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 Sophie Weisse from Fritz Veiel, 10 November 1926
Letter, 10 November 1926, Stuttgart, Fritz Veiel to Sophie Weisse. Offering to help Miss. Weisse move to Stuttgart. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from G. Casals, 24 September 1911
Letter, 24 September 1911, Paris, G. Casals to Sophie Weisse. Describing a meeting with Tovey and the size of the Casals house. Holograph signed, this may be from Guilhermina Suggia, who referred to herself as Madame Casals, even though they were never married.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Gaskell, c1890
Letter, [n.d], Manchester, Gaskell to Sophie Weisse. Praising Tovey's genius and concert performances. Holograph signed, with envelope, annotated by Miss. Weisse, ' Contains a delightful and considerable valuable letter from Mrs. or Miss. Gaskell about dear Donald '.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Gustav Theodore Holst, c 13 July 1920
Letter, 13 July [n.y], London, Gustav Holst to Sophie Weisse. Informing Grierson of his time of arrival. Holograph signed.
Letter to [Sophie Weisse] from H. A. Scott, 01 April 1901
Letter, 1 April 1901, London, H. A. Scott to [Sophie Weisse]. Thanking Miss. Weisse for Berlin press cuttings on Tovey, discussing the first performance of the Goldberg variations. Holograph signed.
Letter to [Sophie Weisse] from H. A. Scott, 23 June 1902
Letter, 23 June 1902, London, H. A. Scott to [Sophie Weisse] . Discussion of Strauss, and Tovey's valuable opinion. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from H. Walford Davies, c1900
Letter, [n.d], H. Walford Davies to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her invitation to a concert, but regretting that Walford Davies can not go. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Harold H. Joachim, 25 November 1908
Letter, 25 November 1908, Oxford, Harold H. Joachim to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse and Tovey their kindness, and allowing Harold Joachim to hear wonderful music. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Helen Dick Cunningham, 26 June 1908
Letter, 26 June 1908, Windsor, Helen Dick Cunningham to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss Weisse that Princess Victoria and Princess Christian would be delighted to accept her invitation to tea. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Henry V. Whitehouse, c1905
Letter, [n.d], Liverpool, Henry V. Whitehouse to Sophie Weisse. Concerning the Moor duplex piano, the Aeolian company, and Tovey's involvement in the marketing of the new instrument. Holograph incomplete.
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