Weisse, Sophie, 1852-1945 (Scottish music teacher)

Person

Staff Only

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 366 Collections and/or Records:

Letter ( post script) to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1922

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L670

Scope and Contents

Letter ( post script), [1922], Canstatt, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of a production of Salome and a Roger concert, and news of Swoboda. Holograph signed, post-script of L669.

Dates: c1922

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

Letter to ' Bessie' [Elizabeth Trevelyan] from Florence Emily Barger, 23 November 1925

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2024

Scope and Contents

Letter, 23 November 1925, Edinburgh, Florence Barger to ' Bessie' [Elizabeth Trevelyan]. Informing 'Bessie' of Tovey's engagement to Minnie Wallace, discussing the engagement and news of Tovey . Holograph signed.

Dates: 23 November 1925

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

Letter to Dr. Jekyll from Sophie Weisse, 03 August 1917

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2619

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 August 1917, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Dr. Jekyll. Inviting Dr.Jekyll to stay, news that Miss. Weisse has been cataloguing Tovey's library. Holograph signed.

Dates: 03 August 1917

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

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Janet Tessier du Cros, 16 March 1952

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2512

Scope and Contents

Letter, 16 March 1952, Paris, Janet Tessier du Cros to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, and her diplomatic style of writing and describing Tessier du Cros' musical training. Typescript signed, with stamped envelope, for Tessier du Cros see also Janet Grierson.

Dates: 16 March 1952

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

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Johannes Röntgen, 30 March 1922

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2435

Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 March 1922, Amsterdam, Johannes Rontgen to Mary Grierson. expressing delight at news of Miss. Weisse's travels, suggesting he meet up with the Rontgens' in Holland, describing memories of Edinburgh, asking Miss. Weisse about the Reid orchestra, suggesting Bartock is the best modern composer living, and best wishes. Holograph signed.

Dates: 30 March 1922

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

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Margaret, 21 March 1952

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2745

Scope and Contents

Letter, 21 March 1952, York, Margaret to Mary Grierson. Discussing Grierson's biography of Tovey and suggesting the next work should be a biography of Miss. Weisse. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.

Dates: 21 March 1952

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

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Patricia, 28 March 1952

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2746

Scope and Contents

Letter, 28 March 1952, Bristol, Patricia to Mary Grierson. Praising Grierson's biography of Tovey, and news of Patricia's family and her life in Bristol. Holograph signed.

Dates: 28 March 1952

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, 10 November 1933

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2286

Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 November 1933, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Praising an orchestral concert and Grierson's efforts in keeping the orchestra together and encouraging it and concern for Tovey. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.

Dates: 10 November 1933

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, 15 June 1932

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2584

Scope and Contents

Letter, 15 June 1932, London, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Asking Grierson how Tovey is and expressing concern about his health. Holograph signed.

Dates: 15 June 1932

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, 28 June 1932

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2585

Scope and Contents

Letter, 28 June 1932, Bad Nauheim, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Miss. Weisse expressing anxiety over Tovey's sanity and health, expressing distaste for the Wallace family. Holograph signed.

Dates: 28 June 1932

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

Filtered By

Subject: Social Interaction X

University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Weisse, Sophie, 1852-1945 (Scottish music teacher)

Dates

Biography

Found in 366 Collections and/or Records:

Letter ( post script) to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1922

Letter to ' Bessie' [Elizabeth Trevelyan] from Florence Emily Barger, 23 November 1925

Letter to Dr. Jekyll from Sophie Weisse, 03 August 1917

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Janet Tessier du Cros, 16 March 1952

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Johannes Röntgen, 30 March 1922

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Margaret, 21 March 1952

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Patricia, 28 March 1952

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 10 November 1933

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 15 June 1932

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 28 June 1932

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