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 Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1933

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L268
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1933], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Notes for forthcoming concert. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1933
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1934

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L269
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Time schedule for concert. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1934
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 11 May 1924

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L271
Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 May 1924, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Notes for forthcoming Reid concerts. Holograph signed.

Dates: 11 May 1924
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1914

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L272
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Suggestion that Tovey cooperates with a production of Brahms requiem at St. Mary's cathedral. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: c1914
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1934

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L273
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1934, Czechoslovakia, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Suggestions for organisation of a choir, and recommendations on what they should sing. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1934
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 June 1934

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L274
Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 June 1934, Czechoslovakia, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Plans for forthcoming concert and details of the B.B.C's involvement. Holograph signed.

Dates: 20 June 1934
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1916

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L275
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Explanation of changes to a concert programme. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: c1916
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1934

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L277
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1934 Felixstowe, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Sympathising over the death of a friend. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1934
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, cJuly 1935

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L278
Scope and Contents

Letter, July1935, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Plans for forthcoming concert. Holograph signed.

Dates: cJuly 1935
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 August 1935

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L279
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 August 1935, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Briefly describing how terrible Tovey feels. Holograph signed.

Dates: 01 August 1935
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence