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Weisse, Sophie, 1852-1945 (Scottish music teacher)

 Person

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 3 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Janet Tessier du Cros, 16 March 1952

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2512
Scope and Contents

Letter, 16 March 1952, Paris, Janet Tessier du Cros to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, and her diplomatic style of writing and describing Tessier du Cros' musical training. Typescript signed, with stamped envelope, for Tessier du Cros see also Janet Grierson.

Dates: 16 March 1952

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Margaret, 21 March 1952

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2745
Scope and Contents

Letter, 21 March 1952, York, Margaret to Mary Grierson. Discussing Grierson's biography of Tovey and suggesting the next work should be a biography of Miss. Weisse. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.

Dates: 21 March 1952

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Patricia, 28 March 1952

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2746
Scope and Contents

Letter, 28 March 1952, Bristol, Patricia to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, and news of Patricia's family and her life in Bristol. Holograph signed.

Dates: 28 March 1952

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Bristol (England) 1
England -- North Yorkshire -- Stonegrave 1
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