Skip to main content

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 Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 16 April 1910

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L180
Scope and Contents

Letter, 16 April 1910, Dorking, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Concerning the Classical concert series. Holograph signed, L177 - L185 sewn together.

Dates: 16 April 1910
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 18 April 1910

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L181
Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 April 1910, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Concerning the Classical concert series. Holograph signed, L177 - L185 sewn together.

Dates: 18 April 1910
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1911

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L182
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1911], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Description and evaluation of unnamed singer. Holograph signed, L177 - L185 sewn together.

Dates: c1911
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 10 November 1911

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L183
Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 November 1911, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Complaining about concert advertising. Holograph signed, L177 - L185 sewn together.

Dates: 10 November 1911
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 18 August 1912

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L184
Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 August 1912, Paris, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Turning down an invitation to stay, plan to finish `the opera'. Holograph signed, L177 - L185 sewn together.

Dates: 18 August 1912
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L185
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], London, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Suggestions for a concert programme. Holograph signed, L177 - L185 sewn together.

Dates: c1900
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 April 1910

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L186
Scope and Contents

Letter, 17 April 1910, Dorking, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Suggestions for concert programme. Holograph signed, in pencil.

Dates: 17 April 1910
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 10 September 1911

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L187
Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 November 1911, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Complaining about concert advertising. Ms. transcript by Miss Weisse, copy of L183.

Dates: 10 September 1911
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1912

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L188
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1912], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Complaining about concert agents, 'The Smiths'. Holograph unfinished.

Dates: c1912
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Edward Speyer from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L190
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Edward Speyer. Expressing in detail Tovey's dissatisfaction with the constitution of the Classical concert society. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: c1900
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence