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 93 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1893
Letter, [1893], Wixenford, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Instructing Tovey on meeting Miss. Weisse and getting to Euston. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 10 December 1893
Letter, 10 December 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey to avoid water and milk, but to eat raisins, advising Tovey of travel plans. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1893
Letter, [1893], Wixenford, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Travel arrangements for getting to Rugby. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 18 August 1912
Letter, 18 August 1912, Bad Nauheim, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Description of Miss. Weisse's journey to Bad Nauheim. Holograph signed, in pencil.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 11 September 1922
Letter, 11 September 1922, Bad Nauheim, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. News of Miss. Weisse's time in Bad Nauheim, discussion of the German mark in comparison to the English pound, and plans for leaving Germany. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Thomas A. Spring Rice, c 19 August 1909
Letter, 19 August [1909], Wurttenburg, T. A. Spring Rice to Donald Tovey. Attempting to arrange a meeting with Tovey, details of Spring Rice's journeys. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Thomas A. Spring Rice, 05 January 1904
Letter, 5 January 1904, Dublin, T. A. Spring Rice to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey of a date for a performance and a description of Dublin. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Wally Passer, 18 December 1924
Letter, 18 December 1924, Wally Passer to Donald Tovey. Discussing Tovey and Passer's tours of California and Europe. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Cecilia Warre Cornish, 02 April 1901
Letter, 2 April 1901, Windsor, Cecilia Warre Cornish to Sophie Weisse. Expressing delight at Tovey's success in Berlin. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Clara Gould, 16 June 1926
Letter, 16 June 1926, California, Clara Gould to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a photograph of John Tovey, informing Miss. Weisse of her travels and her continuing financial support of Tovey. Holograph signed.