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 Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Kate Friskin, 18 May 1924

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2166

Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 May 1924, Massachusetts, Kate Friskin to Donald Tovey. News of Friskin's address in New York, thanking Miss. Weisse for her letter and talk of Tovey. Holograph signed, with Kate Friskin's address card, 6 x 9cm.

Dates: 18 May 1924

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1891

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1875

Scope and Contents

Letter, 1891, Windsor, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Hoping to meet Tovey and outlining his forthcoming plans. Typescript copy.

Dates: c1891

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 21 January 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1876

Scope and Contents

Letter, 21 January 1892, Windsor, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey to work on the 'Airs', wishing Tovey well and advice on preserving his health. Typescript copy.

Dates: 21 January 1892

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 08 February 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1877

Scope and Contents

Letter, 8 February 1892, Moffat, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Expressing Weisse's anxiety to have Tovey back. Typescript copy.

Dates: 08 February 1892

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 10 February 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1878

Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 February 1892, Moffat, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Thanking Tovey for correspondence, and news of Aunt Jean. Typescript copy.

Dates: 10 February 1892

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 11 February 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1879

Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 February 1892, Moffat, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey on cleanliness and hygiene for the sake of his health. Typescript copy.

Dates: 11 February 1892

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 19 February 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1880

Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 February 1892, Moffat, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Asking that Tovey write and let Miss. Weisse know how he is, and advising him to stay away for a little longer. Typescript copy.

Dates: 19 February 1892

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 20 February 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1881

Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 February 1892, Moffat, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Encouraging Tovey to become a widely read scholar, news of Louisa's illness. Typescript copy.

Dates: 20 February 1892

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 20 February 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1882

Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 February 1892, Moffat, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. News of Louisa's health, informing Tovey that Hubert Parry would like to see some of his work. Typescript copy.

Dates: 20 February 1892

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

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 18 July 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1883

Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 July 1892, Moffat, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Outlining plans for Tovey to go to Cambridge University. Typescript copy.

Dates: 18 July 1892

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 Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Kate Friskin, 18 May 1924

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1891

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 21 January 1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 08 February 1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 10 February 1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 11 February 1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 19 February 1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 20 February 1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 20 February 1892

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 18 July 1892

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