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 17 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Douglas Dickson from Sir Adrian Cedric Boult, 30 January 1943
Letter, 30 January 1943, London, Adrian Boult to Douglas Dickson. Discussion of a scholarship in memory of Tovey. Typescript signed.
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 Hubert James Foss from [ Cinthia Firlin], c1940
Letter, 5 February [n.y], Middlesex, [ Cinthia Firlin] to Hubert Foss. Describing memories of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to [ Hubert James Foss ] from Harry Stuart. Goodhart-Rendel, 02 January 1942
Letter, 2 January 1942, Surrey, H. S. Goodhart Rendel to [ Hubert Foss ]. Describing memories of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Henry Balfour Gardiner, c1942
Letter, 1 January 1942, Oxford, H. Balfour Gardiner to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss of the last time Gardiner saw Tovey and his memories of him. Holograph signed.
Letter to [Hubert James Foss] from Isabelle Duff, 01 December 1941
Letter, 1 December 1941, Edinburgh, Isabelle Duff to [Hubert Foss]. Describing fond memories of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from S. Hillckson, 02 January 1946
Letter, 2 January 1946, London, S. Hillckson to Hubert Foss. Discussing Hillckson's memories of Tovey and arranging a meeting. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Sophie Weisse, c1941
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Hubert Foss. Inviting Foss to visit Weisse, and expressing a desire to go to Worplesdon and visit Tovey's grave. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Sophie Weisse, c1941
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Hubert Foss. Enclosing photographs of the Tovey Memorial rooms, expressing Weisse's grief. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Thomas H. Hamilton, 05 March 1942
Letter, 5 March 1942, Illinois, Thomas H. Hamilton to Hubert Foss. Memories of Tovey's tours of America and of Tovey's hospitality. Typescript signed.