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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 4 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 October 1897

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L473
Scope and Contents

Letter, 17 October 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of the start of term at Balliol, and plan to donate a copy of 'The Handel society's ed. of "The ways of Zion do mourn" to the Oxford musical club. Holograph signed, with a duplicate typescript copy, [2]p. 25 x 20cm.

Dates: 17 October 1897

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 November 1897

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L480
Scope and Contents

Letter, 17 November 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Arranging a suitable time for Miss. Weisse to visit Balliol, details of the Oxford musical club. Holograph signed, with duplicate typescript copy, [3]p. 26 x 20cm .

Dates: 17 November 1897

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 07 October 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L508
Scope and Contents

Letter, 7 October 1898, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Asking if Miss. Weisse knows of anything to prevent Tovey playing at the Oxford University Music club, and describing his practise. Holograph signed.

Dates: 07 October 1898

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 07 October 1898

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L509
Scope and Contents

Letter, 7 October 1898, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Asking if Miss. Weisse knows of anything to prevent Tovey playing at the Oxford University Music club, and describing his practise. Typescript copy of L508.

Dates: 07 October 1898

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  • Subject: Societies and Clubs X
  • Subject: Social Interaction X

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Biggar (Scotland) 2
Oxford Oxfordshire England 2
Performances 2
Instruction and Study 1