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 18 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Emanuel Christian Hedmonth, 09 April 1929
Letter, 9 April 1929, Edinburgh, C. E. Hedmonth to Robert Trevelyan. Criticising the music Tovey has written for the Opera, suggesting Tovey needs a good conductor. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Haydn Brown, 07 October 1924
Letter, 7 October 1924, London, Haydn Brown to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for sending two volumes of Bach's works and Tovey's introductory notes, patriotic comments about England. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Maud MacCarthy, 16 February 1923
Letter, 16 February 1923, London, Maud MacCarthy to Donald Tovey. Request that Tovey write something praiseworthy in support of Foulds 'Requiem' to help raise funds to perform the work at 'The Queens Hall '. Dictated.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Paul Wittgenstein, c1920
Letter, [n.d], Salzburg, Paul Wittgenstein to Donald Tovey. Discussing Grierson's visit, and enclosing some composition work for Tovey to comment upon. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from W. B. Wordsworth, c 01 November 1934
Letter, 1 November 1934, Edinburgh, W. B. Wordsworth to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's cello concerto and refuting any criticism. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 05 January 1891
Letter, 5 January 1891, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of the cost of Tovey's lessons and suggestng he is scatterbrained and forgetful and needs self discipline. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for the present of some scores and notes on the scores. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 January 1893
Letter, 20 January 1893, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining Parry's comments on Tovey's composition. Photocopy of a typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 January 1893
Letter, 20 January 1893, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining Parry's comments on Tovey's composition. Photocopy of holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1888
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Discussion of the first movement of Beethoven's Eroica. Holograph signed.