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 17 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 18 October 1939
Letter, 18 October 1939, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Description of a horn player, Brichard Coar. Part typescript, part holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Discussion of history examination paper, and request that Granville Bantock visit Tovey in Norwich. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mr Craxton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Craxton. Compliments of the season, notes on recently written work. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Robert Bruce from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 11 June 1939
Letter, 11 June 1939, Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Robert Bruce. Thanking Bruce for his ideas about Oxford. Typescript.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 12 November 1921
Letter, 12 November 1921, Suffolk, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey of the antics of his young adopted son, John. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Thomas Henry Wait Armstrong from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 28 May 1939
Letter, 28 May 1939, Suffolk, Donald Francis Tovey to Thomas Armstrong. Informing of arrival in Edinburgh. Typescript.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Minnie Wallace, c 03 August 1900
Letter, 3 August [n.y], Suffolk, Minnie Wallace to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her parcel and news of John and his young friends. Holograph signed.