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 67 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 April 1928
Letter, 12 April 1928, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Asking Grierson to suggest a suitable present. Holograph signed, with press cutting, ' a review of a Reid concert '.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1928
Letter, [1928], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Concerning forthcoming concerts. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1930
Letter, [1930], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Request to send orchestral parts to Rontgen in Holland. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1931
Letter, [1931], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Plans for forthcoming concert series. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1931
Letter, [1931], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Revision of concert programme. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1931
Letter, [1931], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Suggestion that Frank Merrick should play a piece by John Foulds for a Reid concert and plans for forthcoming concert series. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1932
Letter, 1932, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Concerned with the future of the Reid and emphasising the Reid orchestra is stable and influential. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from SIr Donald Francis Tovey, 13 October 1932
Letter, 13 October 1932, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Concerning a good review in ' The Scotsman ' and concert plans. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 24 October 1932
Letter, 24 October 1932, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Discussion of a book by Parry. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 25 October 1952
Letter, 25 October 1932, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Advice to Grierson about making up cadenzas. Holograph signed.