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, 26 June 1935
Letter, 26 June 1935, Suffolk, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Discussion of Tovey's health and his recent attack of breathlessness. Holograph signed.
Letter to H. A. Scott from [Jean Kennedy], 14 July 1939
Letter, 14 July 1939, Suffolk, [Jean Kennedy] to H. A. Scott. Informing Scott that Tovey is not well enough to revise his contributions to The Encyclopaedia Brittanica. Typescript copy.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1933
Letter, [December 1933], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Outlining Tovey's limitations due to ill health and notes on Hungarian dances. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 August 1935
Letter, 1 August 1935, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Briefly describing how terrible Tovey feels. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Thomas Henry Wait Armstrong from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 28 May 1939
Letter, 28 May 1939, Suffolk, Donald Francis Tovey to Thomas Armstrong. Informing of arrival in Edinburgh. Typescript.