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 4 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1915
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Advice for orchestrating a concert. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 15 March 1935
Letter, 15 March 1935, Barcelona, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. asking Tovey to send a corrected score to Casals and Arbos, the conductor, for the Madrid performance of Tovey's work on April 17. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 February 1896
Letter, 12 February 1896, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Discussion of musical scoring, details of a concert. Holograph signed, incomplete.
Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Julius Rontgen, 26 June 1921
Postcard 26 June 1921, Amsterdam, Julius Rontgen to Donald Tovey. Requesting a copy of the score of Tovey's work for organ, and news of playing with the Busch quartet in Weisbaden. Holograph signed.