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 99 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Lady Tovey from Albert Schweitzer, c 01 December 1935
Letter, [December 1935], London, Albert Schweitzer to Lady Tovey. Remembering time spent at Lady Tovey's, concern over her husbands hands and good wishes. Holograph signed.
Letter to Lady Tovey from Helene Schweitzer, 15 December 1935
Letter, 15 December 1935, London, Helene Schweitzer to Lady Tovey. Expressing concern over the health of Tovey's hands, reminiscing over happy times the Tovey's and Schweitzer's have shared. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1933
Letter, [December 1933], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Outlining Tovey's limitations due to ill health and notes on Hungarian dances. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 August 1935
Letter, 1 August 1935, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Briefly describing how terrible Tovey feels. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 16 May 1936
Letter, 16 May 1936, Salisbury, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Greetings and news of Tovey and his health. Dictated signed.
Letter to Pablo Casals from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 April 1936
Letter, 12 April 1936, Bath, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Pablo Casals. Discussing treatments for his hands, suggesting a record be made of Casals concert, introducing Hubert Foss. Typescript copy.
Letter to Rosalind [Maitland] from Clara Tovey, c 09 January 1940
Letter, 9 January [1940], West Baldock, Clara Tovey to Rosalind [Maitland]. Concerning a Tovey committee in London, Rosalind's gift to the orchestra, news of Lady Tovey's illness and of Tovey's memorials. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from A. Middleton, 16 October 1939
Letter, 16 October 1939, London, A. Middleton to Donald Tovey. Concern over Tovey's arthritis, informing Tovey that his nephew has recently moved to Edinburgh and asking if Tovey will make their acquaintance. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Adolf Busch, 17 July 1935
Letter, 17 July 1935, Basel, Adolf Busch to Donald Tovey. Concern over Tovey's health, looking forward to Tovey's string quartet and reports on Adolf Buschs' composition work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Adolf Busch, 23 September 1932
Letter, 23 September 1932, London, Adolf Busch to Donald Tovey. Discussing Tovey's illness, Radio broadcasts and the death of Rontgen and Tovey's obituary for him. Holograph signed.