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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 17 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 01 October 1935

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2597
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 October 1935, London, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Informing Grierson that Miss. Weisses brother is dying and asking for news of Tovey's whereabouts. Holograph signed.

Dates: 01 October 1935
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 11 October 1935

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2598
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 11 October 1935
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Hubert James Foss from Margaret Maitland, 27 November 1941

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2296
Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 November 1941, Oxford, Margaret Maitland to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss of Maitland's relationship to Tovey and reminiscences of Tovey and Maitland's youth. Holograph signed.

Dates: 27 November 1941
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from B. Warre Cornish, c1916

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2090
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1916], London, B. Warre Cornish to Donald Tovey. Affectionately telling Miss. Weisse of family news. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1916
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 09 February 1892

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2730
Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 February 1892, Moffat, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Commenting on a letter from Tovey's ill aunt Jane, and concerned with a parcel from Tovey's mother and a letter to Mrs. Coward. Typescript copy.

Dates: 09 February 1892
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 12 November 1921

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1904
Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 November 1921, Suffolk, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey of the antics of his young adopted son, John. Holograph signed.

Dates: 12 November 1921
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 20 November 1921

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1906
Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 November 1921, [Suffolk], Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Discussion of Emmanuel Moor and the Aolian company, news of Tovey's adopted son and Miss. Weisse's state of health. Holograph signed.

Dates: 20 November 1921
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Anna Walter Thomas, 23 March 1915

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2513
Scope and Contents

Letter, 23 March 1915, Merioneth, Anna Walter Thomas to Sophie Weisse. Inviting Miss. Weisse to Wales and informing Miss. Weisse of Tovey's charming visit and news of the family. Holograph signed.

Dates: 23 March 1915
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from [Clara] Minnie Wallace, c 11 September 1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2665
Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 September [n.y], Suffolk, [Clara] Minnie Wallace to Sophie Weisse. Enclosing a letter from John Tovey and requesting that he be allowed to stay in Suffolk until another young family leave. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 11 September 1900
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Minnie Wallace, c 03 August 1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2666
Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 August [n.y], Suffolk, Minnie Wallace to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her parcel and news of John and his young friends. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 03 August 1900
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

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Subject
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Bungay (England) 3
Ill Health 3
Oxford Oxfordshire England 3
Englefield Green (England) 2
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London (England) 2
Composition (Music) 1
Concert Programs 1
Condolence Notes 1
Edinburgh -- Scotland 1
Fairfield 1
Family History 1
Guildford (England) 1
Instruction and Study 1
Performances 1
Surrey (England) 1
Wales -- Merioneth 1
Worplesdon (England) 1
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