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 32 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Annie M. Jehn, 07 April 1922
Letter, 7 April 1922, Edinburgh, Annie M. Jehn to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for playing in a concert to raise funds for famine relief. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Dora L. Rees, 06 June 1929
Letter, 6 June 1929, Edinburgh, Dora L. Rees to Donald Tovey. Request that Tovey play for the Woman's Citizens Association. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Florence Houtton, 07 February 1921
Letter, 7 February 1921, Edinburgh, Florence Houtton to Donald Tovey. Expressing a disappointment in a concert review in 'The Scotsman' and discussing place and time for forthcoming concert series. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from H. F. Giles, 03 March 1930
Letter, 3 March 1930, Edinburgh, H. F. Giles to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for providing music for a play and describing how the music enhanced the play. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from J. Douglas H. Dickson, 04 March 1929
Letter, 4 March 1929, Edinburgh, J. Douglas H. Dickson to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for giving a performance. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from J. Douglas H. Dickson, 13 March 1913
Letter, 13 March 1913, J. Douglas H. Dickson to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's work and a performance. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from J. Roqueler, 07 May 1921
Letter, 7 May 1921, Edinburgh, J. Roqueler to Donald Tovey. Inviting Tovey to a piano recital by Jean Baptiste Toner. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from John Thomson, 23 March 1923
Letter, 23 March 1923, Edinburgh, John Thomson to Donald Tovey. Praising recitals given in the Music Classroom, and discussing the prophesies of Isaiah. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Kenneth Anderson, 09 December 1928
Letter, 9 December 1928, Edinburgh, Kenneth Anderson to Donald Tovey. Describing a performance that Tovey could not attend because of ill health and wishing Tovey a speedy recovery. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Lucy Sklovsky, 16 May 1922
Letter, 16 May 1922, Edinburgh, Lucy Sklovsky to Donald Tovey. News of Slovsky's family, an outbreak of Scarlet fever and a production of Carmen. Holograph signed.