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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 Pablo Casals, 26 April 1936

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1000
Scope and Contents

Letter, 26 April 1936, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Discussing a change to a score. Holograph signed.

Dates: 26 April 1936
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 24 November 1936

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1001
Scope and Contents

Letter, 24 November 1936, London, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Discussing a recording of Tovey's concerto by 'The gramophone company'. Holograph signed.

Dates: 24 November 1936
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 26 October 1936

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1002
Scope and Contents

Letter, 26 October 1936, Barcelona, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Describing Casals annoyance at a cancelled performance. Holograph signed.

Dates: 26 October 1936
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 25 January 1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1003
Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 January 1937, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Note concerning the fingering, and bow strokes for Tovey's concerto. Holograph signed.

Dates: 25 January 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 Pablo Casals, 03 March 1938

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1004
Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 March 1938, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Describing Casals hopes to come to England, discussing Tovey's recording of the Cello Concerto. Holograph signed.

Dates: 03 March 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 Pablo Casals, 31 December 1945

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2065
Scope and Contents

Letter, 31 December 1945, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Enclosing letters from Casals to Tovey, for Foss's proposed biography of Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 31 December 1945
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, c1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L854
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], London, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey of Casals visit to Edinburgh and of where he is staying. 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 Pablo Casals, c1924

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L855
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1924], London, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Regretting that Casals can not play Tovey's cello concerto on the dates suggested, listing the concerts Casals is playing. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1924
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 08 May 1925

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L856
Scope and Contents

Letter, 8 May 1925, Barcelona, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's written work, especially the preface, for piano, outlining forthcoming concerts in Barcelona and a hope that Casals may be able to play Tovey's concerto in the Autumn. Holograph signed.

Dates: 08 May 1925
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 03 April 1931

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L860
Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 April 1931, San Salvador, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Suggesting that Tovey and Casals should get together. Holograph signed.

Dates: 03 April 1931
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence