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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 Sir Donald Francis Tovey from H. F. Giles, 09 February 1924

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1168
Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 February 1924, Edinburgh, H. F. Giles to Donald Tovey. Concerning the award of Honorary doctorate of music to Gustav Holst. Typescript signed.

Dates: 09 February 1924
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from H. F. Giles, 03 March 1930

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1169
Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 March 1930, Edinburgh, H. F. Giles to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for providing music for a play and describing how the music enhanced the play. Holograph signed.

Dates: 03 March 1930
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from H. M. Abel, 12 April 1922

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L684
Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 April 1922, London, H. M. Abel to Donald Tovey. Dealing with Tovey's finances and bank administration. Holograph signed.

Dates: 12 April 1922
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from H. Reinhaller, c 1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1510
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], H. Reinhaller to Donald Tovey. Attempting to interest Tovey in buying autographs of Brahms, Goethe, Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss and others. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 1920
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from H. Warner, 20 May 1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1869
Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 May 1937, Berlin, H. Warner to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for his help in enabling the Berlin college of music singers to tour Scotland and England, inviting Tovey to a music festival in Berlin. Holograph signed.

Dates: 20 May 1937
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from H. Warre Cornish, 29 August 1924

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1042
Scope and Contents

Letter, 29 August 1924, Manche, H. Warre Cornish to Donald Tovey. Invitation to stay and details of how to get to the house. Holograph signed.

Dates: 29 August 1924
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Hans Peter Busch, 01 May 1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L799
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 May 1937, Hans Peter Busch to Donald Tovey. Discussing plans to study at the University of Edinburgh. Holograph signed.

Dates: 01 May 1937
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Hans Peter Busch, 07 June 1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L800
Scope and Contents

Letter, 7 June 1937, Hans Peter Busch to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for his letter and news of the Busch family. Holograph signed.

Dates: 07 June 1937
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Harold H. Joachim, 27 February 1907

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1297
Scope and Contents

Letter, 2 February 1907, Oxford, Harold H. Joachim to Donald Tovey. An invitation to dinner. Holograph signed.

Dates: 27 February 1907
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Harold H. Joachim, 25 April 1929

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1298
Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 April 1929, Oxford, Harold H. Joachim to Donald Tovey. Congratulating Tovey on the success of his opera. Holograph signed.

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