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 Miss G. J. Lidstone from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 16 July 1931
Letter, 16 July 1931, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Miss G. J. Lidstone. Discussion of acoustics and Helmholtz's theory of timbre. Holograph signed, with press cutting and envelope addressed to Mary Grierson.
Letter to Mr Campbell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 15 June 1931
Letter, 15 June 1931, Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Campbell. Criticism of Mr Hedmount as a producer of opera, referring to his production of The Bride of Dionysus. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Campbell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 16 June 1931
Letter, 16 June 1931, Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Campbell. Suggesting Mona Benson should produce ' The Bride of Dionysus'. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Craxton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1930
Letter, [n.d] Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mr. Craxton. Covering note for articles to be published. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Craxton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 31 December 1929
Letter, 31 December 1929, Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Craxton. Covering note for articles to be published. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Craxton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 08 September 1930
Letter, 8 Spetember 1930, Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Craxton. Covering note for articles to be published. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
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 Mr Lee Ashton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 15 June 1931
Letter, 15 June 1931, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mr Lee Ashton. Apologising for late payment of examiners fees. 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 Robert King from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 03 May 1933
Letter, 3 May 1933, Suffolk, Sir Donald Franics Tovey to Robert King. Discussion of cadenzas. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.