Weisse, Sophie, 1852-1945 (Scottish music teacher)
Person
Dates
- Existence: 1852-1945
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 28 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Edward Caird, c1900
Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2061
Scope and Contents
Letter, [n.d], Oxford, Edward Caird to Sophie Weisse. Describing Tovey's academic progress, and explaining Tovey's poor performance in examinations. Holograph signed.
Dates:
c1900
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Ernest Walker, 26 December 1908
Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2560
Scope and Contents
Letter, 26 December 1908, Oxford, Ernest Walker to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for a picture of herself and Tovey, suggesting that it is a privilege to teach Tovey. Holograph signed.
Dates:
26 December 1908
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Oxford Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L433
Scope and Contents
Letter, [1895], Oxford Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of Tovey's progress in his studies at Balliol. Holograph signed.
Dates:
c1895
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 21 October 1894
Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1680
Scope and Contents
Letter, 21 October 1894, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of a tutorial with Farmer and a request that Tovey continue lessons with Parry. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Dates:
21 October 1894
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 21 October 1894
Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L372
Scope and Contents
Letter, 21 October 1894, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Describing a music lesson with Mr. Farmer and a discussion of his loyalty to Dr. Parry. Holograph signed.
Dates:
21 October 1894
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 December 1894
Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L375
Scope and Contents
Letter, 1 December 1894, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Discussion of Tovey's progress in classical scholarship, and his anxiety over balancing music scholarship and classical scholarship. Holograph signed.
Dates:
01 December 1894
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L377
Scope and Contents
Letter, [n.d], Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Expressing Tovey's anxiety over his tiredness and inability to study. Holograph signed.
Dates:
c1895
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 May 1895
Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L381
Scope and Contents
Letter, 9 May 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's busy schedule and University music exams. Holograph signed, with envelope.
Dates:
09 May 1895
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 10 November 1895
Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L424
Scope and Contents
Letter, 10 November 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Tovey describing concerts he has performed in and explaining his feelings of inadequacy compared to other Balliol scholars. Holograph signed.
Dates:
10 November 1895
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 19 February 1898
Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L485
Scope and Contents
Letter, 19 February 1898, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notes on Tovey's academic progress, and details of a forthcoming concert. Holograph incomplete.
Dates:
19 February 1898