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 15 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Belle May, 25 February 1952
Letter, 25 February 1952, Glasgow, Belle May to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's accomplishment in producing the Tovey biography, memories of Grierson's mother. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Hugh S. Robertson, 06 March 1952
Letter, 6 March 1952, Glasgow, Hugh S. Robertson to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope, Place as postmark.
Letter to from Thomas Cuthbertson Leithead Pritchard, c1940
Letter, [n.d], Glasgow, T. C. L. Pritchard. Recollections of Tovey, describing his dignity and humility. Typescript.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from William Giles Whittaker, 26 November 1941
Letter, 26 November 1941, Glasgow, William Giles Whittaker to Hubert Foss. Enclosing Letters from Tovey in response to Foss's advertisement. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Camille Ritter, 05 March 1919
Letter, 5 March 1919, Glasgow, Camille Ritter to Donald Tovey. Arranging a meeting with Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Camillo Ritter, 02 March 1919
Letter, 2 March 1919, Glasgow, Camillo Ritter to Donald Tovey. Apologising for not being able to attend a reversal, and discussing his fee for attending the rehearsals. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Camillo Ritter, 16 September 1919
Letter, 16 September 1919, Glasgow, Camillo Ritter to Donald Tovey. Discussing the orchestra, the establishment of an advisory committee, and comment on Tovey's opera. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Camillo Ritter, 12 September 1919
Letter, 12 September 1919, Glasgow, Camillo Ritter to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey if Ritter is to be part of Tovey's orchestral scheme. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Erik Chisolm, 19 February 1935
Letter, 19 February 1935, Glasgow, Erik Chisolm to Donald Tovey. Inviting Tovey to a performance. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from F. O. Rower, 03 March 1923
Letter, 3 March 1923, Glasgow, F.O. Rower to Donald Tovey. reminding Tovey of a lecture date and inviting him to dinner. Holograph signed.