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 21 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Arthur Somervall, 05 January 1933
Letter, 5 January 1933, London, Arthur Somervall to Mary Grierson. Describing Somervall's symphony, the slow movement of which was written in memory of Scott the explorer, and asking how Tovey was. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 06 June 1936
Letter, 6 June 1936, London, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Requesting scores. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 27 June 1937
Letter, 27 June 1937, London, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Requesting information concerning music scholarships, words to a ninth symphony etc.. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Arthur James Balfour, 20 February 1918
Letter, 20 February 1918, London, A. Balfour to Donald Tovey. A letter of encouragement and assurance that Balfour will continue to be a patron. Holograph signed, in pencil on back of the letter Tovey has written a chorus for a song ' Israel in Egypt ' .
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Aschberg, Aped and Crew Ltd., 05 May 1923
Letter, 5 May 1923, London, Aschberg, Aped and Crew Ltd. to Donald Tovey. Request that Tovey lend some material appropriate for an exit of Nuns in a scene written around Thomas Baccarat, for a pageant at Harrow. Typescript incomplete.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Cecil Liddell, c06 March 1920
Letter, 6 March 1920, London, Cecil Liddell to Donald Tovey. Requesting that Tovey make a round out of an advertisement for Calamine soap. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Gustav Holst, 20 September 1923
Letter, 20 September 1923, London, Gustav Holst to Donald Tovey. Details of a German translation of Holst's 'Hymn of Jesus' by Lauckner, and the problems of publication, and invitation to dine with Holst. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Jelly d' Aranyi, c1930
Letter, [n.d], London, Jelly d' Aranyi to Donald Tovey. Discussing composition, news of Adila and Alix Fachiri. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from John Herbert Foulds, 29 September 1916
Letter, 29 September 1916, London, J. H. Foulds to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for sending Foulds compositions to Rontgen and covering note for the compositions. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from John Herbert Foulds, 23 November 1930
Letter, 23 November 1930, London, John Foulds to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey to look over Foulds new compositions. Holograph signed, with advertisement for 'Music today' by John Foulds, [2]p. 19 x 13cm, printed on light blue paper.