Sir Donald Francis Tovey, the composer on this album, was Reid Professor of Music at Edinburgh University from 1914 until his death in 1940.
Composition History
Tovey's first marriage in 1916 ended in divorce in 1922 due to his wife's severe psychiatric problems, which, combined with his demanding professorship, brought his compositional output to a near standstill.
Cultural Impact
Tovey was knighted in 1935, partly due to his significant editions of Bach's '48' and The Art of Fugue, for which he wrote a conjectural ending to Bach's unfinished Contrapunctus XIV.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Tovey considered himself primarily a musician, aiming to share his knowledge and love of music with a wide audience through his work as a pianist, conductor, composer, editor, writer, broadcaster, scholar, and teacher.
Composer Biography
Tovey met the renowned violinist Joseph Joachim, a personal friend of Brahms, when Tovey was only twelve, and they remained friends until Joachim's death in 1907.
Recording & Production
The producer of this album, Peter R. Shore, is a descendant of Donald Francis Tovey, as his paternal grandmother was Tovey's first cousin.
Composer Biography
Tovey's musical talent was recognized by Miss Sophie Weisse, a piano teacher who became his 'musical mother' and tutor from age five, influencing his education and career throughout her life.
