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 6 Collections and/or Records:
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 Sir Donald Francis Tovey and Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Frances Dakyns, 24 April 1929
Letter, 24 April 1929, Sussex, Frances Dakyns to Donald Tovey and Robert Trevelyan. Expressing a desire to be in Edinburgh and congratulating Tovey and Trevelyan on the opera. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 23 September 1908
Letter, 23 September 1908, Surrey, Robert Trevelyan to Donald Tovey. A plan for the words of the ' Dionysus duet', news of the Trevelyan family. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Thomas Beecham, 06 December 1918
Letter, 6 December 1918, London, Thomas Beecham to Donald Tovey. Expressing regret that Beecham was unable to visit Edinburgh and meet Tovey and enquiries about Tovey's opera. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 19 October 1919
Letter, 19 October 1919, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Wishing Miss. Weisse a Happy Birthday, comments on the start of the University term, especially on a gifted violin player, suggestion that his work be called a music-drama rather than grand opera, and notes on the Ms. of the work. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed paper.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 27 April 1920
Letter, 27 April 1920, Kent, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Recommending a doctor to Miss. Weisse, news of the Busch family, development of opera score. Holograph signed.