Skip to main content

Weisse, Sophie, 1852-1945 (Scottish music teacher)

 Person

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 Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 15 December 1915

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L643
Scope and Contents

Letter, 15 December 1915, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's trip to Wales and problems he may encounter leaving the country. Holograph signed.

Dates: 15 December 1915
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 18 December 1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L644
Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 December 1920, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of music scores and Ms. Tovey has and news of correcting proofs of Bride of Dionysus. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: 18 December 1920
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 11 November 1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L645
Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 November 1920, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Question about the Schumann's wish to raise money and news of Tovey's orchestra. Holograph signed.

Dates: 11 November 1920
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 March 1916

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L646
Scope and Contents

Letter, [March 1916], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of a successful Reid concert, criticism of a music critic in 'The Scotsman', and news of life in Edinburgh. Holograph unfinished, on University of Edinburgh headed notepaper.

Dates: c01 March 1916
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 October 1920

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L648
Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 October 1920, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's wife and son and hopes for the future. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed notepaper.

Dates: 01 October 1920
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 25 September 1919

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L653
Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 September 1919, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a table, news of Tovey's composition, comment on interesting visit 'South', and news of Mrs. Tovey. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed notepaper.

Dates: 25 September 1919
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 19 October 1919

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L654
Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 October 1919, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Wishing Miss. Weisse a Happy Birthday, comments on the start of the University term, especially on a gifted violin player, suggestion that his work be called a music-drama rather than grand opera, and notes on the Ms. of the work. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed paper.

Dates: 19 October 1919
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1919

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L656
Scope and Contents

Letter, [1919], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of trying to contact Beecham to look at Tovey's composition. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed paper.

Dates: c1919
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1921

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L659
Scope and Contents

Letter, [January 1921], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's wife and son, hopes for the New Year. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1921
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 May 1922

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L665
Scope and Contents

Letter, [May 1922], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's wife's recovery, details of forthcoming engagements and discussion of the status of the music faculty within the University. Holograph signed.

Dates: c01 May 1922
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Filtered By

  • Subject: Edinburgh -- Scotland X

Additional filters:

Subject
Social Interaction 20
Performances 5
Ill Health 4
Opera | The Bride of Dionysus 4
Chamber Orchestra 3
∨ more
Composition (Music) 3
Universities and Colleges, Administration 3
Concert Programs 2
Condolence Notes 2
Family 2
Piano 2
Professional Recognition 2
Academic Writing 1
Administration 1
Book donations 1
Finance 1
Honorary Degrees 1
Instruction and Study 1
Manuscript Preparation (Authorship) 1
Music Theory 1
Musical Criticism 1
Performance practice (Music) 1
Societies and Clubs 1
Voyages and Travel 1
+ ∧ less
 

Privacy & Cookies | Takedown Policy | Licensing & Copyright | Accessibility | Centre for Research Collections | LHSA | Contact us at is-crc@ed.ac.uk

ArchivesSpace release-v3.4.x

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all material is copyright © 2018 University of Edinburgh.