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 Franics Tovey, c1915
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Advice for orchestrating a concert. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1915
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Notes on papers, acoustic class and press photographers. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1915
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Notes and plans for forthcoming concerts. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Grierson from Alexander Craig Aitken, 12 July 1950
Letter, 12 July 1950, Edinburgh, Alexander Craig Aitken to Mary Grierson. Outlining Tovey's interest in numbers and Aitkens memories of Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope, with scrap of paper, covered in numerical scribbling by Tovey.
Letter to Mary Grierson from Alexander Craig Aitken, 24 February 1952
Letter, 24 February 1952, Edinburgh, Alexander Craig Aitken to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography on Tovey, and a recent recital. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Mary Grierson from Alexander Craig Aitken, 25 February 1952
Letter, 25 February 1952, Edinburgh, Alexander Craig Aitken to Mary Grierson. Covering note for a list of suggestions for the second edition of Grierson's biography on Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Moira Leebody from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 October 1920
Letter, 14 October 1920, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Moira Leebody. Covering letter returning a copy of a borrowed book. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Burr from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1922
Letter, [1922], Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Burr. Covering note for a list. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Cameron from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 January 1932
Letter, 14 January 1932, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr. Cameron. Expressing a sympathy with the Edinburgh opera company. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Craxton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Craxton. Covering note for articles to be published. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.