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Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940 (Reid Professor of Music, University of Edinburgh)

 Person

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 Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 May 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L494
Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 May 1898, Littlehampton, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's progress at Oxford and details of a bad copy of a quintet by Tovey. Typescript copy of L495.

Dates: 14 May 1898

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 May 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L495
Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 May 1898, Littlehampton, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's progress at Oxford and details of a bad copy of a quintet by Tovey. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: 14 May 1898

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 19 May 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L496
Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 May 1898, Littlehampton, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's revision for exams. Typescript copy, incomplete, of L497.

Dates: 19 May 1898

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 15 April 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L490
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 15 April 1898, Littlehampton, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notes on Tovey's progress. Holograph signed.

Dates: 15 April 1898

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 15 April 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L491
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 15 April 1898, Littlehampton, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notes on Tovey's progress. Typescript copy of L490.

Dates: 15 April 1898