Weisse, Sophie, 1852-1945 (Scottish music teacher)
Dates
- Existence: 1852 - 1945
Biography
Sophie Weisse was born in Edinburgh in 1852 to a German father and Lithuanian mother. Little is known of her early life and education. In 1892, she founded the all-girls school of Northlands in Surrey, which she ran for twenty-five years. Although Northlands was a school of general education, music was given a particularly prominent place in the curriculum, and musical celebrities were often invited to visit and perform. Weisse employed the young Donald Tovey as a pianist at the school’s concerts, which provided a launch for his career as a musician and composer. Weisse had discovered Tovey’s talent at the age of four and had managed all aspects of his education. She further supported his career by funding the publication of his works between 1903 and 1913. Weisse and Tovey maintained a lifelong relationship. When Tovey was appointed to Edinburgh University’s Reid Chair of Music in 1914, Weisse followed him to Edinburgh. As Reid Professor, Tovey bestowed on Weisse an honorary degree of Doctor of Music in 1936. Weisse died in Guildford in 1945.
Weisse was a major benefactor of the University of Edinburgh. On Tovey’s death in 1941, she gifted 18 Buccleuch Place to the University as 'The Tovey Memorial Rooms', with the intention that it be used for student study. She also gifted the University portraits of Tovey and herself by Philip de Laszlo and endowed the Tovey Memorial Prize as an annual award for the most promising undergraduate composer or performer in the Faculty of Music. Her collection of around 600 books and scores relating to Beethoven was purchased by the University in 1948.
Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 20 June 1937
Letter, 20 June 1937, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. A covering letter for letters to and from Tovey's parents. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1914
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Covering note for some letters, and requesting that Tovey send any for Miss. Weisse. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 September 1915
Letter, [1 September 1915], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Edinburgh University senate meetings, the difficulty of arranging leave, thoughts on Tovey's position during the war and the status of the music faculty during war. Holograph.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 May 1922
Letter, [May 1922], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's wife's recovery, details of forthcoming engagements and discussion of the status of the music faculty within the University. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1922
Letter, [1922], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse . News that the University has agreed to Tovey's Sunday concerts and of the University musical society and the Reid Orchestra, criticism of an article by A. C. Benson, Necks illness. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 06 August 1923
Letter, 6 August 1923, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Explaining a mix up in Salzburg, where Tovey's place had been taken by another pianist. Holograph signed in pencil.
Letter to Unknown from Sophie Weisse, c1920
Letter, [n.d], Sophie Weisse to Unknown. Requesting that the recipient deal with Miss. Weisse's post and news of her attempt to attend to things in this ' terrible time'. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 08 August 1921
Postcard, 8 August 1921, Bad Nauheim, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Expressing Miss. Weisse's belief in Tovey's work in Edinburgh. Holograph signed, stamped, date from postmark.
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