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 34 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Elizabeth Trevelyan, c 22 September 1934
Letter, 22 September [1934], Surrey, Elizabeth Trevelyan to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's first radio broadcast. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Elizabeth Trevelyan, c 24 October 1930
Letter, 24 October [n.y], Surrey, Elizabeth Trevelyan to Donald Tovey. Wishing Tovey well and sending news of the Trevelyan family. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Elizabeth Trevelyan, c 02 April 1900
Letter, 2 April [n.y], Surrey, Elizabeth Trevelyan to Donald Tovey. Inviting Tovey to stay when he comes to give a lecture at Woking, news from Holland. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Lady Cecilia Warre Cornish, c30 August 1920
Letter, 30 August 1920, Surrey, Cecilia Warre Cornish to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for a letter of sympathy concerning Warre-Cornish's father. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Peter Rybar, 19 January 1939
Letter, 19 January 1939, Surrey, Peter Rybar to Donald Tovey. An expression of friendship and respect for Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 30 July 1907
Letter, 30 July 1907, Surrey, Robert Trevelyan to Donald Tovey. A speech for Minos, part of the script of The Bride of Dionysus. Holograph.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 31 July 1907
Letter, 31 July 1907, Surrey, Robert Trevelyan to Donald Tovey. Detailed plans and notes for the script of ' The Bride of Dionysus'. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 21 September 1907
Letter, 21 September 1907, Surrey, Robert Trevelyan to Donald Tovey. Suggestion in chart form for the ensemble and comments on the progress of ' The Bride of Dionysus'. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 27 September 1907
Letter, 27 September 1907, Surrey, Robert Trevelyan to Donald Tovey. A proposed correction for Act II scene I, and detailed plans for the opera. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 03 September 1907
Letter, 3 September 1907, Surrey, Robert Trevelyan to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for his letter, discussing alterations to ' The Bride of Dionysus' script. Holograph incomplete.