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 80 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 May 1898
Letter, 14 May 1898, Littlehampton, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's progress at Oxford and details of a bad copy of a quintet by Tovey. Typescript copy of L495.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 May 1898
Letter, 14 May 1898, Littlehampton, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's progress at Oxford and details of a bad copy of a quintet by Tovey. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 19 May 1898
Letter, 19 May 1898, Littlehampton, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's revision for exams. Typescript copy, incomplete, of L497.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 19 May 1898
Letter, 19 May 1898, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's revision for exams. Holograph signed, in pencil.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 June 1898
Letter, 14 June 1898, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's progress at Oxford and news of his contemporaries. Typescript copy of L501.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 June 1898
Letter, 14 June 1898, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's progress at Oxford and news of his contemporaries. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 July 1898
Letter, 1 July 1898, Surrey, Donld Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's Viva examination in Latin. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 26 October 1898
Letter, 26 October 1898, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's stay and his studies. Holograph signed, with annotation in red ink by Sophie Weisse.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 November 1898
Letter, 12 November 1898, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. A thank you note, and progress report. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1899
Letter, [1899], London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of study at the British Library, piano fingering technique and programme notes. Holograph signed, with annotations in pencil on first leaf.