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 Pablo Casals, 26 August 1931
Letter, 26 August 1931, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for his last letter, discussion of concerts at Edinburgh and Barcelona. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 21 June 1932
Letter, 21 June 1932, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Details of Casals time in England playing with the B. B. C. orchestra, a concert in Barcelona and regret that he and Tovey could not see each other. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Casals, 02 January 1935
Letter, 2 January 1935, Barcelona, Pablo Casals to Donald Tovey. Dates of Casals arrival, request that a Bach concerto be performed. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Pablo Caslas, 06 February 1935
Letter, 6 February 1935, Pablo Caslas to Donald Tovey. Casals explaining his forthcoming engagements and reasons why he can not make the rescheduled date. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Paul Felix Weingartner, 21 October 1923
Letter, 21 October 1923, Vienna, Weingartner to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for his letter and requesting a copy of Weber's work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Paul Hindemith, c1933
Letter, [1933], London, Paul Hindemith to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey of his expected arrival time in Edinburgh and discussing a concert in Glasgow. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Paul Seard, 23 November 1937
Letter, 23 November 1937, Middlesex, Paul Seard to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for a letter, approving work of an orchestra. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Paul Victor Mendelssohn Benecke, 11 June 1922
Letter, 11 June 1922, Oxford, P. V. M. Benecke to Donald Tovey. Asking if Tovey would give a recital at the Oxford University musical club. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Paul Victor Mendelssohn Benecke, 30 May 1923
Letter, 30 May 1923, Oxford, P. V. M. Benecke to Donald Tovey. Asking for information on the organist, A. Collinson, who is to be awarded an honorary degree by Oxford University. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Paul Wittgenstein, 22 January 1929
Letter, 22 January 1929, Paul Wittgenstein to Donald Tovey. Suggesting that Tovey writes a work for Wittgenstein, perhaps ' Variations on a classical theme'. Holograph signed.