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 63 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Adolf Busch from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Adolf Busch. Discussion of string quartet variations in B Opus II, working methods and the loneliness of the profession. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Edward Joseph Dent, 12 January 1951
Letter, 12 January 1951, London, Edward Dent to Mary Grierson. Discussing Tovey's scholarly approach to music. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Peter Charles Arthur Wishart, 06 June 1952
Letter, 6 May 1952, Birmingham, Peter Wishart to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, empathising with Tovey's struggles and a discussion of music teaching. Holograph signed.
Letter to Edward Joseph Dent from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 November 1931
Letter, 14 November 1931, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Joseph Dent. Description of Tovey's ideas of university musical education, comparison of Edinburgh degrees with that of Oxford and Cambridge. Typescript copy.
Letter to from, c 27 December 1920
Letter, 17 December [n.y.], Dresden, Walter Petret. Thanking Tovey for sending an analysis of a symphony and informing Tovey that Petret will send him a score. Holograph signed.
Letter to Geoffrey Cotsell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1931
Letter, [1931], Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Geoffrey Cotsell. Advice on passing a sight reading examination. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss, with covering letter from Geoffrey Cotsell.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Requesting that Grierson illustrate Tovey's analysis lecture on the piano. Holograph signed.
Letter to Miss Budgen from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 November 1898
Letter, 9 November 1898, Biggar, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Miss Budgen. Arrangement for a lesson in harmony, counterpoint and composition and recommendation of suitable texts.. Holograph signed, with typescript copy.
Letter to Robert King from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 03 May 1933
Letter, 3 May 1933, Suffolk, Sir Donald Franics Tovey to Robert King. Discussion of cadenzas. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Achille Simonetti, c1900
Letter, [n.d], London, Achille Simonetti to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's performance and essay on the Goldberg variations, arranging rehearsals for Simonetti and Mr. Blumenthal. Holograph signed, with annotation in blue ink by Miss Weisse.