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 Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 15 November 1902
Letter, 15 November 1902, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Accepting invitation to supper. Holograph signed, in pencil.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 July 1903
Letter, 12 July 1903, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Congratulating Edward Speyer on the progress of his son Ferdie, in music, at Oxford. Holograph signed, L151 - 154 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 September 1903
Letter, 1 Spetember 1903, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Acceptance of an invitation to stay. Holograph signed, L151 - 154 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 February 1907
Letter, February 1907, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Requesting that Speyer sing in a Chelsea concert. Holograph signed, L162 - L166 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 30 July 1908
Letter, 30 July 1908, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Consoling Speyer over his sons University career. Holograph signed, L169 - L176 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 April 1910
Letter, 9 April 1910, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Complaining about his status in the concerts. Holograph signed, L177 - L185 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 18 August 1912
Letter, 18 August 1912, Paris, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Turning down an invitation to stay, plan to finish `the opera'. Holograph signed, L177 - L185 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 April 1917
Letter, 9 April 1917, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Description of new house and discussion of the Carnegie Musical publication. Holograph signed.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 25 September 1901
Letter, 25 September 1901, Surrey, Sir Donald Franics Tovey to Edward Speyer. Acceptance of an invitation to stay. Holograph signed, L139 - L142 sewn together.
Letter to Elizabeth Trevelyan from Percy Such, 11 July 1909
Letter, 11 July 1909, London, Percy Such to Elizabeth Trevelyan. Apologising for a misunderstanding caused by a letter from Miss. Weisse to Elizabeth Trevelyan and attempting to reconcile offence caused by meeting with Trevelyan. Holograph signed.