 July 1937
Letter, 3 July 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Enclosing Hindemith's book, informing Tovey that the translation is almost complete and asking Tovey's opinion of the work. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 21 July 1937
Letter, 21 July 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Discussing Hindemith's book of music teaching and Tovey's planned meeting with it's American translator, Remi Gassmann also mentions the publication of Tovey's compositions. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 27 July 1937
Letter, 27 July 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Discussing Hindemith's book on music theory and Tovey's help with Grassmann's translation. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 03 February 1938
Letter, 3 February 1938, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's courage in writing to the Times concerning the performance and publication of Schumann's last work. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1911
Letter, [January 1911], Mainz, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description and criticism of performances of Faust and Lohengrin. Holograph signed incomplete.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 16 July 1920
Letter, 16 July 1920, Mainz, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Confirming the receipt of manuscripts, referring to advice from Tovey and work with Beecham. Typescript signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 16 January 1911
Postcard, 16 January 1911, Maintz, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of the performance of acts 1 and 2. Holograph signed.