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 2127 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Norma Dalziel, 26 March 1952
Letter, 26 March 1952, Perthshire, Norma Dalziel to Donald Tovey. Praising Grierson's biography on Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Norman Stone, 13 May 1936
Letter, 13 May 1936, London, Norman Stone to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for sending vocal parts. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Novello Co. Ltd., 21 February 1936
Letter, 21 February 1936, London, Novello & Co. Ltd. to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that Novello are taking Handel's `The ways of Zion do mourn' out of circulation because of inaccuracies in the copy. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from O. L. Richmond, c1920
Letter, [n.d], O. L. Richmond to Donald Tovey. A poem for Tovey on his wisdom and mastery of music. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Oliver Horsley Gotch, cSeptember 1910
Letter, [n.y], Oxford, Oliver H. Gotch to Donald Tovey. Requesting a commentary on Beethoven's Bb piano sonata Op 106, published in 1901 and a question concerning Bach's inversion of the XII Fugue, from the Kunst der Fugue. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from P. Kimman, 18 February 1924
Letter, 18 February 1924, Edinburgh, P. Kimman to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey and discussing his influence on music, asking for Tovey's help with a composition for cello. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 01 October 1933
Letter, 1 October 1933, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that Casals is going back to Barcelona, describing a concert of Mozarts' works and asking about concerts in Edinburgh. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 08 October 1933
Letter, 8 October 1933, Barcelona, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Discussion of Tovey's concerto and the technique and effort required to master it. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 03 April 1933
Letter, 3 April 1933, Barcelona, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Discussing another performance of Tovey's Cello Concerto, hoping to meet Tovey in the near future and discussing a visit to Edinburgh. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 20 April 1934
Letter, 20 April 1934, Barcelona, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Holograph signed.