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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 12 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 11 February 1917

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2627
Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 February 1917, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Robert Trevelyan. Informing Trevelyan that Miss. Weisse has found final sketches for the end of the opera, and that Thomas Beecham will be visiting Edinburgh in a month. Holograph signed.

Dates: 11 February 1917

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 18 October 1917

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2628
Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 October 1917, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Robert Trevelyan. Requesting that Trevelyan encourage and inspire Tovey to finish his opera. Holograph signed.

Dates: 18 October 1917

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 03 December 1916

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2631
Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 December 1916, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Robert Trevelyan. Enclosing the ms. score for the 'Bride of Dionysus', and inviting Trevelyan to visit. Holograph signed.

Dates: 03 December 1916

Letter to Sophie Weisse from John Alexander Fuller-Maitland, c1917

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2169
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1917], Edinburgh, J. A. Fuller - Maitland to Sophie Weisse. Praising Tovey's opera, and other material and performances he has produced, . Holograph signed.

Dates: c1917

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 20 October 1917

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2354
Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 October 1917, Robert Trevelyan to Sophie Weisse. Reassuring Miss. Weisse that Trevelyan has Tovey's best interests at heart and is keen for Tovey to finish the ' Bride of Dionysus'. Holograph in pencil.

Dates: 20 October 1917

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 18 December 1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L644
Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 December 1920, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of music scores and Ms. Tovey has and news of correcting proofs of Bride of Dionysus. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: 18 December 1920

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1919

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L650
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1919], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Hartree, Maud Macarthy's engagement, and the development of ' The Bride of Dionysus'. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1919

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 19 October 1919

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L654
Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 October 1919, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Wishing Miss. Weisse a Happy Birthday, comments on the start of the University term, especially on a gifted violin player, suggestion that his work be called a music-drama rather than grand opera, and notes on the Ms. of the work. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed paper.

Dates: 19 October 1919

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1919

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L656
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1919], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of trying to contact Beecham to look at Tovey's composition. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed paper.

Dates: c1919

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 27 April 1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L657
Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 April 1920, Kent, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Recommending a doctor to Miss. Weisse, news of the Busch family, development of opera score. Holograph signed.

Dates: 27 April 1920

Filtered By

  • Subject: Opera X
  • Subject: Opera | The Bride of Dionysus X

Additional filters:

Subject
Composition (Music) 4
Edinburgh -- Scotland 4
Englefield Green (England) 3
Chislehurst (England) 2
Social Interaction 2