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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 Rosalind Maitland, c26 May 1924

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1390
Scope and Contents

Letter, 26 May 1924, Edinburgh, Rosalind Maitland to Donald Tovey. News of a meeting with Allt concerning a performance of Beethoven and a discussion of the problems of the Reid concerts. Holograph signed.

Dates: c26 May 1924
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Rosalind Maitland, c07 July 1922

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1391
Scope and Contents

Letter, 7 July 1922, Edinburgh, Rosalind Maitland to Donald Tovey. Details of the Reid Orchestra's guarantor's meeting, news of Adrian Boult's praise for Tovey's work and a meeting with Allt. Holograph signed.

Dates: c07 July 1922
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Rosamund Brunel Horsley Gotch, c20 May 1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1180
Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 May 1920 [n.y], Oxford, Rosamund B. Gotch to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that the Gotch house is in a state of quarantine, due to a bout of diphtheria. Holograph signed.

Dates: c20 May 1920
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Royal Academy of Music, 21 June 1922

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1043
Scope and Contents

Letter, 21 June 1922, London, Royal Academy of Music to Donald Tovey. Inviting a representative from the University of Edinburgh to attend the centenary celebrations of the Royal Academy of Music. Typescript, with forwarding letter , 23 June 1922, The Secretary of Edinburgh University to Donald Tovey, [1]p. 26 x 20cm.

Dates: 21 June 1922
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Ruby G. Steele, c 27 March 1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1716
Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 March [n.y], Edinburgh, Ruby G. Steele to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that Steele will be unable to sing, as arranged. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 27 March 1920
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Rudolf Seikin, c1929

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1674
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Basel, Rudi Seikin to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey to help Hans Gal who has fled Austria and is not allowed to stay in Switzerland discussing a concert given in Edinburgh by Adolf Busch. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1929
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Ruth Jane Martin, c01 October 1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1402
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 October 1920, Edinburgh, Ruth Jane Martin to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey to suggest a suitable singing teacher. Holograph signed.

Dates: c01 October 1920
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from S. Goldberg, 27 April 1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1176
Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 April 1937, London, S. Goldberg to Donald Tovey. Asking to perform as a soloist under Tovey, playing either Beethoven or Brahms. Holograph signed.

Dates: 27 April 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 S. H. Peckitt, c1910

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1484
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], S. H. Peckitt to Donald Tovey. Praising Tovey's work and requesting that Tovey play again. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1910
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from S. Morris, 18 April 1923

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1422
Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 April 1923, Woking, S. Morris to Donald Tovey. Covering note for a cheque, paying Tovey for giving a lecture to the Woking Branch, Educational Association. Holograph signed.

Dates: 18 April 1923
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence