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 11 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Kenneth Anderson, 23 February 1952
Letter, 23 February 1952, Yorkshire, Kenneth Anderson to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, news of Anderson and his orchestra, his publications and work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Jonathan Reeves, 29 January 1942
Letter, 29 January 1942, London, Jonathan Reeves to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss of correspondence between Sir Hugh Allen and Tovey, the untidiness of his manuscripts, his work on Beethoven and Brahms and memories of the young Tovey with Miss. Weisse. Typescript signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Sophie Weisse, 01 October 1941
Letter, 1 October 1941, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Hubert Foss. Commenting on an article written by Foss on Tovey, and reminiscing. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mr Craxton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Craxton. Compliments of the season, notes on recently written work. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Albert Schweitzer, 02 November 1937
Letter, 2 November 1937, Albert Schweitzer to Donald Tovey. Remembering Tovey's cello concerto and his hospitality and describing a book Schweitzer is writing. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Edward Ballantine, 08 January 1925
Letter, 8 January 1925, Massachusetts, Edward Ballantine to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for sending analytical programme notes. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Jelly d'Aranyi, c 01 February 1930
Letter, February [1930], Jelly d'Aranyi to Donald Tovey. Praising an article written by Tovey and remembering times spent with Tovey and his wife. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Wally Passer, 20 January 1925
Letter, 20 January 1925, Wally Passer to Donald Tovey. Introducing Passer's son Kurt who is coming to England and news of Passer's translation work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 02 April 1937
Letter, 2 April 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Planning to visit Tovey in London, thanking him for a birthday composition for his father, discussing a forthcoming book on Hindemith. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 03 July 1897
Letter, 3 July 1897, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's ' book' and his progress, expressing concern over Miss. Weisse. Holograph, with duplicate typescript copy, 26 x 21cm.