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 64 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to [Hubert James Foss] from Margaret. N. O. Baily, 27 November 1941
Letter, 27 November 1941, Midlothian, Margaret. N. O. Baily to [Hubert Foss]. Covering letter for letters from Tovey, informing Foss of the wealth of material Baily has on the Bride of Dionysus, suggesting she write down her reminiscences of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Margaret Whittaker, c 07 February 1941
Letter, 7 February [n.y], Buckinghamshire, Margaret Whittaker to Hubert Foss. Putting Foss in touch with a Miss. M. Knottley to discuss Northlands for his biography of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Sophie Weisse, 01 October 1941
Letter, 8 September 1941, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Hubert Foss. Correcting a point in Foss's article on Tovey, concerning Bosendorfer piano's. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from William Brocklesby Wordsworth, 16 December 1941
Letter, 16 December 1941, Surrey, W. B. Wordsworth to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss that Wordsworth has three letters from Tovey, which appeared in an article written by Wordsworth in ' Music and Letters'. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from William Giles Whittaker, 26 November 1941
Letter, 26 November 1941, Glasgow, William Giles Whittaker to Hubert Foss. Enclosing Letters from Tovey in response to Foss's advertisement. Holograph signed.
Letter to Joachim from Julius Rontgen, 20 July 1927
Letter, 20 July 1927, Bilthoven, Julius Rontgen to Joachim. Discussing Tovey's visit and plans to publish correspondence. Holograph signed.
Letter to Lady Clara Tovey from Stewart Deas, c 20 December 1901
Letter, [20 December 1901], Buckinghamshire, Stewart Deas to Clara Tovey. Suggesting to Lady Tovey that a book of Tovey's letters would be a good idea. Typescript signed.
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 Mrs Rollo Russell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mrs. Rollo Russell. Describing time spent with Joachim, and discussion of a ms.. Typescript copy.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 14 December 1945
Letter, 14 December 1945, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning material for a biography of Tovey and a meeting with Peterkin, Grierson, Guthrie, Foss and John Tovey. Typescript signed.