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 48 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr. Jekyll from Sophie Weisse, 26 Sepember 1917
Letter, 26 Sepember 1917, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Dr. Jekyll. Discussions concerning Tovey's library, an estimated cost of the library and a suggestion that the library be donated to Balliol college, Oxford. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 09 August 1925
Letter, 9 August 1925, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Requesting information about the parts to Tovey's symphony for a performance in Dresden. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, c1934
Letter, [1934], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Explaining Miss. Weisses concern for Tovey's health and work. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 28 June 1935
Letter, 28 June 1935, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Concerning Tovey's ill health and expressing the feeling that she is being kept from Tovey by his wife. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 02 July 1935
Letter, 2 July 1935, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Concerning Tovey's illness and his treatment and care and Miss. Weisse's feelings. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 08 July 1935
Letter, 8 July 1935, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Details of Miss. Weisse's journey to Bad Nauheim and enclosing a letter from Tovey's doctor. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 11 October 1935
Letter, 11 October 1935, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. News of Miss. Weisses brothers death, requesting that Grierson get a ticket for the Reid concert series and a description of Tovey's parents last years. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 02 January 1936
Letter, 2 January 1936, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. News of Tovey's treatment and convalescence at Bath, suggesting that Tovey should smoke so he can have social interaction with other men. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 08 October 1937
Letter, 8 October 1937, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Concerning a discussion over which instrument Tovey's son should learn and Miss. Weisse explaining that she is too ill too come to Edinburgh. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 17 October 1937
Letter, 17 October 1937, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Requesting that Grierson place a garland of flowers and ribbons in Eton blue on Tovey's desk in the Music Classroom. Holograph signed.
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