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 18 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 25 April 1935
Letter, 25 April 1935, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Description of Miss. Weisse's bad health, giving Tovey some advice. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Emily Ritchie, c 31 August 1900
Letter, 31 August [n.y], London, Emily Ritchie to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of a friend's illness and impending death. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Fanny Behrens, 14 November 1940
Letter, 14 November 1940, Manchester, Fanny Behrens to Sophie Weisse. Alerting Miss. Weisse to an article about Tovey's 'absolute ear', news of Behrens recovery and of her sons. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from [ Robert V. Mendelssohn], 14 July 1907
Letter, 14 July 1907, [ Robert V. Mendelssohn] to Sophie Weisse. Description of 'the great mans' illness, inviting Tovey to visit Joachim. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Explaining to Miss Weisse that Tovey can not work at the moment, news that Bray is feeling run down as well. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 December 1893
Letter, [1 December 1893], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for various things, discussing Tovey's copies of music scores, and the fact that Tovey is suffering from a cold. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c25 December 1906
Letter, [25 December 1906], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's Christmas and his mothers illness. Typescript copy.
Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, c1900
Postcard, [n.d], Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Asking Tovey if anything is wrong, after Mr. Forbes has suggested Tovey is working too hard. Holograph signed.