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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 [Edward Speyer] from Andreas Moser, 23 October 1924

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2324
Scope and Contents

Letter, 23 October 1924, Berlin, Andreas Moser to [Edward Speyer]. Commenting on a translation, and recommending Dr. Knill as an honest and true man. Holograph signed, L2317 - L2325 sewn together in a book.

Dates: 23 October 1924

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 17 March 1926

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2537
Scope and Contents

Letter, 17 March 1926, Surrey, Robert Trevelyan to Sophie Weisse. Recommending Miss. Busch as a translator. Holograph unfinished.

Dates: 17 March 1926

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 29 May 1890

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2350
Scope and Contents

Letter, 29 May 1890, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Arranging a time for Tovey's lesson and discussing a German translation. Holograph signed.

Dates: 29 May 1890

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

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  • Subject: Translations X

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London (England) 2
Berlin (Germany) 1
Dorking (England) 1
Employment References 1
Instruction and Study 1