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 Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1933
Letter, January 1933, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Points of orchestration for piece by Dvorak. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1934
Letter, 1934, Czechoslovakia, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Suggestions for organisation of a choir, and recommendations on what they should sing. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 06 June 1936
Letter, 6 June 1936, London, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Requesting scores. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 27 June 1937
Letter, 27 June 1937, London, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Requesting information concerning music scholarships, words to a ninth symphony etc.. Typescript signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1938
Letter, 1938, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Hans Gals's discovery of a Haydn symphony in the Reid music library, and details of forthcoming concerts. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 01 February 1939
Letter, 1 February 1939, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Description of a score by Schumann in C major. Typescript signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Note informing of Tovey's finding an oboe part. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Requesting that Grierson illustrate Tovey's analysis lecture on the piano. Holograph signed.
Letter to Miss Boyle from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 September 1931
Letter, 17 September 1931, Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Miss Boyle. A criticism of Miss Boyle's musical work and of contemporary music in general. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Miss Budgen from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 November 1898
Letter, 9 November 1898, Biggar, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Miss Budgen. Arrangement for a lesson in harmony, counterpoint and composition and recommendation of suitable texts.. Holograph signed, with typescript copy.