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:
Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 02 August 1921
Postcard, 2 August 1921, Bern, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Travel plans for Tovey to get to Zurich from Stuttgart. Holograph signed, date as postmark.
Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 18 September 1922
Postcard, 18 September 1922, Karlsruhle Baden , Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. News of Miss. Weisse's travel plans. Holograph signed, On a colour postcard of Bad Nauheim.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 27 October 1893
Postcard, 27 October 1893, Berkshire, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notification of his arrival at Wokingham. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 10 October 1899
Postcard, 10 October 1899, Meiningen, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss Weisse for a bank note and describing the concerts Tovey has seen at Meiningen. Holograph signed, with black and white photographs of Eugene d' Albert, Hermine d'Albert - Fink, Dr. Felix Kraus, Adrienne Osborne, Ejnar Forchammer and Leonard Borwick.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 December 1900
Postcard, 17 December 1900, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of Tovey's voyage to Ostende from Dover. Holograph signed, with colour picture of the boat ' Prince Albert '.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 22 August 1908
Postcard, 22 August 1908, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Loch Swen and music to accompany Greek mythology. Typescript copy.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 27 September 1908
Postcard, 27 September 1908, Skye, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Comment on the weather in Skye, and music to accompany Theseus coming out of the sea. Typescript copy.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1911
Postcard, [1911], Vienna, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's travels, and of Busch and Mandyczewski, and a description of Bruckner's 9th Symphony. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1912
Postcard, [1912], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Praising a performance of the Beethoven Mass and news of his visit. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 19 January 1916
Postcard, 19 January 1916, Amsterdam, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of a successful concert in Amsterdam and details of Tovey's travels. Holograph signed.