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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 Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1911

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L628
Scope and Contents

Letter, [January 1911], Mainz, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description and criticism of performances of Faust and Lohengrin. Holograph signed incomplete.

Dates: c1911
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1911

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L629
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1911], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of the Mandyczewsiki's and Casals, development of a cello duet, and forthcoming engagements in Reading and Bayreuth. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1911
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1912

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L635
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1912], [Spain], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. A favourable report of Tovey's time in Spain and a description of Casals family. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1912
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1912

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L636
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1912], [Spain], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's travels in Spain, description of a railway journey through the Pyrenees. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1912
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 28 October 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L515
Scope and Contents

Letter, 28 October 1898, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Wishing ' Sister Mary ' well, and asking about Miss. Weisse's plans to return top Cambridge. Typescript copy.

Dates: 28 October 1898
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 November 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L516
Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 November 1898, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Criticism of musical magazines and extracts. Holograph signed.

Dates: 09 November 1898
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 November 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L517
Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 November 1898, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Criticism of musical magazines and extracts. Typescript copy incomplete.

Dates: 09 November 1898
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 November 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L518
Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 November 1898, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. A thank you note, and progress report. Typescript copy.

Dates: 12 November 1898
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 November 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L519
Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 November 1898, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. A thank you note, and progress report. Typescript copy.

Dates: 12 November 1898
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1905

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L595
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1905], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Expressing Tovey's feelings for Cleg. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1905
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence