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 Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Janet Tessier du Cros, 28 October 1952
Letter, 28 October 1952, Paris, Janet Tessier du Cros to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey and informing Grierson that Tessier du Cros has Cadenza's written by Tovey in Ms.. Typescript signed, with stamped envelope, for Tessier du Cros see also Janet Grierson.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Janet Tessier du Cros, 16 March 1952
Letter, 16 March 1952, Paris, Janet Tessier du Cros to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, and her diplomatic style of writing and describing Tessier du Cros' musical training. Typescript signed, with stamped envelope, for Tessier du Cros see also Janet Grierson.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Thea Hunter, c1952
Letter, [n.d], Paris, Thea Hunter to Mary Grierson. Informing Grierson that Hunter is returning for another year and news of her forthcoming visit to Italy. Holograph signed, with envelope.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 18 August 1912
Letter, 18 August 1912, Paris, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Turning down an invitation to stay, plan to finish `the opera'. Holograph signed, L177 - L185 sewn together.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from E. M. Widor, 03 December 1934
Letter, 3 December 1934, Paris, E. M. Widor to Donald Tovey. Congratulating Tovey on completing his edition of Bach's ' Art of the Fugue' and asking after Tovey's health. Written for Widor by Albert Schweitzer, signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Louis Fleury, c1925
Letter, [1925], Paris, Louis Fleury to Donald Tovey. Commenting on Tovey's trip to America and concerts in Paris and Edinburgh. Holograph signed, with black and white photograph of a man looking puzzled stuck to top of p.1.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 April 1908
Letter, 14 April 1908, Paris, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's visit, the progress of his B minor trio, details of a music examination. Holograph incomplete.