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 21 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 11 October 1935
Letter, 11 October 1935, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. News of Miss. Weisses brothers death, requesting that Grierson get a ticket for the Reid concert series and a description of Tovey's parents last years. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 17 October 1937
Letter, 17 October 1937, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Requesting that Grierson place a garland of flowers and ribbons in Eton blue on Tovey's desk in the Music Classroom. Holograph signed.
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, c1935
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. Thanking Grierson for sending Miss. Weisse flowers on her birthday, and news of Miss. Weisse's birthday celebrations. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mary Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 18 June 1898
Letter, 18 June 1898, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Mary Tovey. News of Tovey, suggesting he would have got a better class of degree had he worked harder. Holograph signed.
Letter to Mrs. Jekyll from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Mrs. Jekyll. Accepting an invitation on 23rd July. Typescript copy.
Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 07 December 1916
Letter, 7 December 1916, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Robert Trevelyan. Arranging for Trevelyan to meet Mrs. Annie Brown who will have papers and the ms. Asking if Tovey plans to go to Holland soon. Holograph signed.
Letter to [Robert Calverley Trevelyan] from Sophie Weisse, c1935
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to [Robert Trevelyan]. Discussion of a grave of a composer and news that Lady Tovey has deposited Tovey ms. in a bank. Holograph incomplete.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 12 December 1893
Letter, 12 December 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Urging Tovey to write to Miss. Weisse and explain how he and 'Miss. Schumann' are. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 10 December 1893
Letter, 10 December 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Tovey on what to eat and drink, informing him of which train to catch in order to arrive in good time to sit an exam. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 14 July 1893
Letter, 14 July 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Urging Tovey to write and let Miss. Weisse know how he is. Typescript copy.
Additional filters:
- Subject
- Family 2
- Composition (Music) 1
- Concert Programs 1
- Condolence Notes 1
- Degrees, Academic 1