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Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940 (Reid Professor of Music, University of Edinburgh)

 Person

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 11 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 28 November 1945

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2396
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 28 November 1945

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 14 December 1945

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2397
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 14 December 1945

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 27 January 1945

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2398
Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 January 1945, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning a meeting with Grierson to discuss the biography of Tovey. Typescript signed.

Dates: 27 January 1945

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 19 December 1946

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2399
Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 December 1946, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Discussing the production of a Tovey biography by either Foss or Grierson. Typescript signed.

Dates: 19 December 1946

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 01 February 1947

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2400
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 01 February 1947

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Edward Maurice Isaacs, 05 January 1922

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1290
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 05 January 1922

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 27 October 1911

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1721
Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 October 1911, London, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Inviting Tovey for an interview. Typescript signed, on back of letter transcript of a letter from Sir Hubert Parry to Miss Weisse, 1896 Nov 30, by Miss. Weisse.

Dates: 27 October 1911

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 25 October 1911

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2485
Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 October 1911, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of the cheapest estimate for engraving and printing Tovey's Sonata and quintette, and discussing their publication to coincide with performance. Typescript signed.

Dates: 25 October 1911

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 12 November 1912

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2499
Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 November 1912, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey has delivered proofs of his works for printing and advising on the difference of opinion and difficult situation between Tovey and another party. Typescript signed.

Dates: 12 November 1912

Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Roeyer, 12 November 1909

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1532
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 12 November 1909, London, Roeyer to Donald Tovey. Requesting Tovey's help with a Haydn score. Holograph signed.

Dates: 12 November 1909