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 48 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1896
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Note explaining that Tovey has overslept. Holograph, in pencil.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 19 May 1898
Letter, 19 May 1898, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's revision for exams. Holograph signed, in pencil.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1897
Letter, [1897], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining the qualities of Tovey's friend Kelly, news of being with Joachim in Berlin. Holograph incomplete, in pencil.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, c1890
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Commenting on a performance of Schubert's C major symphony. Holograph signed.
Letter to Walrond from [Sophie Weisse], 15 February 1907
Letter, 15 February 1907, Surrey [Sophie Weisse] to Walrond. Urging Walrond to supply a better piano for Tovey to perform on. Typescript.
Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 05 June 1896
Postcard, 5 June 1896, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey that Mary has a low voice. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1900
Postcard, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey if anything is wrong, after Mr. Forbes has suggested Tovey is working too hard. Holograph signed.
Telegram to Sophie Weisse from J Douglas H Dickson, 25 July 1895
Telegram, 25 July 1895, Surrey. Douglas Dickson to Sophie Weisse. 'Donald here quite well'. Transcript.
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- Opera | The Bride of Dionysus 3
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- Libraries--Gifts, legacies 1
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- Musical instruments 1
- Piano 1
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- Singing--Instruction and study 1
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