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 Edward Joseph Dent from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 13 October 1932
Letter, 13 October 1939, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Joseph Dent. Graeser's suicide. Typescript copy.
Letter to Edward Joseph Dent from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 November 1931
Letter, 14 November 1931, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Joseph Dent. Description of Tovey's ideas of university musical education, comparison of Edinburgh degrees with that of Oxford and Cambridge. Typescript copy.
Letter to Edward Joseph Dent from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 September 1931
Letter, 17 September 1931, Edinburgh, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Joseph Dent. Requesting a copy of Dent's Fidelio. Typescript copy.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 26 September 1900
Letter, 26 September 1900, Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Speyer . Thanking Speyer for sending Tovey a notice and form. Holograph signed, L139 - L142 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 08 March 1901
Letter, 8 March 1901, Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Speyer. Turning down an invitation to a house party because of a tour of Berlin. Holograph signed, L139 - L142 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 06 August 1901
Letter, 6 August 1901, Surrey, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Speyer. Suggestion of a programme for the Soldat quartet. Holograph signed, L139 - L142 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 13 February 1902
Letter, 13 February 1902, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Edward Speyer. Description of tours in Berlin and Vienna. Holograph signed, L143 - L144 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 22 April 1909
Letter, 22 April 1909, Utrecht, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Concerning a concert involving Casals and Lady Halle. Holograph signed, L169 - L176 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 07 April 1910
Letter, 7 April 1910, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Plan for forthcoming concert. Holograph signed, L177 - L185 sewn together.
Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 April 1910
Letter, 9 April 1910, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Complaining about his status in the concerts. Holograph signed, L177 - L185 sewn together.