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:

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2708

Scope and Contents

Postcard, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey has written the last 8 pages of his new movement. Photocopy of holograph signed.

Dates: c1895

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

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2719

Scope and Contents

Postcard, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey has arrived safely, but left his macintosh on the train. Photocopy of holograph signed.

Dates: c1895

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

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2720

Scope and Contents

Postcard, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Asking how Miss. Weisse's journey was and news that Tovey is better after a cold. Photocopy of holograph signed.

Dates: c1895

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

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L366

Scope and Contents

Postcard, [1893], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. List of Tovey's performance wardrobe, and notification that he is going to play Chopin preludes. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1893

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

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 27 October 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L373

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 27 October 1893, Berkshire, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notification of his arrival at Wokingham. Holograph signed.

Dates: 27 October 1893

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

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 May 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L374

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 12 May 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. List of performance times of various pieces. Holograph signed.

Dates: 12 May 1895

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

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 21 March 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L383

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 21 March 1895, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. List of scores Tovey requires. Holograph signed.

Dates: 21 March 1895

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

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 24 February 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L387

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 24 February 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Arranging to meet at a concert. Holograph signed.

Dates: 24 February 1895

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

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 06 March 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L388

Scope and Contents

Postcard, [6 March 1895], Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Apologising for not writing and requesting a ' Field Nocturnes'. Holograph signed.

Dates: 06 March 1895

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

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 22 February 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L400

Scope and Contents

Postcard, [22 February 1895], Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss Weisse of the development of a composition. Holograph signed.

Dates: 22 February 1895

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:

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1893

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 27 October 1893

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 May 1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 21 March 1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 24 February 1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 06 March 1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 22 February 1895

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