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 481 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 11 February 1919
Letter, 11 February 1919, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Identification of Speyers Ms. of a Bach Toccata. Holograph signed.
Letter to Erik Chisholm from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Erik Chisholm. Discussion of articles for The Encyclopaedia Britannica. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Erik Chisholm from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [1900], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Erik Chisholm. Discussion of articles written for The Encyclopaedia Brittanica. Holograph signed.
Letter to F. W. Kelly from Sophie Weisse, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Sophie Weisse to F. W. Kelly. Arranging to perform a Brahms work and suggesting that Kelly should compose a work for Tovey. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to from, c 27 December 1920
Letter, 17 December [n.y.], Dresden, Walter Petret. Thanking Tovey for sending an analysis of a symphony and informing Tovey that Petret will send him a score. Holograph signed.
Letter to Geoffrey Cotsell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1931
Letter, [1931], Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Geoffrey Cotsell. Advice on passing a sight reading examination. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss, with covering letter from Geoffrey Cotsell.
Letter to Gustav Theodore Holst from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 September 1923
Letter, 9 September 1923, Stuttgart, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Gustav Holst. Wishing Holst success, praising his work, the 'Hymn of Jesus' and describing Rolf Lauckner's translation of the work into German. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Gustav Theodore Holst from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c 22 April 1920
Letter, 22 April [n.d] , Kent, Sir Donald Franics Tovey to Gustav Theodore Holst. In praise of Holst's " Hymn of Jesus ". Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to H. A. Scott from [Jean Kennedy], 14 July 1939
Letter, 14 July 1939, Suffolk, [Jean Kennedy] to H. A. Scott. Informing Scott that Tovey is not well enough to revise his contributions to The Encyclopaedia Brittanica. Typescript copy.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Ernest Bryson, 30 December 1941
Letter, 30 December 1941, Gloucestershire, Ernest Bryson to Hubert Foss. Memories of Tovey, conducting the Reid Orchestra, programme notes, ' The Bride of Dionysus', and completion of the Bach fugue. Holograph signed.