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 Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 18 October 1917
Letter, 18 October 1917, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Robert Trevelyan. Requesting that Trevelyan encourage and inspire Tovey to finish his opera. Holograph signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 19 November 1916
Letter, 19 November 1916, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Robert Trevelyan. Asking that Trevelyan become a trustee of Miss. Weisse's will. Holograph signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 26 November 1916
Letter, 26 November 1916, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Robert Trevelyan. Requesting that Trevelyan inform Miss. Weisse whether he consulted with Tovey or not before deciding to act as trustee to Miss. Weisses will. Holograph signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 03 December 1916
Letter, 3 December 1916, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Robert Trevelyan. Enclosing the ms. score for the 'Bride of Dionysus', and inviting Trevelyan to visit. Holograph signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 07 December 1916
Letter, 7 December 1916, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Robert Trevelyan. Arranging for Trevelyan to meet Mrs. Annie Brown who will have papers and the ms. Asking if Tovey plans to go to Holland soon. Holograph signed.
Letter to [Robert Calverley Trevelyan] from Sophie Weisse, 14 December 1916
Letter, 14 December 1916, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to [Robert Trevelyan]. Describing a performance of ' The Frogs'. Holograph signed, letter written to ' you rascally poet'.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 22 November 1932
Letter, 22 November 1932, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Robert Trevelyan. Discussion of poetry as an art. Holograph signed.
Letter to [Robert Calverley Trevelyan] from Sophie Weisse, c1935
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to [Robert Trevelyan]. Discussion of a grave of a composer and news that Lady Tovey has deposited Tovey ms. in a bank. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Sir Denys de Saumarez Bray from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 1895
Letter, [1895], Sir Donald Francis Tovey to Sir Denys Bray. Description of a visit to Winchester and information on a forthcoming trip to Arran. Ms. transcript by Hubert Foss, incomplete.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from B. Warre Cornish, c1916
Letter, [1916], London, B. Warre Cornish to Donald Tovey. Affectionately telling Miss. Weisse of family news. Holograph signed.
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