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 Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Alex Cuthbert, 15 August 1952
Letter, 15 August 1952, Edinburgh, Alex Cuthbert to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography on Tovey, describing Tovey's work in Edinburgh and the impact it had on Cuthbert. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Geoffrey Fenwick Jocelyn Cumberlege, 12 March 1952
Letter, 12 March 1952, London, Geoffrey Cumberlege to Mary Grierson. Recept for a cheque for the publication of her biography of Tovey. Typescript signed, with receipts, [2]p. 22 x 22cm, and a review list, 22 x 18cm.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Molly Curtis, 21 February 1952
Letter, 21 February 1952, Inverness, Molly Curtis to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope, place from postmark.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from W. G. Fleming, 28 February 1952
Letter, 28 February 1952, Edinburgh, W. G. Fleming to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Messrs. Paterson from The Hispanic Society of America, 11 April 1922
Letter, 11 April 1922, London, The Hispanic Society of America to Messrs. Paterson, Sons & Co.. Requesting a copy of Tovey's ' Beethoven's Ninth Symphony: An essay in musical analysis', and enquiring after Tovey's previous essays. Typescript.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 28 November 1945
Letter, 28 November 1945, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Expressing Hubert Foss's worries about printing Tovey's essay, 'Music in German Culture', 1914, because of its views on the war and Nazism. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Albert and Helene Schweitzer, 20 February 1930
Letter, 20 February 1930, Bordeaux, Albert and Helene Schweitzer to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that he will receive a copy of Schweitzer's book on St. Paul, news of Schweitzer's health, and New Year wishes. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Albert Schweitzer, 06 November 1938
Letter, 6 November 1938, London, Albert Schweitzer to Donald Tovey. Reminiscing over times spent with the Tovey's in Edinburgh and discussing the publication of Schweitzer's book, 'African Stories'. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Alexander Wunderer, 21 March 1924
Letter, 21 March 1924, Alexander Wunderer to Donald Tovey. Discussing Tovey's concert in Vienna in 1904 with Fillinger, praising Tovey's work and requesting details of Tovey's publications. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Arnold Schering, 11 March 1925
Letter, 11 March 1925, Halle, Arnold Schering to Donald Tovey. Requesting a copy of Tovey's new edition of Bach's 'well tempered piano' for inclusion in the Bach yearbook which Shering publishes. Holograph signed.