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 347 Collections and/or Records:
Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Roeyer, 12 November 1909
Postcard, 12 November 1909, London, Roeyer to Donald Tovey. Requesting Tovey's help with a Haydn score. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 August 1897
Postcard, 1 August 1897, Bayreuth, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of concerts Tovey has attended in Bayreuth, discussion of Wagner's music. Holograph signed, with duplicate typescript copy, 26 x 20cm.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 11 September 1905
Postcard, 11 September 1905, London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of visits to the Speyers and the Trevelyans. Holograph signed.
Telegram to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 21 November 1907
Telegram, 7 September 1907, London, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Informing Speyer of his arrival. Transcript.
Telegram to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Adolf Busch, 14 March 1935
Telegram, 14 March 1935, London, Adolf Busch to Donald Tovey. Congratulating Tovey on his success with a London concert of his variations. Typescript.
Telegram to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 12 December 1890
Telegram, 12 December 1890, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that it has been arranged for Tovey to visit Parry at eleven thirty. Holograph.
Telegram to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 26 July 1897
Telegram, 26 July 1897, London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of cost of a ticket to Luxembourg. Typescript copy.