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 62 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1934
Letter, [1934], Eddlestone, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Praising a concert performance, discussion of Tovey's cello concerto, suggestion that Adrian Boult be offered an honorary degree. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 11 May 1924
Letter, 11 May 1924, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Notes for forthcoming Reid concerts. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1915
Letter, [n.d], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mary Gardner Grierson. Notes for a performance at a forthcoming Reid concert. Holograph signed, incomplete.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1915
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Notes and plans for forthcoming concerts. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1915
Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Plans for forthcoming concerts. Holograph signed, incomplete.
Letter to Mr Carruthers from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1926
Letter, [1926], Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Carruthers. Discussion of programme for a concert, a request for a clavichord, and the Reid orchestra. Holograph.
Letter to Richard Denham from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1901
Letter, [1901], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Richard Denham. Arranging concert dates. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Richard Denham from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 May 1908
Letter, 1 May 1908, Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Lord Richard Denham. Arranging concert dates and programmes. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Robin Legge Esq. from Augner Ltd., 07 February 1913
Letter, 7 February 1913, London, Augner Ltd. to Robin Legge Esq.. Praising the work of a composer and musician [Tovey], enclosing reviews of the latest performances of his works and a prospectus of the Chelsea concerts, and expressing the hope that the artist will be supported by the English public. Typescript incomplete, first page of letter, L2501.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from A. Lascalles, 22 March 1922
Letter, 22 March 1922, London, A. Lascalles to Donald Tovey. Outlining plans to produce Foulds world requiem in St. Pauls, backed by the Prince of Wales. Holograph signed.