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 Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, Hartree, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending Tovey a book by Danreuther on ornamentation, and a discussion of the work. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 August 1893
Letter, 1 August 1893, Lowestoft, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's time in Lowestoft with his father and their meeting with Mrs. Arnold. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 July 1893
Letter, 17 July 1893, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notifying Miss. Weisse of Tovey's time of arrival. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 May 1893
Letter, 14 May 1893, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of the Tovey family and the garden at Worplesdon. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 April 1893
Letter, 14 April 1893, Moffat, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's writing and composing at Hartree. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 January 1893
Letter, 20 January 1893, London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Explaining that Tovey has been too busy to send a card to Miss. Weisse and description of a performance. Photocopy of a typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 January 1893
Letter, 20 January 1893, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining Parry's comments on Tovey's composition. Photocopy of a typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 January 1893
Letter, 20 January 1893, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining Parry's comments on Tovey's composition. Photocopy of holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 January 1893
Letter, 14 January 1893, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending Tovey a letter and copy of King Lear, and describing his engagement with Mrs. Glen Coats. Photocopy of typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of Tovey's travelling plans, and a transcription of a ' Fantastic of three parts' by Orlando Gibbons. Photocopy of Holograph signed.