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 Heinrich Swoboda, c 01 October 1930
Letter, 10 October [n.y], New York, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey of concerts in New York and Canada and Radio Broadcasts, asking Tovey for a letter of introduction to Serbivolli and expressing concern for the European political situation. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Telling Tovey of plans for concerts in London and New York and discussing a meeting with Elizabeth Trevelyan. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Discussing plans to pay Tovey and Szell for concert performances in Czechoslavakia, asking Tovey to bring the 'Euranthe' score. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Prague, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Discussing plans for concerts in the United Kingdom and a radio broadcast with the B. B. C and Adrian Boult, plans to play Tovey's Cello concerto wirth Casals. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c 14 January 1930
Letter, 14 January [n.y], Prague, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Discussing the Radio braodcast of Tovey's Brahm's concert and discussing other concerts and broadcasts. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Informing that Swoboda has received Tovey's work on Bach and describing Swoboda's work for the theatre and music institutes. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c 29 April 1930
Letter, 29 April [n.y], Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Telling Tovey news about Passer and Szell and hopes to see Tovey in the summer. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c 28 August 1930
Letter, 28 August [n.y], Prague, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Discussing financial difficulties, Tovey's German publisher and Tovey's planned concert in Prague of ' Euryanthe '. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, c1930
Letter, [n.d], Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Comparing English folk opera at Sadlers Wells with Toscanini at Salzburg, Austria. Holograph signed, incomplete.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Heinrich Swoboda, 02 November 1922
Letter, 2 November 1922, Dusseldorf, Heinrich Swoboda to Donald Tovey. Discussing Tovey's plans for concerts in Prague and the concerts of the pianist Szell. Holograph signed.