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 Miss Liddell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, cJuly 1904
Letter, [July 1904], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Miss Liddell. Outlining project on choral design. Holograph unfinished.
Letter to Mr Craxton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, [c1895], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Craxton. Notes on the publication of musical analyses. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Craxton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1930
Letter, 6 June [n.y.], London, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Craxton. Concerning corrections to previous written works. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Craxton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 31 December 1929
Letter, 31 December 1929, Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Craxton. Covering note for articles to be published. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Craxton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 08 September 1930
Letter, 8 Spetember 1930, Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Craxton. Covering note for articles to be published. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Craxton from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Craxton. Covering note for articles to be published. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss, with diagram.
Letter to Mr Reeves from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr. Reeves. List of people to be sent a copy of Tovey's edition of Bach's XLVIII. Holograph.
Letter to Mrs. Baily from [ Endeaelum], 16 December 1941
Letter, 16 December 1941, Edinburgh, [ Endeaelum] to Mrs. Baily. Answering a query concerning a Canticulum that was sung at club meetings when Tovey was present. Typescript signed.
Letter to Mrs Henry Joachim from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mrs Henry Joachim. Covering letter for two canons. Holograph signed, with two canons, with envelope, and descriptive note.
Letter to Mrs Rollo Russell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mrs. Rollo Russell. Covering note for a Hymn - tune written by Tovey. Typescript copy.