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 2127 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Alex Meek, 25 March 1952
Letter, 25 March 1952, Alex Meek to Mary Grierson. Thanking Grierson for sending autographed copies of her Biography of Tovey, praising the biography and discussing the reviews of the work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Andrew Morrison, 12 March 1952
Letter, 12 March 1952, Sussex, Andrew Morrison to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey and suggesting she completes another volume. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Annabel F. Mackay, 15 July 1952
Letter, 15 July 1952, Edinburgh, Annabel F. Mackay to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Anne Marol, 18 March 1952
Letter, 18 March 1952, Pretoria, Anne Marol to Mary Grierson. Thanking Grierson for sending some music for the Johannesburg Municipal Orchestra to perform. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Belle May, 25 February 1952
Letter, 25 February 1952, Glasgow, Belle May to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's accomplishment in producing the Tovey biography, memories of Grierson's mother. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Bernard H. Haggin, 19 August 1952
Letter, 19 August 1952, New York, B. H. Haggin to Mary Grierson. Requesting the date of issue in which Constant Lambert attacked Tovey's ' Essays in musical analysis', also requesting any dates of reviews of Tovey's performances. Typescript signed, with envelope.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Catherine R. Roberts, 06 March 1952
Letter, 6 March 1952, Edinburgh, Catherine R. Roberts to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Cecil C. Baines, 21 October 1952
Letter, 21 October 1952, Kent, Cecil C. Baines to Mary Grierson. Discussion of Tovey, music and a school of church music in St. Jacques, France. Typescript signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Cecil C. Baines, 02 September 1952
Letter, 2 September 1952, Kent, Cecil C. Baines to Mary Grierson. Covering note for a ms. of Tovey's work and recollections of Tovey, while he was in a nursing home in 1916. Typescript signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Dame Elizabeth Violet Maconchy, 13 July 1952
Letter, 13 July 1952, Essex, Elizabeth Maconchy to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, and reminiscences. Holograph signed.