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 Oliver Horsley Gotch, cSeptember 1910
Letter, [n.y], Oxford, Oliver H. Gotch to Donald Tovey. Requesting a commentary on Beethoven's Bb piano sonata Op 106, published in 1901 and a question concerning Bach's inversion of the XII Fugue, from the Kunst der Fugue. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Charles Grant Robertson, 10 March 1923
Letter, 10 March 1923, Birmingham, Charles Grant Robertson to Donald Tovey. Discussion of the Chair of music at Birmingham University and the discussion of music as a faculty within a University. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Frederick Pollock, 25 July 1934
Letter, 25 July 1934, London, Frederick Pollock to Donald Tovey. Answering a request from Tovey concerning hymnology, and explaining that Pollock is busy editing Law Reports. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Walford Davis, 24 January 1938
Letter, 24 January 1938, London, Walford Davis to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for quoting Brahms. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 11 November 1900
Letter, 11 November 1900, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Encouraging Tovey to practise his piano playing and develop a depth of tone and shades. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Walter Willson Cobbett, 09 June 1924
Letter, 9 June 1924, London, W. W. Cobbett to Donald Tovey. Requesting that Tovey produce an appreciation and analysis of Brahms chamber works for orchestra for the Cyclopeadia. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from [Whitehouse], 20 February 1916
Letter, 20 February 1916, New Brighton, [ Whitehouse ] to Donald Tovey. Discussion of parts for a Handel work, and comments on Adrian Boult and the Philharmonic. Typescript.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from William Donald, 02 June 1928
Letter, 2 June 1928, Glasgow, William Donald to Donald Tovey. Discussion of a correspondence in the press concerning Sodowskis variations on the theme of Schubert's B minor symphony and suggestions on how the symphony should be completed. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from William Paterson Paterson, 22 November 1934
Letter, 22 November 1934, North Berwick, W. P. Paterson to Donald Tovey. A discussion of the issues raised in Tovey's lecture on the aesthetics of music. Holograph signed, W. P Paterson was a Professor at the University of Edinburgh.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from William Paterson Paterson, 09 December 1937
Letter, 9 December 1937, Edinburgh, W. P. Paterson to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for giving Paterson a copy of ' Essays in Musical Analysis, vol V '. Holograph signed.