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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 Frank Stewart Howes, 10 December 1941

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2238
Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 December 1941, Oxford, Frank Howes to Hubert Foss. Covering note for a story about Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 10 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 Frank Stewart Howes, c 06 December 1940

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2239
Scope and Contents

Letter, 6 December [n.y], London, Frank Howes to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss not to print the story of Tovey told by Howes. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 06 December 1940
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from G. L. Marshall, 10 December 1941

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2298
Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 December 1941, London, G. L. Marshall to Hubert Foss. Responding to an advert in 'The Listener' for material for a biography of Tovey. Typescript signed.

Dates: 10 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 G. S. Hardy, 29 November 1941

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2207
Scope and Contents

Letter, 29 November 1941, Sussex, G. S. Hardy to [Hubert Foss]. Memories of Tovey playing piano with the Windsor and Eton Orchestra. Holograph signed.

Dates: 29 November 1941
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from G. W. Syers, 24 November 1941

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2508
Scope and Contents

Letter, 24 November 1941, Hove, G. W. Syers to Hubert Foss. Describing Syers meeting with Tovey and a summing up of the young Tovey's personality. Holograph signed.

Dates: 24 November 1941
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to [ Hubert James Foss ] from Harry Stuart. Goodhart-Rendel, 02 January 1942

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2175
Scope and Contents

Letter, 2 January 1942, Surrey, H. S. Goodhart Rendel to [ Hubert Foss ]. Describing memories of Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 02 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 Henry Balfour Gardiner, c1942

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2172
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 January 1942, Oxford, H. Balfour Gardiner to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss of the last time Gardiner saw Tovey and his memories of him. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1942
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from Hubert W. Hunt, 23 November 1944

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2241
Scope and Contents

Letter, 23 November 1944, Bristol, Hubert W. Hunt to Hubert Foss. Memories of Tovey from a young boy, his exceptional talent and a typical Toveyism. Holograph signed.

Dates: 23 November 1944
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from Hubert W. Hunt, 23 November 1944

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2242
Scope and Contents

Letter, 23 November 1944, Bristol, Hubert W. Hunt to Hubert Foss. Memories of Tovey from a young boy, his exceptional talent and a typical Toveyism. Typescript copy.

Dates: 23 November 1944
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from Imogen Clare Holst, 21 December 1921

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2235
Scope and Contents

Letter, 21 December 1921, Oxford, Imogen Holst to Hubert Foss. Covering note for two letters from Tovey to Gustav Holst. Holograph signed.

Dates: 21 December 1921
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence