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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 22 Collections and/or Records:

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

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 30 June 1935

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2593
Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 June 1935, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Informing Grierson that Miss. Weisse is going to Bad Nauheim and enclosing information on Miss. Weisses mother. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.

Dates: 30 June 1935

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 18 October 1938

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2610
Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 October 1938, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. News of Weisse's state of health, description of a lecture given by Tovey, news of Weisses travels in Germany. Holograph signed.

Dates: 18 October 1938

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, c1930

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2614
Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Description of time spent with John Tovey in Stuttgart. Holograph.

Dates: c1930

Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 06 July 1924

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2617
Scope and Contents

Letter, 6 July 1924, Bad Nauheim, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Enclosing fragments of a Tauchnitz and requesting Lord Murray's address and news of Miss. Weisse's visit to Germany. Holograph signed.

Dates: 06 July 1924

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1892

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1884
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1892], Cambridge, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey on how to get to Worplesdon, and to pack everything. Typescript copy, incomplete.

Dates: c1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1893

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1885
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1893], Wixenford, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Instructing Tovey on meeting Miss. Weisse and getting to Euston. Typescript copy.

Dates: c1893

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 10 December 1893

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1891
Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 December 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey to avoid water and milk, but to eat raisins, advising Tovey of travel plans. Typescript copy.

Dates: 10 December 1893

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Pablo Casals, 14 September 1911

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2068
Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 September 1911, Pablo Casals to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her concern over the cholera epidemic in Barcelona and Catalonia. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 September 1911

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 August 1893

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L358
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 August 1893, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of Tovey's visit to Lowestoft. Typescript copy.

Dates: 01 August 1893

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  • Subject: Travel X
  • Subject: Social Interaction X

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Subject
Voyages and Travel 16
Travel 6
Music 3
Performances 3
Surrey (England) 3