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 [Hubert James Foss] from Maurice Baring, 03 December 1941
Letter, 3 December 1941, Beauly, Maurice Baring to [Hubert Foss]. Informing Foss of Tovey's ability to make up tune for nonsense poems and rhymes. Dictated signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 25 February 1927
Letter, 25 February 1927, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Hubert Foss. Request to edit work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [c1900], Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Hubert James Foss. Suggesting Oxford University Press undertake an edition of Bach's ' Kunst der Fugue '. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hugh Havergel from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 30 October 1934
Letter, 30 October 1934, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Hugh Havergel. Discussion of Bach's transcription of Clavier. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Jean Kennedy from H. A. Scott, 20 July 1939
Letter, 20 July 1939, London, H. A. Scott to Jean Kennedy. Hoping that Tovey recovers soon and enclosing a schedule of latest dates articles for the Encyclopaedia Brittanica may be received. Typescript signed.
Letter to Joseph Joachim from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1890
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Joseph Joachim. Birthday greeting and composition. Holograph, with two lines of music, with annotations in red ink by Sophie Weisse.
Letter to Joseph Joachim from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1890
Letter, [n.d], Vienna, Donald Tovey to Joseph Joachim. Description of Vienna concerts and notes on Tovey's new pianoforte quintet. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 24 October 1932
Letter, 24 October 1932, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Discussion of a book by Parry. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 25 October 1952
Letter, 25 October 1932, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Advice to Grierson about making up cadenzas. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 03 November 1932
Letter, 3 November 1932, Dorking, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Criticism of a broadcast of Grierson's cadenza's, and advice on improvements. Holograph signed.