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 50 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 08 October 1937
Letter, 8 October 1937, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Concerning a discussion over which instrument Tovey's son should learn and Miss. Weisse explaining that she is too ill too come to Edinburgh. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 18 October 1938
Letter, 18 October 1938, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. News of Weisse's state of health, description of a lecture given by Tovey, news of Weisses travels in Germany. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 01 December 1938
Letter, 1 December 1938, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Arranging to meet, discussion of Tovey's heart condition. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 28 August 1939
Letter, 28 August 1939, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Expressing anxiety over the threat of a European war and over Tovey's health. Holograph signed.
Letter to [ Dr Mary Gardner Grierson ] from Sophie Weisse, c1935
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to [ Mary Grierson ]. Discussion of what Tovey should be given when he is ill, Bovril or chicken jelly. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, c1935
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. News of Tovey's illness and anxiety over Lady Tovey's charge of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Sophie Weisse, c1940
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss that Miss. Weisse will attempt to work on his dissertation, but explaining that Miss. Weisse is quite helpless now. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Sophie Weisse, c1941
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss that Weisse is disabled due to a scalded foot, and inviting Foss for lunch. Holograph signed.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Hubert James Foss, 12 January 1944
Letter, 12 January 1944, London, Hubert Foss to Robert Trevelyan. Informing Trevelyan that Foss has received a proof for an article in 'Music and letters', and news of Miss. Weisse and her state of health. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 21 January 1892
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.
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