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 38 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Sophie Weisse, 01 October 1941
Letter, 8 September 1941, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Hubert Foss. Correcting a point in Foss's article on Tovey, concerning Bosendorfer piano's. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert James Foss from Sophie Weisse, c 01 August 1941
Letter, August [n.y], Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Hubert Foss. Informing Foss that Tovey was a remarkable astronomer, and suggesting he died because of loss of feeling in his fingertips. Holograph signed.
Letter to Hubert JJames Foss from Sophie Weisse, 01 September 1941
Letter, 1 September 1941, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Hubert Foss. Commenting that Tovey did buy himself a big Bosendorfer piano before he died, and commenting on the tragedy of his life. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 13 April 1923
Letter, 13 April 1923, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Expressing sympathy and offering help, news of Miss. Weisse's health and her mourning in the absence of the dear boy. Holograph signed.
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 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 Sophie Weisse from John Alexander Fuller-Maitland, c1917
Letter, [1917], Edinburgh, J. A. Fuller - Maitland to Sophie Weisse. Praising Tovey's opera, and other material and performances he has produced, . Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Jane Gillies Whittaker, 12 November 1936
Letter, 12 November 1936, Edinburgh, Mary Whittaker to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that she is to receive an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1914
Letter, [1914], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Report from Edinburgh assuring Miss. Weisse all is well. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed notepaper.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 September 1915
Letter, [1 September 1915], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Edinburgh University senate meetings, the difficulty of arranging leave, thoughts on Tovey's position during the war and the status of the music faculty during war. Holograph.
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