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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 Franics Tovey, c14 November 1938

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L314
Scope and Contents

Letter, [14 November 1938], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Congratulating Grierson on a performance of Mozart. Holograph signed.

Dates: c14 November 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, c1938

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L315
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1938, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Hans Gals's discovery of a Haydn symphony in the Reid music library, and details of forthcoming concerts. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1938
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, 01 February 1939

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L316
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 February 1939, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Description of a score by Schumann in C major. Typescript signed.

Dates: 01 February 1939
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, 01 June 1939

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L317
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 June 1939, London, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Covering letter for honours degree examinations in music. Holograph signed.

Dates: 01 June 1939
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, 01 June 1939

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L318
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 June 1939, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Discussion of exam papers, details of visitors to Edinburgh. Typescript signed.

Dates: 01 June 1939
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, 11 June 1939

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L319
Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 June 1939, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Plans for forthcoming Reid concerts. Typescript signed.

Dates: 11 June 1939
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, 18 October 1939

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L320
Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 October 1939, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Description of a horn player, Brichard Coar. Part typescript, part holograph signed.

Dates: 18 October 1939
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, 06 November 1939

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L321
Scope and Contents

Letter, 6 November 1939, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Plans for forthcoming concerts. Typescript signed.

Dates: 06 November 1939
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, 02 June 1938

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L322
Scope and Contents

Letter, 2 May 1948, London, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Covering letter for examination papers. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: 02 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, c1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L323
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Suggestions for Reid choir. Holograph signed.

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