Weisse, Sophie, 1852-1945 (Scottish music teacher)
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, c1920
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Transcript of a letter from ' The Royal Institution' requesting that Tovey deliver a series of lectures. Ms. Transcript, with added personal notes from Sophie Weisse.
Letter to Sophie Weise from Fanny Davies, c13 November 1900
Letter, 13 November [n.y], London, Fanny Davies to Sophie Weise. Thanking Miss. Weisse and Tovey for a ticket to a concert. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse and Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Walter Parratt, 10 February 1910
Letter, 10 February 1910, Windsor, Walter Parratt to Sophie Weisse and Donald Tovey. Expression of love and gratitude. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from A. D. Lumsden, 21 May 1941
Letter, 21 May 1941, Oxford, A. D. Lumsden to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a chalk drawing of Tovey to Balliol college, Oxford. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from A. J. Hipkins, 15 October 1902
Letter, 15 October 1902, London, A. J. Hipkins to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her letter concerning concert tickets, comments on the young Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Alfred James Hipkins, 16 March 1900
Letter, 16 March 1900, London, A. J. Hipkins to Sophie Weisse. Praising a work by Tovey and agreeing to promote and support Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Alice M. Price, c 12 September 1900
Letter, 12 September [n.y], Alice M. Price to Sophie Weisse. Looking forward to Tovey's piano recital, and informing Miss. Weisse of Prices visit to Englefield Green. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Anna Walter Thomas, 23 March 1915
Letter, 23 March 1915, Merioneth, Anna Walter Thomas to Sophie Weisse. Inviting Miss. Weisse to Wales and informing Miss. Weisse of Tovey's charming visit and news of the family. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Anna Walter Thomas, c 30 December 1915
Letter, 30 December [n.y], Anna Walter Thomas to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her gift of lavender scent, and her care and support of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Antonia Speyer, 27 November 1906
Letter, 27 November 1906, Hertfordshire, Antonia Speyer to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her kindness and describing Tovey's playing as exquisite. Holograph signed.
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