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 7 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Earl of Moray, 18 May 1922
Letter, 18 May 1922, Perth, Earl of Moray to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for sending Moray a copy of his musical analysis of The Golgdberg variations. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Frederick S. Mackay, 27 March 1939
Letter, 27 March 1939, New York, Frederick S. Mackay to Donald Tovey. Discussion of a point , backed by evidence, influenced by Tovey's essay on the Prelude to act III of Jannhausen. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Fritz Busch, 08 September 1937
Letter, 8 September 1937, Denmark, Fritz Busch to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's editions of Beethoven's sonatas and Bach's piano works and musical analyses. Typescript 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 Willy Strecker, 21 July 1937
Letter, 21 July 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Discussing Hindemith's book of music teaching and Tovey's planned meeting with it's American translator, Remi Gassmann also mentions the publication of Tovey's compositions. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 27 July 1937
Letter, 27 July 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Discussing Hindemith's book on music theory and Tovey's help with Grassmann's translation. Typescript signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 03 April 1897
Postcard, 3 April 1897, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Note of Tovey's work on ' Music and it's means of expression '. Typescript copy of postcard.