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 Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Max Hesse's Verlag, 20 October 1924
Letter, 20 October 1924, Berlin, Max Hesses Verlag to Donald Tovey. Discussing Tovey's translation of the 'History of violin playing' into English and Tovey's entry in Riemann's Lexicon. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Methuen Co, 18 January 1922
Letter, 18 January 1922, London, Methuen & co to Donald Tovey. Requesting that Tovey send some news of his book ' A life of Beethoven '. Typescript.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Methuen Co, 24 April 1924
Letter, 24 April 1924, London, Methuen & Co to Donald Tovey. Requesting a second time that Tovey send details of his progress on his ' Life of Beethoven'. Typescript.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Novello Co. Ltd., 21 February 1936
Letter, 21 February 1936, London, Novello & Co. Ltd. to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that Novello are taking Handel's `The ways of Zion do mourn' out of circulation because of inaccuracies in the copy. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 08 May 1925
Letter, 8 May 1925, Barcelona, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's written work, especially the preface, for piano, outlining forthcoming concerts in Barcelona and a hope that Casals may be able to play Tovey's concerto in the Autumn. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Paul Felix Weingartner, 21 October 1923
Letter, 21 October 1923, Vienna, Weingartner to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for his letter and requesting a copy of Weber's work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Paul Wittgenstein, 14 January 1935
Letter, 14 January 1935, Paul Wittgenstein to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for sending some of his publications, comments on the new Schmidt concerto. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pitts Sanborn, 02 November 1937
Letter, 2 November 1937, New York, Pitts Sanbon to Donald Tovey. News of Sanbon's latest book, ' The Metropolitan book of the opera ' and an acknowledgement of Tovey's book ' Essay's in musical analyses'. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Bruce Lyttelton Richmond, c1920
Letter, [n.y], Bruce L. Richmond to Donald Tovey. Asking if Tovey would write occasional articles on musical matters for The Times. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Bruce Lyttelton Richmond, c 28 April 1920
Letter, 28 April [n.y], Bruce L. Richmond to Donald Tovey. Requesting Tovey's article on The Joachim quartet. Holograph signed.