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 81 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Loudoun Shephard from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 12 April 1931
Letter, 12 April 1931, Robert Trevelyan to Shephard. Discussing a company's offer to perform ' The Bride of Dionysus' and requesting that a whole week be devoted to performances. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 October 1932
Letter, 1 October 1932, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Suggestions for the orchestration at the end of Act I of The Bride of Dionysus. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mr Campbell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 15 June 1931
Letter, 15 June 1931, Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Campbell. Criticism of Mr Hedmount as a producer of opera, referring to his production of The Bride of Dionysus. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mr Campbell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 16 June 1931
Letter, 16 June 1931, Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mr Campbell. Suggesting Mona Benson should produce ' The Bride of Dionysus'. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Mrs. Baily from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 05 March 1932
Letter, 5 March 1932, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mrs. Baily. Thanking Mrs. Baily for giving a lecture on The Bride of Dionysus. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from B. J. Simmons Co., 14 October 1939
Letter, 14 October 1939, London, B. J. Simmons & Co to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning the storage and ownership of the costumes for ' The Bride of Dionysus'. Typescript copy.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Charel Guthrie, 24 May 1929
Letter, 24 May 1929, Edinburgh, Charles Guthrie to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning the finances of ' The Bride of Dionysus'. Typescript signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Charles de Sousy Ricketts, c1932
Letter, [n.d], London, Charles Ricketts to Robert Trevelyan. Enclosing estimates for props, and plans to arrange a meeting. Holograph signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Charles de Sousy Ricketts, c1932
Letter, [n.d], London, Charles Ricketts to Robert Trevelyan. Discussing the possibilities for scenery that ' The Ariadne ' produces, discussing Ricketts fee for designing scenes, and a comment on the quality of drama in the writing, inviting Tovey to dinner in a post script. Holograph signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Charles de Sousy Ricketts, c1932
Letter, [n.d], London, Charles Ricketts to Robert Trevelyan. Discussion of materials for the models , and informing Trevelyan that Ricketts assistant Johnstone is coming to Edinburgh and an estimate for the cost of work on the props and models. Holograph signed.