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, c1914

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1926

Scope and Contents

Letter, 24 February [n.y], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Discussion of Clegg's first concert and the advertisements for it. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1914

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, c1920

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1928

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Describing a performance of the first act of Cosi fan tutte. Holograph signed in pencil, on envelope containing a black and white portrait of Sophie Weisse.

Dates: c1920

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/L2733

Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 December 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey on what to eat and drink, informing him of which train to catch in order to arrive in good time to sit an exam. 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, 14 July 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2734

Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 July 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Urging Tovey to write and let Miss. Weisse know how he is. Typescript copy.

Dates: 14 July 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/L2735

Scope and Contents

Letter, 29 October 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Enclosing cod-liver-oil and advising Tovey to study for his forthcoming examination. 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, 20 February 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2728

Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 February 1892, Biggar, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey to visit by Tuesday, news that Parry is waiting to receive work from Tovey. Typescript copy, incomplete.

Dates: 20 February 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, 19 February 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2729

Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 February 1892, Biggar, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey to stay where he is as a member of Miss. Weisse's household has influenza. Typescript copy.

Dates: 19 February 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, 09 February 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2730

Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 February 1892, Moffat, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Commenting on a letter from Tovey's ill aunt Jane, and concerned with a parcel from Tovey's mother and a letter to Mrs. Coward. Typescript copy.

Dates: 09 February 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, 03 April 1891

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2731

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 April 1891, Moffat, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Inviting Tovey to stay with Miss. Weisse. Typescript copy.

Dates: 03 April 1891

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/L2732

Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 December 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Urging Tovey to write to Miss. Weisse and explain how he and 'Miss. Schumann' are. Typescript copy.

Dates: 12 December 1893

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, c1914

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1920

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 14 July 1893

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 20 February 1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 19 February 1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 09 February 1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 03 April 1891

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

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