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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, 07 June 1924

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L679
Scope and Contents

Letter, 7 June 1924, Liverpool, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of the Reid orchestra and details of the arts course in music at Edinburgh University. Holograph signed.

Dates: 07 June 1924
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1890

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L389
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Commenting on a performance of Schubert's C major symphony. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1890
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 02 March 1895

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L390
Scope and Contents

Letter, 2 March 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Anxiety over forthcoming examinations and discussion of John Stainer. Holograph signed, with envelope.

Dates: 02 March 1895
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Hubert Charles Parry, 14 May 1897

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2384
Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 May 1897, London, Hubert Charles Parry to Sophie Weisse. Expressing pleasure at hearing News of Tovey's development. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 May 1897
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Walter Parratt, c 09 November 1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2342
Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 November [1900], Windsor, Walter Parratt to Sophie Weisse. Discussion of the young Tovey's talents and development. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 09 November 1900
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Walter Parratt, c 02 October 1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2345
Scope and Contents

Letter, 2 October [n.y], Windsor, Walter Parratt to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of a discussion of Tovey between Parry and Parratt. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 02 October 1900
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Thomas Spring-Rice, 28 October 1907

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2474
Scope and Contents

Letter, 28 October 1907, London, T. A. Spring Rice to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her hospitality, requesting that Tovey give a lesson to a friend of Spring Rice and news of Spring Rice's engagements. Holograph signed.

Dates: 28 October 1907
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Unknown, 01 August 1939

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2750
Scope and Contents

Letter, August 1939, London, Unknown to Sophie Weisse. Describing the authors illness and medicine prescribed by Dr. Dickson. Holograph, written on the back of a poem in German.

Dates: 01 August 1939
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Unknown, 03 October 1909

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2752
Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 October 1909, Cambridge, Unknown to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey. Holograph unfinished.

Dates: 03 October 1909
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Unknown, c 22 February 1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2753
Scope and Contents

Letter, 22 February [n.y], London, Unknown to Sophie Weisse. Inviting Miss. Weisse and Tovey to stay. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: c 22 February 1900
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence