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 11 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 06 July 1924
Letter, 6 July 1924, Bad Nauheim, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Enclosing fragments of a Tauchnitz and requesting Lord Murray's address and news of Miss. Weisse's visit to Germany. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 10 December 1906
Letter, 10 December 1906, Gloucester, Hubert Parry to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a letter, a full score and news about Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for the present of some scores and notes on the scores. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 December 1893
Letter, [1 December 1893], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for various things, discussing Tovey's copies of music scores, and the fact that Tovey is suffering from a cold. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of Tovey's travelling plans, and a transcription of a ' Fantastic of three parts' by Orlando Gibbons. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 November 1899
Letter, 14 November 1899, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Family news and list of musical works Tovey requires. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 10 July 1898
Letter, 10 July 1898, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for parcels and informing her of concert parts needed. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 01 July 1912
Letter, 1 July 1912, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Concerning a mistake over concert dates, news of Godley and asking Miss. Weisse what should be done with the Ms. of Ariadne. Typescript signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 06 March 1895
Postcard, [6 March 1895], Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Apologising for not writing and requesting a ' Field Nocturnes'. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 23 July 1895
Postcard, 23 July 1895, Lairg, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Asking Miss Weisse to send money and a Brahms score. Holograph signed.
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- Music 3
- Oxford Oxfordshire England 3
- Surrey (England) 3
- Guildford (England) 2
- Bad Nauheim (Germany) 1
- Concert Programs 1
- Ill Health 1
- London (England) 1
- Musical Criticism 1
- Voyages and Travel 1 + ∧ less