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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 10 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2694
Scope and Contents

Letter, Hartree, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending Tovey a book by Danreuther on ornamentation, and a discussion of the work. Photocopy of Holograph signed.

Dates: c1900

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 November 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L516
Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 November 1898, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Criticism of musical magazines and extracts. Holograph signed.

Dates: 09 November 1898

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 November 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L517
Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 November 1898, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Criticism of musical magazines and extracts. Typescript copy incomplete.

Dates: 09 November 1898

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 15 July 1902

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L577
Scope and Contents

Letter, 15 July 1902, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. List of works Tovey has sent to Mr. Shipley and Mr. Such. Typescript copy.

Dates: 15 July 1902

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1922

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L664
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1922], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Covering letter for a book by Arnold which Tovey believes to be his best. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1922

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 11 November 1910

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2482
Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 November 1910, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Concerning the translation, printing and imprint of singing books. Typescript signed.

Dates: 11 November 1910

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 30 January 1911

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2483
Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 January 1911, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey has the parts of his concerto, and discussing publication. Typescript signed.

Dates: 30 January 1911

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 25 October 1911

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2485
Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 October 1911, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of the cheapest estimate for engraving and printing Tovey's Sonata and quintette, and discussing their publication to coincide with performance. Typescript signed.

Dates: 25 October 1911

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 30 January 1912

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2491
Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 January 1912, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Advising Miss. Weisse to inform Tovey that she is paying for his works to be published, discussing copyright fee and explaining that the Tovey's works were published because of their artistic merit rather than a business point of view. Typescript signed.

Dates: 30 January 1912

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 12 November 1912

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2499
Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 November 1912, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey has delivered proofs of his works for printing and advising on the difference of opinion and difficult situation between Tovey and another party. Typescript signed.

Dates: 12 November 1912

Filtered By

  • Subject: Music Publishing X

Additional filters:

Subject
London (England) 5
Hartree 3
Academic Writing 2
Musical Criticism 2
Surrey (England) 2