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 95 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 November 1900
Letter, 20 November 1900, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's quintet rehearsals, lecture and comments on the Leeds festival. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 September 1901
Letter, [September 1901], Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for an invite to the Leeds festival. Holograph signed, with annotation in red ink by Miss. Weisse.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 April 1919
Letter, 14 April 1919, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's Aunt Anna and of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Franics Tovey, 02 March 1895
Letter, 2 March 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Anxiety over forthcoming examinations and discussion of John Stainer. Holograph signed, with envelope.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 May 1895
Postcard, 12 May 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Indicating the timing of several works and informing Miss. Weisse that Brahms has accepted honorary membership of the musical club. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 May 1895
Postcard, 12 May 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. List of performance times of various pieces. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 24 February 1895
Postcard, 24 February 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Arranging to meet at a concert. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 06 March 1895
Postcard, [6 March 1895], Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Apologising for not writing and requesting a ' Field Nocturnes'. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 22 February 1895
Postcard, [22 February 1895], Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss Weisse of the development of a composition. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 22 February 1895
Postcard, 22 February 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss Weisse for a box of apples. Holograph signed.
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- Performances 13
- Concert Programs 12
- Composition (Music) 8
- Instrumentation and Orchestration 5
- Examinations 4
- Ill Health 4
- Music 4
- Scholarships 4
- Musical Criticism 3
- Professional Recognition 3
- Family 2
- Music Theory 2
- Performance practice (Music) 2
- Professional Interaction 2
- Societies and Clubs 2
- Academic Writing 1
- Choral Music 1
- Family History 1
- Finance, Personal 1
- Memorials 1
- Music History and criticism 1
- Portraits 1
- Study, Courses of 1
- Voyages and Travel 1 + ∧ less