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 89 Collections and/or Records:
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 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 Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Arnold Schering, 11 March 1925
Letter, 11 March 1925, Halle, Arnold Schering to Donald Tovey. Requesting a copy of Tovey's new edition of Bach's 'well tempered piano' for inclusion in the Bach yearbook which Shering publishes. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Ben James, 10 February 1939
Letter, 10 February 1939, London, Ben James to Donald Tovey. Discussion of a report concerning Humphrey Milford's publication of a new edition of Handel's Messiah. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from C. R. M. Banks, 03 January 1922
Letter, 3 January 1922, Kirkcaldy, C. R. M. Banks to Donald Tovey. Praise of Tovey's work, especially his programme notes and request that Tovey write a sentence about four works. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Cuthbert Morton Girdlestone, 30 April 1922
Letter, 30 April 1922, Cambridge, C. M Girdlestone to Donald Tovey. Request for a copy of Tovey's pamphlet on the 'Classical concerto'. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Dr. Ralph Lauckner, 20 October 1922
Letter, 20 October 1922, Stuttgart, Dr. Ralph Lauckner to Donald Tovey. Discussing a German publisher for Tovey's ' Euryanthe' and performances of the work in New York and Prague. Holograph signed.