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 63 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Fritz Busch, 06 April 1934
Letter, 6 April 1934, Copenhagen, Fritz Busch to Donald Tovey. Concerning the publication of Tovey's cello concerto and his musical analyses. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from J. F. Dobson, 14 June 1938
Letter, 14 June 1938, Bristol, J. F. Dobson to Donald Francis Tovey. Asking Tovey about the form of a certain Brahms sonata, and whether Tovey's composition ' Je suis le frere du bon Cocher was ever published ' and remembering days at Oxford. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from James Higgs, 03 June 1892
Letter, 3 June 1892, London, James Higgs to Donald Tovey. Commenting on Tovey's excellent counterpoint, and commenting and correcting his work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from L. M. Prentis, 26 March 1934
Letter, 26 March 1934, Edinburgh, L. M. Prentis to Donald Tovey. From the guardian of a student of music at the University of Edinburgh criticising the teaching in harmony and suggesting the student would had been better studying at The Royal Academy of Music. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from M. H. Carre, 11 February 1934
Letter, 11 February 1934, Bristol, M. H. Carre to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for his letter on The Busch variations for string quartet. Holograph signed, Paper headed The University of Bristol, Department of Philosophy.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Maria Levinskaya, 02 March 1930
Letter, 2 March 1930, London, Maria Levinskaya to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey to accept a copy of Levinskaya's book, and a description of the work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Mathew Shirlaw, 21 March 1923
Letter, 21 March 1923, Edinburgh, M. Shirlaw to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey's opinion on Bailment's book on counterpoint. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Maurice Baring, 01 February 1922
Letter, 1 February 1922, London, Maurice Baring to Donald Tovey. Questioning Tovey on Purcell, Schubert and Brahms. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Mrs. A. E. Clapperton, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Renfrewshire, Mrs. A. E. Clapperton to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey to give a lecture at Glasgow University. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Neville Cardus, 04 February 1935
Letter, 4 February 1935, Manchester, Neville Cardus to Donald Tovey. Praise for Tovey's ' Essays in musical analysis '. Holograph signed, written on paper headed ' The Manchester Guardian '.