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 Donald Francis Tovey from Albert Schweitzer, 20 May 1939
Letter, 20 May 1939, Bordeaux, Albert Schweitzer to Donald Tovey. Congratulating Tovey on his knighthood, askng Tovey to compose something for Schewitzer using Organ and orchestra together. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Albert Schweitzer and Marga Denecke, 11 November 1931
Letter, 11 November 1931, Bordeaux, Albert Schweitzer and Marga Denecke to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for sending Schweitzer his Kunst der Fugue. Holograph signed, letter in English from Marga Denecke and German from Schweitzer.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Alexander Brent-Smith, 18 June 1921
Letter, 18 June 1921, Sussex, Alexander Brent-Smith to Donald Tovey. Requesting that Tovey perform some of Brent-Smiths works in the forthcoming season. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Alexander Dunlop Lindsay, 18 January 1935
Letter, 18 January 1935, Oxford, A. D. Lindsay to Donald Tovey. Congratulating Tovey on his knighthood. Ms. Transcript by Miss. Weisse, with letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Alexander Pandelli Fachiri, c28 November 1925
Letter, 28 November 1925, London, Alexander Fachiri to Donald Tovey. Congratulating Tovey on his engagement. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Alexander Pandelli Fachiri, 23 April 1929
Letter, 23 April 1929, London, Alexander Fachiri to Donald Tovey. Explaining why Jelly d'Aranyi and the Fachiri's can not visit Edinburgh, and expressing their feelings of friendship to Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Alexander Wunderer, 21 March 1924
Letter, 21 March 1924, Alexander Wunderer to Donald Tovey. Discussing Tovey's concert in Vienna in 1904 with Fillinger, praising Tovey's work and requesting details of Tovey's publications. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Alfred Weintraud, 25 September 1937
Letter, 25 September 1937, London, Alfred Weintraud to Donald Tovey. Concerning Tovey's letter to the Times about Schumann's posthumous violin concerto, and discussion of what Joachim said. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Alma Tadema, 20 August 1905
Letter, 20 August 1905, Alma Tadema to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that she misses him and congratulating him on his success. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Amilia Moor, c15 August 1921
Letter, 15 August 1921, Amilia Moor to Donald Tovey. Inviting Tovey to stay with the Moors in Switzerland, to see the Duplex piano and a discussion of the success of the piano in Zurich after a demonstration. Holograph signed.