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 6 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Walter Schlapp, 28 April 1952
Letter, 28 April 1952, Manchester, Walter Schlapp to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey and describing an article written by Tovey on Hindemith, published in the Radio Times. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Carl Fuchs, 26 November 1941
Letter, 26 November 1941, Manchester, Carl Fuchs to Hubert Foss. Praising Tovey's intellect and musician ship, and describing memories of a performance Tovey gave at the house of Gustav Behrens. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Neville Cardus, 04 February 1935
Letter, 4 February 1935, Manchester, Neville Cardus to Donald Tovey. Praise for Tovey's ' Essays in musical analysis '. Holograph signed, written on paper headed ' The Manchester Guardian '.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Walter Hamilton Moberly, 29 March 1924
Letter, 29 March 1924, Manchester, Walter H. Moberly to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey's advice on the future of the faculty of music at Manchester University. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Fanny Behrens, 14 November 1940
Letter, 14 November 1940, Manchester, Fanny Behrens to Sophie Weisse. Alerting Miss. Weisse to an article about Tovey's 'absolute ear', news of Behrens recovery and of her sons. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Gaskell, c1890
Letter, [n.d], Manchester, Gaskell to Sophie Weisse. Praising Tovey's genius and concert performances. Holograph signed, with envelope, annotated by Miss. Weisse, ' Contains a delightful and considerable valuable letter from Mrs. or Miss. Gaskell about dear Donald '.