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 16 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1930
Letter, [1930], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Request to send orchestral parts to Rontgen in Holland. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Edith F. Ewart, 19 October 1921
Letter, 21 October 1921, Midlothian, Edith F. Ewart to Donald Tovey. Asking how Tovey is, inviting him to stay and informing him of some music manuscripts Edith Ewart has been given. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Elizabeth Trevelyan, c 26 February 1930
Letter, 26 February [n.y], Stratford on Avon, Elizabeth Trevelyan to Donald Tovey. Wishing Tovey well, requesting an analytical programme of Tovey's symphony, and expressing an eagerness to hear Tovey's symphony. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Keith [Faeker], 06 March 1931
Letter, 6 March 1931, Edinburgh, Keith [Faeker] to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for sending a note of encouragement before a performance and praising Tovey's arrangements. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Murray Coutts-Trotter, 19 October 1917
Letter, 19 October 1917, Madras, Murray Coutts-Trotter to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey of the orchestra Coutts-Trotter has set up and requesting orchestral parts, also informing Tovey of the death of his mother. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Robert Finnie McEwen, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Berwickshire, Robert Finnie McEwen to Donald Tovey. Discussing a lost score and offering Tovey help. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 10 December 1906
Letter, 10 December 1906, Gloucester, Hubert Parry to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a letter, a full score and news about Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for the present of some scores and notes on the scores. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 December 1893
Letter, [1 December 1893], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for various things, discussing Tovey's copies of music scores, and the fact that Tovey is suffering from a cold. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of Tovey's travelling plans, and a transcription of a ' Fantastic of three parts' by Orlando Gibbons. Photocopy of Holograph signed.