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 Mrs Rollo Russell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mrs. Rollo Russell. Criticism of a work. Typescript copy.
Letter to Richard Denham from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Richard Denham. Concerned with correct advertising and dealings with the press. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Emanuel Christian Hedmonth, 09 April 1929
Letter, 9 April 1929, Edinburgh, C. E. Hedmonth to Robert Trevelyan. Criticising the music Tovey has written for the Opera, suggesting Tovey needs a good conductor. Holograph signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1913
Letter, [1913], Donald Tovey to Robert Trevelyan. The commissioning of Tovey's Symphony by Adolf and Fritz Busch. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Robert King from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 03 May 1933
Letter, 3 May 1933, Suffolk, Sir Donald Franics Tovey to Robert King. Discussion of cadenzas. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Robin Humphrey Legge from William Strecker, 07 February 1913
Letter, 7 February 1913, London, William Strecker to Robin Legge. Asking for Legge's patronage of Tovey and praising the composer, suggesting there is no living composer who has written and is likely to write Chamber Music like Tovey. Typescript, first page of L2488.
Letter to Sir Arthur Somervell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1913
Letter, [1913], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Arthur Somervell. Chopsticks. Ms. transcribed by K. M. Howard, with covering note sent to Hubert Foss by K. M. Howard.
Letter to Sir Denys de Saumarez Bray from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 1896
Letter, [1896], Rochefort, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Sir Denys Bray. Informing Bray of the standard of his songwriting. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Sir Denys de Saumarez Bray from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 18 August 1896
Letter, 18 August 1896, Rochefort, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Sir Denys de Saumarez Bray. Descriptions of alterations to 'Rabbi ben Ezra '. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from A. Balfour, 26 October 1927
Letter, 1927 Oct 26, Prestonkirk, A. Balfour to Professor Tovey. Thanking Tovey for inviting the Balfours' to a rehearsal of the Reid orchestra and arranging a date for their visit. Holograph signed.