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 27 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Mary Scott, 11 March 1917
Letter, 11 March 1917, Wimbledon, Mary Scott to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for sending a kind letter of sympathy to Scott. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 03 May 1923
Letter, 3 May 1923, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Expressing sympathy and sorrow over the death of Tovey's sister in law, and news of Tovey's son. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 20 June 1939
Letter, 20 June 1939, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. News of Lady de Vesci's death, and Miss. Weisse's memories of her. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Kate Friskin, 15 August 1940
Letter, 15 August 1940, New York, Kate Friskin to Sophie Weisse. Expressing sympathy over the death of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from May Scott, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Chatham, May Scott to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for informing Scott of the death of Joachim, and expressing sympathy for Donald. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Alexander Curtis, 26 July 1940
Letter, 26 July 1940, Edinburgh, William Curtis to Sophie Weisse. Offering Miss. Weisse sympathy over the death of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Telegram to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Clara Tovey, 11 July 1940
Telegram, 11 July 1940, Edinburgh, Clara Tovey to Robert C. Trevelyan. Informing Trevelyan of Tovey's death and of the date of the memorial service. Ms. Transcript.