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Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940 (Reid Professor of Music, University of Edinburgh)

 Person

Staff Only

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 2127 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, 13 February 1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1754
Scope and Contents

Letter, 13 February 1937, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey of a concert Swoboa is giving, asking about Casals and asking if Swoboda could play in Edinburgh in the forthcoming concert season. Holograph signed.

Dates: 13 February 1937
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, 22 February 1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1755
Scope and Contents

Letter, 22 February 1937, Prague, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that Swoboda read an article about Tovey in the Musical Courier, news of a radio broadcast from Budapest and offering to broadcast Tovey's songs on Prague radio. Typescript signed.

Dates: 22 February 1937
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, 17 March 1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1756
Scope and Contents

Letter, 17 March 1937, Prague, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey for a reference for the B. B. C, describing a radio broadcast and concert plans. Typescript signed.

Dates: 17 March 1937
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, 19 September 1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1757
Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 September 1937, Prague, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey to help arrange for Swoboda to conduct in Edinburgh and discussing plans to perform a Swiss opera on radio. Holograph signed, with a press cutting.

Dates: 19 September 1937
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, 06 December 1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1758
Scope and Contents

Letter, 6 December 1937, Prague, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Expressing delight at plans to give a concert in Edinburgh, plans to perform in Prague with Casals, and hopes to perform in London for Boult and the B. B. C. Holograph signed.

Dates: 06 December 1937
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, 01 June 1938

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1750
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 June 1938, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Plans to visit Tovey and introduce his wife. Holograph signed, incomplete.

Dates: 01 June 1938
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c1930

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1751
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Discussing Casal's and Szells concert performance, and plans to perform works by Tovey and a Radio broadcast with the Czechoslovakian philharmonic orchestra. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1930
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1753
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Discussing Tovey's plans to travel to Dresden and Prague to give concerts. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1920
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Helen Bantock, c1934

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L735
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1934], Buckinghamshire, Helen Bantock to Donald Tovey. Arranging to meet Tovey, description of the Bantocks' garden and news of their family. Holograph signed, incomplete.

Dates: c1934
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Helen Hopekirk, 16 October 1919

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1279
Scope and Contents

Letter, 16 October 1919, Edinburgh, Helen Hopekirk to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that Hopekirk will return music scores and discussion of music in Edinburgh. Holograph signed.

Dates: 16 October 1919
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence