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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 48 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 07 December 1916

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2632
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 07 December 1916

Letter to [Robert Calverley Trevelyan] from Sophie Weisse, 14 December 1916

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2633
Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 December 1916, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to [Robert Trevelyan]. Describing a performance of ' The Frogs'. Holograph signed, letter written to ' you rascally poet'.

Dates: 14 December 1916

Letter to Robert Calverley Trevelyan from Sophie Weisse, 22 November 1932

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2634
Scope and Contents

Letter, 22 November 1932, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Robert Trevelyan. Discussion of poetry as an art. Holograph signed.

Dates: 22 November 1932

Letter to [Robert Calverley Trevelyan] from Sophie Weisse, c1935

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2635
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1935

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 12 December 1893

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2732
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 12 December 1893

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 10 December 1893

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2733
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 10 December 1893

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 14 July 1893

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2734
Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 July 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Urging Tovey to write and let Miss. Weisse know how he is. Typescript copy.

Dates: 14 July 1893

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 29 October 1893

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2735
Scope and Contents

Letter, 29 October 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Enclosing cod-liver-oil and advising Tovey to study for his forthcoming examination. Typescript copy.

Dates: 29 October 1893

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 18 October 1893

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1889
Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 October 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Advising Donald to play well in a group that are weak. Typescript copy.

Dates: 18 October 1893

Letter to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 29 October 1893

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1890
Scope and Contents

Letter, 29 October 1893, Surrey, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Covering note for some cod-liver oil, and advising Donald to work daily. Typescript copy.

Dates: 29 October 1893

Filtered By

  • Subject: Englefield Green (England) X

Additional filters:

Subject
Social Interaction 21
Ill Health 8
Performance practice (Music) 4
Opera | The Bride of Dionysus 3
Performances 3