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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 Sophie Weisse from Mary Beasley, 14 October 1940

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2033
Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 October 1940, Northampton, Mary Beasley to Sophie Weisse. Discussing a photograph of Tovey and suggesting that Beasley might visit Edinburgh. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 October 1940
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Beasley, 27 October 1940

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2034
Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 October 1940, Northampton, Mary Beasley to Sophie Weisse. Answering Miss. Weisse's questions concerning chronological sequence of events. Holograph signed.

Dates: 27 October 1940
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Beasley, 06 July 1941

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2035
Scope and Contents

Letter, 6 July 1941, Northampton, Mary Beasley to Sophie Weisse. Discussing Tovey's life especially the young Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 06 July 1941
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Beasley, 29 July 1941

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2036
Scope and Contents

Letter, 29 July 1941, Northampton, Mary Beasley to Sophie Weisse. Discussing Miss. Weisse's memorial to Tovey at Edinburgh University, praising Miss. Weisse's sense of style, discussion of enclosed photographs of Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 29 July 1941
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby, 10 May 1901

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2403
Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 May 1901, Ascot, Mary Ponsonby to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse how thoroughly Ponsonby enjoyed Tovey's concert of the Bach variations and asking Miss. Weisse a question about a sewage pipe. Holograph signed.

Dates: 10 May 1901
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Jane Gillies Whittaker, 12 November 1936

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2641
Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 November 1936, Edinburgh, Mary Whittaker to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that she is to receive an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh. Holograph signed.

Dates: 12 November 1936
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Tovey, 05 December 1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2527
Scope and Contents

Letter, 5 December 1900, Surrey, Mary Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Concerning a letter from Fuller Maitland praising Tovey's talents. Holograph signed.

Dates: 05 December 1900
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from May Scott, c1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2447
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Chatham, May Scott to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for informing Scott of the death of Joachim, and expressing sympathy for Donald. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1900
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Minnie Wallace, c 03 August 1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2666
Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 August [n.y], Suffolk, Minnie Wallace to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her parcel and news of John and his young friends. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 03 August 1900
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Neville Stephen Bulwer-Lytton, 12 December 1911

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2279
Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 December 1911, Sussex, Neville Lytton to Sophie Weisse. Expressing admiration for Tovey's playing. Holograph signed.

Dates: 12 December 1911
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence