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, c1919
Letter, [1919], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of trying to contact Beecham to look at Tovey's composition. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed paper.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 27 April 1920
Letter, 27 April 1920, Kent, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Recommending a doctor to Miss. Weisse, news of the Busch family, development of opera score. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c 25 April 1920
Letter, [25 April 1920], Kent, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notes on the progress of the opera, comments on Tovey's wife's condition, and details of copying a vocal score. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1921
Letter, [January 1921], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's wife and son, hopes for the New Year. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1922
Letter, [1922], Dusseldorf, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of the Busch family, Tovey's symphony, details of a successful concert at Prague, news of Mr. and Mrs. Rontgen, . Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 August 1922
Letter, 1 August 1922, London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Requesting that Miss. Weisse send Tovey a couple of dress shirts, news of his host Sir William McCormick. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 May 1922
Letter, [May 1922], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Plans for the schooling of Tovey's son and developments in Tovey's composition. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1922
Letter, [1922], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Covering letter for a book by Arnold which Tovey believes to be his best. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 May 1922
Letter, [May 1922], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's wife's recovery, details of forthcoming engagements and discussion of the status of the music faculty within the University. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 August 1922
Letter, 1 August 1922, Freudenstadt, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Tovey's plans to go to Stuttgart with Fritz Busch and then return to Edinburgh, expressing an interest in the Moor duplex piano. Holograph signed.