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 22 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 04 July 1897
Letter, 4 July 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Discussing essays in Roman history, a forthcoming concert, informing of an invitation to Bayreuth by Maurice Baring. Holograph signed, With duplicate typescript copy, 26 x 21cm.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 November 1898
Letter, 20 November 1898, Cambridge, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey will go to the Brahms concert, explaining his circumstances and requesting that Miss. Weisse send Tovey his compositions. Holograph signed, with annotation in red ink by Sophie Weisse.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 November 1898
Letter, [20 November 1898], Cambridge, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey will go to the Brahms concert, explaining his circumstances and requesting that Miss. Weisse send Tovey his compositions. Typescript copy of 520.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [1900], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of engagements, asking Miss. Weisse for 'time off ' . Typescript copy of 544.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [1900], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of engagements and asking Miss. Weisse for 'time off '. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 25 January 1902
Letter, 25 January 1902, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of a concert and Tovey's anger with Bechstein for giving him a poor piano. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1910
Letter, [1910], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining a dispute with Speyer over the Chelsea concerts and the Classical concert society. Holograph signed in pencil.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 29 November 1929
Letter, 29 November 1929, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Enclosing a letter from Denman and concert programmes and arranging a meeting with Tovey and Denman. Typescript signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 01 July 1912
Letter, 1 July 1912, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Concerning a mistake over concert dates, news of Godley and asking Miss. Weisse what should be done with the Ms. of Ariadne. Typescript signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1893
Postcard, [1893], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. List of Tovey's performance wardrobe, and notification that he is going to play Chopin preludes. Holograph signed.