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, 22 February 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L401

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 22 February 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss Weisse for a box of apples. Holograph signed.

Dates: 22 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, 21 February 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L402

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 21 February 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Requesting that Miss Weisse send a telegram authorising that Tovey concentrate solely on one area of work. Holograph signed, with two telegrams, with envelope.

Dates: 21 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, 11 February 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L405

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 11 February 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notes on Tovey's brother's visit to Balliol and Tovey's future engagements. Holograph signed.

Dates: 11 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, 23 July 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L414

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 23 July 1895, Lairg, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Asking Miss Weisse to send money and a Brahms score. Holograph signed.

Dates: 23 July 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, 30 September 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L417

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 30 September 1895, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Suggestion of how a work should be described in a concert programme and general news. Holograph signed.

Dates: 30 September 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, 08 October 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L418

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 8 October 1895, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Asking Miss Weisse to 'send off a trio'. Holograph signed.

Dates: 08 October 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, 13 October 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L419

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 13 October 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Apologising for not writing and explaining Tovey's worries, and pressures. Holograph signed.

Dates: 13 October 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, 14 October 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/l420

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 14 October 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of life at Oxford. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 October 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 October 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L422

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 22 October 1895, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Suggesting that Tovey and Fullinger perform together in concert. Holograph signed.

Dates: 22 October 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, 10 November 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L426

Scope and Contents

Postcard, 10 November 1895, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Assuring Miss. Weisse that Tovey has enough pairs of boots. Holograph signed.

Dates: 10 November 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, 22 February 1895

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

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 11 February 1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 23 July 1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 30 September 1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 08 October 1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 13 October 1895

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 October 1895

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

Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 10 November 1895

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