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 45 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Lionel Tertis, 03 December 1930
Letter, 3 December 1930, Surrey, Lionel Tertis to Mary Grierson. Praising an orchestral performance, and expressing Tertis' enjoyment at playing with the orchestra, mentioning Boult's courage at suggesting a second performance and disappointment at Tovey's absence. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, cApril 1934
Letter, [April 1934], Barcelona, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Request to send prospectuses and programmes to Lord Balfour and Miss. Balfour. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 11 October 1935
Letter, 11 October 1935, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. News of Miss. Weisses brothers death, requesting that Grierson get a ticket for the Reid concert series and a description of Tovey's parents last years. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 14 September 1936
Letter, 14 September 1936, Bad Nauheim, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Expressing the feeling that Tovey is a character in a Greek tragedy, requesting a subscription seat to The Reid concerts. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Ernest Bryson, 30 December 1941
Letter, 30 December 1941, Gloucestershire, Ernest Bryson to Hubert Foss. Memories of Tovey, conducting the Reid Orchestra, programme notes, ' The Bride of Dionysus', and completion of the Bach fugue. Holograph signed.
Letter to Richard Denham from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1901
Letter, [1901], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Richard Denham. Arranging concert dates. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Richard Denham from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 May 1908
Letter, 1 May 1908, Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Lord Richard Denham. Arranging concert dates and programmes. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Adila Adrienne Adalbertina Maria Fachiri, 09 May 1929
Letter, 9 May 1929, Madrid, Adila Fachiri to Donald Tovey. Apologising for not coming to Edinburgh and details of Adila's tours. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Arthur James Balfour, 14 January 1927
Letter, 14 January 1927, Prestonkirk, Arthur James Balfour to Donald Tovey . Apologising for causing trouble and a suggestion that the orchestra should play Mozart's Jupiter symphony. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Clara Gould, 21 September 1924
Letter, 21 September 1924, California, Clara Gould to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey for suggestions for the following summers letters and concerts, and news from Santa Barbara. Holograph signed.