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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:

Postcard to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 24 March 1905

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L162
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 24 March 1905, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Accepting an invitation to stay. Holograph signed, L162 - L166 sewn together.

Dates: 24 March 1905
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Postcard to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 05 July 1905

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L163
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 5 July 1905, Hertfordshire, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Arranging a performance. Holograph signed, L162 - L166 sewn together.

Dates: 05 July 1905
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Postcard to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 04 November 1905

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L164
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 4 September 1905, Haslemere, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Accepting an invitation to stay. Holograph signed, L162 - L166 sewn together.

Dates: 04 November 1905
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Postcard to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 July 1906

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L165
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 12 July 1906, Hertfordshire, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Refusing an invitation due to a prior engagement. Holograph signed, L162 - L166 sewn together.

Dates: 12 July 1906
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Postcard to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 September 1908

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L174
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 1 September 1908, Oban, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Notice of arrival. Holograph signed, L169 - L176 sewn together.

Dates: 01 September 1908
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Postcard to Hubert James Foss from Elisabeth Joachim, 24 January 1946

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2250
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 24 January 1946, Oxford, Elisabeth Joachim to Hubert Foss. Suggesting that no correspondence exists between Tovey and Joachim. Holograph signed, postcard stamped.

Dates: 24 January 1946
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Postcard to Hubert James Foss from Geoffrey Parratt, 05 March 1942

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2341
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 5 March 1942, Surrey, Geoffrey Parratt to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss that Parratt's sister will not write on Tovey's life. Holograph signed, Postcard stamped.

Dates: 05 March 1942
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Postcard to Hubert James Foss from Henry Havergal, c1940

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2209
Scope and Contents

Postcard, [n.d], Harrow, Henry Havergal to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss of Mona Benson's address, describing Tovey's influence on Havergal's writing of programme notes. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1940
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Postcard to Hubert James Foss from Henry Havergal, 05 January 1942

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2210
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 5 January 1942, Keswick, Henry Havergal to Hubert Foss. Suggesting that he meet Foss to describe his memories of the life and works of Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 05 January 1942
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Postcard to Hubert James Foss from Louisa Powell, 10 March 1942

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2406
Scope and Contents

Postcard, 10 March 1942, Virginia, Louisa Powell to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss of a letter from Tovey to Powell's husband John. Typescript signed, date as postmark, written on war time postcard to aid the censor.

Dates: 10 March 1942
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence