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 59 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1902
Letter, [1902], Berlin, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's time in Germany, comparison of English and German manners, outlining Joachim's criticism of his composition . Typescript copy, incomplete.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 January 1904
Letter, 12 January 1904, London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's time in Germany, his awe of Joachim and his forthcoming schedule. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 29 August 1906
Letter, 29 August 1906, Salzburg, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's trip to Salzburg and his hosts, the Queen of Hanover, and the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 31 August 1906
Letter, 31 August 1906, Salzburg, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's trip to Salzburg and his hosts, the Queen of Hanover, and the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 31 August 1906
Letter, 31 August 1906, Salzburg, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's trip to Salzburg and his hosts, the Queen of Hanover, and the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland. Typescript copy incomplete.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 April 1908
Letter, 14 April 1908, Paris, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's visit, the progress of his B minor trio, details of a music examination. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1912
Letter, [1912], [Spain], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. A favourable report of Tovey's time in Spain and a description of Casals family. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1912
Letter, [1912], [Spain], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's travels in Spain, description of a railway journey through the Pyrenees. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 05 April 1913
Letter, 5 April 1913, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Tovey's arrival in Bonn, and news of the Busch family. Holograph unfinished.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 April 1914
Letter, [April 1914], Aachen, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of a birth in the Busch family, arranging to meet Miss. Weisse in Paris, and a story of musical traditions in Aachen. Holograph signed.
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