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 83 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Thea Hunter, 27 April 1952
Letter, 27 April 1952, Paris, Thea Hunter to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey and news of Hunter's holidays in Italy. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from W Warre Cornish, 11 March 1952
Letter, 11 March 1952, Edinburgh, W. Warre Cornish. Congratulating Grierson on her biography of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Eda Levin from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 02 November 1928
Letter, 2 November 1928, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Eda Levin. Offering advice for the formation of a choral society. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Edward Joseph Dent from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 November 1937
Letter, 14 November 1937, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Joseph Dent. Request that Dent should visit Tovey's son John. Typescript copy.
Letter to Edward Joseph Dent from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 13 October 1932
Letter, 13 October 1939, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Joseph Dent. Graeser's suicide. Typescript copy.
Letter to Edward Joseph Dent from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 September 1931
Letter, 17 September 1931, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Joseph Dent. Requesting a copy of Dent's Fidelio. Typescript copy.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 April 1917
Letter, 9 April 1917, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Description of new house and discussion of the Carnegie Musical publication. Holograph signed.
Letter to Fanny Davies from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c14 September 1900
Letter, 14 September [n.y], Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Fanny Davies. Introducing Mary Gardner Grierson. Holograph signed, with envelope.
Letter to Geoffrey Cotsell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1931
Letter, [1931], Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Geoffrey Cotsell. Advice on passing a sight reading examination. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss, with covering letter from Geoffrey Cotsell.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Arthur G. Reekie, 05 December 1932
Letter, 5 December 1932, Edinburgh, Arthur G. Reekie to Hubert Foss. Recounting memories of Tovey and praising the great man. Typescript signed.