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 256 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1934
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Time schedule for concert. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 27 March 1937
Letter, 27 March 1937, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Plans for a forthcoming concert. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 04 May 1938
Letter, 4 May 1938, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. A glowing reference for Mary Grierson. Ms. Transcript.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 05 December 1918
Letter, 8 December 1918, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Asking Grierson to arrange a charity concert for 'The relief of Indian soldiers '. Holograph signed, in pencil.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 04 May 1938
Letter, 4 May 1938, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. A glowing reference for Mary Grierson. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c14 November 1938
Letter, [14 November 1938], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Congratulating Grierson on a performance of Mozart. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 01 February 1939
Letter, 1 February 1939, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Description of a score by Schumann in C major. Typescript signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 02 June 1938
Letter, 2 May 1948, London, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Covering letter for examination papers. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Note informing of Tovey's finding an oboe part. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Requesting that Grierson illustrate Tovey's analysis lecture on the piano. Holograph signed.