Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940 (Reid Professor of Music, University of Edinburgh)
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 Sir Adrian Cedric Boult from D. Dickson, 04 February 1943
Letter, 4 February 1943, Edinburgh, D. Dickson to Adrian Boult. Thanking Boult for his letter about the Tovey prize and expressing Newmans feelings on the subject. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sir Arthur Somervell from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1913
Letter, [1913], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Arthur Somervell. Chopsticks. Ms. transcribed by K. M. Howard, with covering note sent to Hubert Foss by K. M. Howard.
Letter to Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 August 1891
Letter, 1 August 1891, Moffat, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Hubert Parry. Description of sketches. Holograph unfinished.
Letter to Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1892
Letter, 1891, Moffat, Donald Tovey to Hubert Parry. Description of sketches. Ms. transcript by Mary Tovey.
Letter to Sir Denys de Saumarez Bray from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 1895
Letter, [1895], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Sir Denys Bray. Description of a visit to Winchester and information on a forthcoming trip to Arran. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss, incomplete.
Letter to Sir Denys de Saumarez Bray from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 1896
Letter, [1896], Rochefort, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Sir Denys Bray. Informing Bray of the standard of his songwriting. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Sir Denys de Saumarez Bray from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 18 August 1896
Letter, 18 August 1896, Rochefort, Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Sir Denys de Saumarez Bray. Descriptions of alterations to 'Rabbi ben Ezra '. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Donald Tovey from Gladys Clark, c03 February 1930
Letter, 3 February 1930, Edinburgh, Gladys Clark to Donald Tovey. Inviting Tovey to a house warming. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey and Clara Tovey from Marga Denecke, c28 January 1923
Letter, 28 January 1923, London, Marga Denecke to Donald Tovey and Clara Tovey. Praising Tovey's performance at The Wigmore hall and news of Adolf Busch. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey and Robert Calverey Trevelyan from W Clarkson, 15 March 1929
Letter, 15 March 1929, London, W. Clarkson To [ Donald Tovey and R. C. Trevelyan]. Concerning the price of wig hire for the ' Bride of Dionysus'. Typescript signed.