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 22 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Denis James Matthews, 20 April 1952
Letter, 20 April 1952, London, Denis Matthews to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography on Tovey, and pointing out some mistakes in the text. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Denis James Matthews, 06 May 1952
Letter, 6 May 1952, London, Denis Matthews to Mary Grierson. Accepting Grierson's thoughts on Matthews previous corrections to her work on Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Oxford University Press, 18 January 1952
Letter, 18 January 1952, London, A. Peacock, for Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press to Mary Grierson. Sending Grierson an early copy of her book on Tovey. Typescript signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Frank Stewart Howes, c 06 December 1940
Letter, 6 December [n.y], London, Frank Howes to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss not to print the story of Tovey told by Howes. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Jonathan Reeves, 29 January 1942
Letter, 29 January 1942, London, Jonathan Reeves to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss of correspondence between Sir Hugh Allen and Tovey, the untidiness of his manuscripts, his work on Beethoven and Brahms and memories of the young Tovey with Miss. Weisse. Typescript signed.
Letter to [Hubert James Foss] from Mabel McCormick, 08 December 1941
Letter, 8 December 1941, London, M. McCormick to [Hubert Foss]. Responding to Foss's request, published in the Daily Telegraph for letters to and from Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 14 December 1945
Letter, 14 December 1945, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning material for a biography of Tovey and a meeting with Peterkin, Grierson, Guthrie, Foss and John Tovey. Typescript signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 27 January 1945
Letter, 27 January 1945, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning a meeting with Grierson to discuss the biography of Tovey. Typescript signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 19 December 1946
Letter, 19 December 1946, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Discussing the production of a Tovey biography by either Foss or Grierson. Typescript signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 01 February 1947
Letter, 1 February 1947, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Informing Trevelyan that Grierson is dedicating time to writing a biography on Tovey and that John Tovey has offered her financial help and that Oxford University Press have offered assistance. Typescript signed.