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 78 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 28 August 1939
Letter, 28 August 1939, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Expressing anxiety over the threat of a European war and over Tovey's health. Holograph signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Charel Guthrie, 24 May 1929
Letter, 24 May 1929, Edinburgh, Charles Guthrie to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning the finances of ' The Bride of Dionysus'. Typescript signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Charles Guthrie, 15 March 1929
Letter, 15 March 1929, Edinburgh, Charles Guthrie to Robert Trevelyan. Enclosing a new agreement, thanking Trevelyan for a cheque and details of the costs of properties for the opera. Typescript signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Charles Guthrie, 14 June 1929
Letter, 14 June 1929, Edinburgh, Charles Guthrie to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning the finances of the 'Bride of Dionysus' and expressing pleasure at having been involved with the production. Holograph signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 28 November 1945
Letter, 28 November 1945, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Expressing Hubert Foss's worries about printing Tovey's essay, 'Music in German Culture', 1914, because of its views on the war and Nazism. Typescript signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 14 December 1945
Letter, 14 December 1945, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning material for a biography of Tovey and a meeting with Peterkin, Grierson, Guthrie, Foss and John Tovey. Typescript signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 27 January 1945
Letter, 27 January 1945, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning a meeting with Grierson to discuss the biography of Tovey. Typescript signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 19 December 1946
Letter, 19 December 1946, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Discussing the production of a Tovey biography by either Foss or Grierson. Typescript signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 01 February 1947
Letter, 1 February 1947, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Informing Trevelyan that Grierson is dedicating time to writing a biography on Tovey and that John Tovey has offered her financial help and that Oxford University Press have offered assistance. Typescript signed.
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.