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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 Hubert James Foss from [ Cinthia Firlin], c1940

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2141
Scope and Contents

Letter, 5 February [n.y], Middlesex, [ Cinthia Firlin] to Hubert Foss. Describing memories of Tovey. Holograph signed.

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

Letter to Hubert James Foss from Dame Ethel Mary Smyth, 06 January 1943

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2462
Scope and Contents

Letter, 6 January 1943, Ethel Smyth to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss that Smyth has no letters from Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 06 January 1943
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from Douglas Gerard Arthur Fox, 31 January 1942

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2159
Scope and Contents

Letter, 31 January 1942, Cornwall, D. G. A. Fox to Hubert Foss. Covering note for a letter from Tovey and discussion of the fact that Foss has left the Oxford University Press. Holograph signed.

Dates: 31 January 1942
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from Ernest Bryson, 30 December 1941

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2057
Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 December 1941, Gloucestershire, Ernest Bryson to Hubert Foss. Memories of Tovey, conducting the Reid Orchestra, programme notes, ' The Bride of Dionysus', and completion of the Bach fugue. Holograph signed.

Dates: 30 December 1941
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from F. H. Walker, 13 May 1943

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2563
Scope and Contents

Letter, 13 May 1943, Newcastle, F. H. Walker to Hubert Foss. Returning Tovey ms. to Foss and Walkers conclusions after analysing Tovey's handwriting. Holograph signed.

Dates: 13 May 1943
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from F. H. Walker, 01 December 1942

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2564
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 December 1942, Newcastle, F. H. Walker to Hubert Foss. Requesting six samples of Tovey's handwriting to analyse. Holograph signed.

Dates: 01 December 1942
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from F. H. Walker, 07 February 1943

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2565
Scope and Contents

Letter, 7 February 1943, Newcastle, F. H. Walker to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss that Walker has been unable to analyse Tovey's handwriting as yet, and commenting on the way Tovey forms a letter 'A'. Holograph signed.

Dates: 07 February 1943
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from F. H. Walker, 25 November 1942

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2566
Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 November 1942, Newcastle, F. H. Walker to Hubert Foss. Requesting that Foss send some more examples of Tovey's handwriting and praising Foss's radio broadcasts. Holograph signed.

Dates: 25 November 1942
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

letter to Hubert James Foss from Fanny Pyatt, 03 December 1941

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2409
Scope and Contents

letter, 3 December 1941, Edinburgh, Fanny Pyatt to Hubert Foss. Describing Morris Meredith Williams' oil painting of the Edinburgh quartet, with Tovey at the piano. Holograph signed.

Dates: 03 December 1941
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from FH Walker, c1940

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2567
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Newcastle, F. H. Walker. An attempt to assess the character of Tovey from his handwriting. Holograph.

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