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 11 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Dr Mary Gardner Grierson from Sophie Weisse, 08 September 1934
Letter, 8 September 1934, Sophie Weisse to Mary Grierson. News of bereavements, praising Grierson and analysing Tovey, concern over Eugenie Schumann. Holograph signed.
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 Hubert James Foss from Sophie Weisse, c1942
Letter, [n.d], Sophie Weisse to Hubert Foss. Sending Foss a picture of Tovey, and describing Tovey's death as a tragedy. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Sophie Weisse, c1941
Letter, [n.d], Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Hubert Foss. Enclosing photographs of the Tovey Memorial rooms, expressing Weisse's grief. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 03 May 1923
Letter, 3 May 1923, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Expressing sympathy and sorrow over the death of Tovey's sister in law, and news of Tovey's son. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 20 June 1939
Letter, 20 June 1939, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. News of Lady de Vesci's death, and Miss. Weisse's memories of her. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Kate Friskin, 15 August 1940
Letter, 15 August 1940, New York, Kate Friskin to Sophie Weisse. Expressing sympathy over the death of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from May Scott, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Chatham, May Scott to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for informing Scott of the death of Joachim, and expressing sympathy for Donald. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Robert V. Mendelssohn, 20 September 1907
Letter, 20 September 1907, Robert V. Mendelssohn to Sophie Weisse. Discussing the loss felt by Tovey at the death of Joachim. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from S. Hillckson, 12 July 1940
Letter, 12 July 1940, London, S. Hillckson to Sophie Weisse. Offering sympathy over Tovey's death. Holograph signed.
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