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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, c1929

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L324
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1929], Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Concerning the establishment of a voluntary choir. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1929
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, c1915

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L325
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Request for help in designing music examination papers. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1915
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/L326
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Note informing of Tovey's finding an oboe part. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1900
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/L327
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Discussion of history examination paper, and request that Granville Bantock visit Tovey in Norwich. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1900
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/L328
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Requesting that Grierson illustrate Tovey's analysis lecture on the piano. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1900
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, c1915

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L329
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Advice for orchestrating a concert. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1915
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, c1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L330
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Suggestions for a concert programme. Holograph signed, in pencil.

Dates: c1920
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, c1915

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L331
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Notes on papers, acoustic class and press photographers. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1915
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, c1915

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L332
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Mary Gardner Grierson. Notes for a performance at a forthcoming Reid concert. Holograph signed, incomplete.

Dates: c1915
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, c1915

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L333
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Mary Grierson. Notes on Reid concerts and suggestions concerning Grierson's Music doctorate. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1915
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence