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 692 Collections and/or Records:

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

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

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

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 24 September 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1886

Scope and Contents

Letter, 24 September 1892, Moffat, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey on what to work at and expressing anxiety at Tovey' lack of piano practise. Typescript copy.

Dates: 24 September 1892

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 17 October 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1888

Scope and Contents

Letter, 17 October 1893, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Expressing Miss. Weisse's anxiety at not finding Donald on the train, and asking if he could stay on Friday night. Typescript copy.

Dates: 17 October 1893

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 18 October 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1889

Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 October 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Donald to play well in a group that are weak. Typescript copy.

Dates: 18 October 1893

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 29 October 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1890

Scope and Contents

Letter, 29 October 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Covering note for some cod-liver oil, and advising Donald to work daily. Typescript copy.

Dates: 29 October 1893

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

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

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 12 December 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1892

Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 December 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Asking how Tovey is, and wishing him well. Typescript copy.

Dates: 12 December 1893

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1894

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1893], Wixenford, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Travel arrangements for getting to Rugby. Typescript signed.

Dates: c1893

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 03 August 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1896

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 August 1897, Chester, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Description of Miss. Weisse's time in Chester. Holograph signed.

Dates: 03 August 1897

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

University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

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

Dates

Biography

Found in 692 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1893

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 24 September 1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 17 October 1893

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 18 October 1893

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 29 October 1893

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 12 December 1893

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1893

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 03 August 1897

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