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 31 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1910
Letter, [1910], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Robert Trevelyan. Consoling Trevelyan after the death of Mr. Dakyns. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Edward Maurice Isaacs, 05 January 1922
Letter, 5 January 1922, London, Edward Isaacs to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for the invitation to Northlands to see the Moor piano. Holograph signed, stamped.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 03 August 1893
Letter, 3 August 1893, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of Tovey's visit to Lowestoft. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 February 1895
Letter, 17 February 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Tovey's application for the Mendelssohn scholarship an news of Tovey's contemporaries at Balliol. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 10 February 1895
Letter, 10 February 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss Weisse for sending gifts and praising Bray and his circle of friends. Holograph signed, in pencil, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 06 February 1895
Letter, 6 February 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss Weisse of his arrival at Balliol, and Bray's care for Tovey. Holograph signed, in pencil, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 24 May 1895
Letter, 24 May 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Inviting Miss. Weisse to lunch and a concert and a description of life at Balliol. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 11 June 1895
Letter, 11 June 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining Tovey's anxiety about his studies in classics and description of a day out with Joachim. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 07 July 1895
Letter, 7 July 1895, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining Tovey's plans and apologising for breaking an engagement at 'The Hipkins'. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 30 September 1895
Letter, 30 September 1895, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Bray's stay with the Tovey's and Tovey's anxiety over his studies. Holograph signed.