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 Sophie Weisse fromSir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 December 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L351

Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 December 1892, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notice of doctors visit. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 December 1892

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

Letter to T. J from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 01 February 1918

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2536

Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 February 1918, Surrey, Robert Trevelyan to T. J. Concerning Tovey's library and ms. and advising diplomacy with Miss. Weisse and news of Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 01 February 1918

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

Letter to Unknown from Sophie Weisse, c1920

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1922

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Sophie Weisse to Unknown. Requesting that the recipient deal with Miss. Weisse's post and news of her attempt to attend to things in this ' terrible time'. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1920

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

Letter to Unknown from Sophie Weisse, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1929

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Sophie Weisse to Unknown. Discussion of the Nettleship scholarship. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: c1900

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

Letter to Walrond from [Sophie Weisse], 15 February 1907

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2768

Scope and Contents

Letter, 15 February 1907, Surrey [Sophie Weisse] to Walrond. Urging Walrond to supply a better piano for Tovey to perform on. Typescript.

Dates: 15 February 1907

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

Note to Sophie Weisse from James Higgs, 01 June 1891

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2220

Scope and Contents

Note, 1 June 1891, James Higgs To Sophie Weisse. Requesting that Miss. Weisse tell Tovey that Higgs is expecting good work from him. Ms. Transcript, by Sophie Weisse, written on the back of a signed part of a letter from James Higgs.

Dates: 01 June 1891

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

Papers of Donald Francis Tovey, 1887-1951

Sub-Fonds

Identifier: Coll-411/1

Scope and Contents

Primarily the papers of Tovey himself but also reflecting the involvement of Sophie Weisse in his life and work and including correspondence of Mary Grierson about Tovey.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1887-1951

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection

Postcard to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 19 June 1926

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2583

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 19 June 1926, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Informing Grierson that Weisse feels wretched after making a mistake about train times. Holograph signed, on colour postcard of Eton College quadrangle.

Dates: 19 June 1926

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

Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 05 June 1896

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1895

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 5 June 1896, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey that Mary has a low voice. Holograph signed.

Dates: 05 June 1896

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

Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 26 August 1911

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1900

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 26 August 1911, Stuttgart, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Description of Miss.Weisse's accommodation and travels. Holograph signed, stamped, date from postmark.

Dates: 26 August 1911

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 Sophie Weisse fromSir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 December 1892

Letter to T. J from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 01 February 1918

Letter to Unknown from Sophie Weisse, c1920

Letter to Unknown from Sophie Weisse, c1900

Letter to Walrond from [Sophie Weisse], 15 February 1907

Note to Sophie Weisse from James Higgs, 01 June 1891

Papers of Donald Francis Tovey, 1887-1951

Postcard to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 19 June 1926

Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 05 June 1896

Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 26 August 1911

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