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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 Mary Gardner Grierson from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1933

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L263
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1933], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Suggestions for concert programme. Holograph , incomplete may be part of L262.

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, c1933

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L264
Scope and Contents

Letter, [December 1933], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Outlining Tovey's limitations due to ill health and notes on Hungarian dances. 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/L265
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1934], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Notes on a concert that is to be broadcast and guidelines for honours degrees in music. 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, c1934

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L266
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1934], Eddlestone, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Praising a concert performance, discussion of Tovey's cello concerto, suggestion that Adrian Boult be offered an honorary degree. 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 Franics Tovey, 05 December 1918

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L228
Scope and Contents

Letter, 8 December 1918, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Asking Grierson to arrange a charity concert for 'The relief of Indian soldiers '. Holograph signed, in pencil.

Dates: 05 December 1918
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 Franics Tovey, c1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L307
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1937], Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Suggesting that Hans Gal should visit the Reid library. Holograph signed, in pencil.

Dates: c1937
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 Franics Tovey, c1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L308
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1937], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Note of arrival date and papers being at the printers. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1937
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 Franics Tovey, 04 May 1938

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L311
Scope and Contents

Letter, 4 May 1938, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. A glowing reference for Mary Grierson. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.

Dates: 04 May 1938
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 Franics Tovey, 20 June 1938

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L312
Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 June 1938, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Concerning music scholarships. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: 20 June 1938
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 Franics Tovey, 14 July 1938

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L313
Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 July 1938, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Concerned with a leaving presentation for a member of staff. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 July 1938
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence