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 807 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Ernest Walker from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1920
Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Ernest Walker. Notice of Emmanuel Moor's arrival. Holograph signed.
Letter to F. P. Keppel from Frank Morely Fletcher, 01 August 1924
Letter, 1 August 1924, California, Frank Morely Fletcher to F. P. Keppel. Arranging for Keppel to meet Tovey when he comes to New York. Holograph signed, with envelope.
Letter to Fanny Davies from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c14 September 1900
Letter, 14 September [n.y], Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Fanny Davies. Introducing Mary Gardner Grierson. Holograph signed, with envelope.
Letter to Flexmer from Frank Morely Fletcher, 01 August 1924
Letter, 1 August 1924, California, Frank Morely Fletcher to Flexmer. Introducing Tovey and suggesting a meeting between Flexmer and Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Frau Roeyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Suffolk, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Frau Roeyer. Introducing and recommending Mary Grierson. Holograph signed, written on "Cadenza for Brahms violin concerto" by Donald Tovey, with envelope.
Letter to from, c 27 December 1920
Letter, 17 December [n.y.], Dresden, Walter Petret. Thanking Tovey for sending an analysis of a symphony and informing Tovey that Petret will send him a score. Holograph signed.
Letter to Ganzer Mann from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c 01 July 1903
Letter, [July 1903], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Ganzer Mann. Writing about Mann's marriage and their forthcoming meeting. Holograph.
Letter to Geoffrey Cotsell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1931
Letter, [1931], Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Geoffrey Cotsell. Advice on passing a sight reading examination. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss, with covering letter from Geoffrey Cotsell.
Letter to Gerrard Warre Cornish from Rev Duncan Crooks Tovey, 20 January 1891
Letter, 20 January 1891, Surrey, Duncan Tovey to Cornish. Thanking Cornish for his sympathetic letter and describing a fire at the Tovey household. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hamilton from George C. Pratt, 15 August 1941
Letter, 15 August 1941, Milwaukee, George C. Pratt to Hamilton. Praising Tovey's wit, culture and insight and commenting on music critics. Typescript.