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, 03 May 1923

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1913

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 May 1923, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Expressing sympathy and sorrow over the death of Tovey's sister in law, and news of Tovey's son. Holograph signed.

Dates: 03 May 1923

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 May 1923

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1914

Scope and Contents

Letter, 29 May 1923, Suffolk, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey of a problem with passports, advising Tovey on how to handle relationships, and concern over Tovey's son's operation. Holograph signed.

Dates: 29 May 1923

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, c 23 August 1920

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1916

Scope and Contents

Letter, 23 August [n.y], Bad Nauheim, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Details of expenses and of Miss. Weisse's treatment and health. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 23 August 1920

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, 16 June 1924

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1917

Scope and Contents

Letter, 22 September 1931, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Requesting that Tovey write to the Schlapps, and news of Miss. Weisse's time with Tovey's adopted son John. Holograph signed.

Dates: 16 June 1924

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, 05 November 1938

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1920

Scope and Contents

Letter, 5 November 1938, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Covering letter for ' a few precious things ', and a description of a book by Housman. Holograph signed.

Dates: 05 November 1938

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 June 1939

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1921

Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 June 1939, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. News of Lady de Vesci's death, and Miss. Weisse's memories of her. Holograph signed.

Dates: 20 June 1939

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/L1923

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Sending Tovey some writing material and describing Knaphill. Holograph signed.

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, c1914

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1924

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Describing paper that darkens lamps so no light escapes into the room, and the village Miss. Weisse is staying in. 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, 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

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, 03 May 1923

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 29 May 1923

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c 23 August 1920

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 16 June 1924

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 05 November 1938

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 20 June 1939

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1920

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1914

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1914

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1920

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