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 10 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from George Szell, 07 March 1937
Letter, 7 March 1937, Prague, George Szell to Donald Tovey. Discussing plans to fill the post of concertmaster for the Scottish Orchestra and asking Tovey's help in translating Mahler's Earth Song. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Harold H. Joachim, 25 January 1938
Letter, 25 January 1938, Oxford, Harold H. Joachim to Donald Tovey. Concerning the English translation of a letter. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Max Hesse's Verlag, 20 October 1924
Letter, 20 October 1924, Berlin, Max Hesses Verlag to Donald Tovey. Discussing Tovey's translation of the 'History of violin playing' into English and Tovey's entry in Riemann's Lexicon. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Frederick Pollock, 30 April 1930
Letter, 30 April 1930, London, Frederick Pollock to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that Pollock has been busy, but, has not forgotten that Tovey has requested Latin words for a cantata. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Susan Sushington, c 28 September 1910
Letter, 28 September [n.y], Bordon, Susan Sushington to Donald Tovey. Discussing Dent's translation of the Fidelio. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 25 March 1937
Letter, 25 March 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey for help with Remi Grassman's English translation of Hindemith's book on the theory of musical composition and its teaching. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 03 July 1937
Letter, 3 July 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Enclosing Hindemith's book, informing Tovey that the translation is almost complete and asking Tovey's opinion of the work. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 21 July 1937
Letter, 21 July 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Discussing Hindemith's book of music teaching and Tovey's planned meeting with it's American translator, Remi Gassmann also mentions the publication of Tovey's compositions. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Willy Strecker, 27 July 1937
Letter, 27 July 1937, Mainz, Willy Strecker to Donald Tovey. Discussing Hindemith's book on music theory and Tovey's help with Grassmann's translation. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 29 May 1890
Letter, 29 May 1890, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Arranging a time for Tovey's lesson and discussing a German translation. Holograph signed.