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 Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Charles Guthrie, 25 February 1929

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2183
Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 February 1929, Edinburgh, Charles Guthrie to Robert Trevelyan. Enclosing a letter from Charles Ricketts, and discussing the agreement over ' The Bride of Dionysus' . Typescript signed.

Dates: 25 February 1929
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Emanuel Christian Hedmonth, 09 April 1929

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2213
Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 April 1929, Edinburgh, C. E. Hedmonth to Robert Trevelyan. Criticising the music Tovey has written for the Opera, suggesting Tovey needs a good conductor. Holograph signed.

Dates: 09 April 1929
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from James Bee, 08 May 1929

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2037
Scope and Contents

Letter, 8 May 1929, Edinburgh, James Bee to Robert Trevelyan. Expressing the Edinburgh Opera company's pleasure at being involved with Trevelyan, Tovey and The Bride of Dionysus. Holograph signed.

Dates: 08 May 1929
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 28 November 1945

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2396
Scope and Contents

Letter, 28 November 1945, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Expressing Hubert Foss's worries about printing Tovey's essay, 'Music in German Culture', 1914, because of its views on the war and Nazism. Typescript signed.

Dates: 28 November 1945
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 14 December 1945

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2397
Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 December 1945, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning material for a biography of Tovey and a meeting with Peterkin, Grierson, Guthrie, Foss and John Tovey. Typescript signed.

Dates: 14 December 1945
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 27 January 1945

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2398
Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 January 1945, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Concerning a meeting with Grierson to discuss the biography of Tovey. Typescript signed.

Dates: 27 January 1945
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 19 December 1946

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2399
Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 December 1946, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Discussing the production of a Tovey biography by either Foss or Grierson. Typescript signed.

Dates: 19 December 1946
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Norman Peterkin, 01 February 1947

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2400
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 February 1947, London, Norman Peterkin to Robert Trevelyan. Informing Trevelyan that Grierson is dedicating time to writing a biography on Tovey and that John Tovey has offered her financial help and that Oxford University Press have offered assistance. Typescript signed.

Dates: 01 February 1947
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Percy Such, 30 April 1919

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2505
Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 April 1919, London, Percy Such to Robert Trevelyan. Asking if Tovey has shown his opera score to Beecham, who is in Edinburgh looking out for English works. Holograph signed.

Dates: 30 April 1919
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1910

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L199
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1910], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Robert Trevelyan. Consoling Trevelyan after the death of Mr. Dakyns. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.

Dates: c1910
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence