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 50 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c 25 April 1920
Letter, [25 April 1920], Kent, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notes on the progress of the opera, comments on Tovey's wife's condition, and details of copying a vocal score. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 May 1922
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.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1922
Letter, [1922], Canstatt, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of Tovey's receipt of a letter from Lady Berry and a discussion of Tovey's illness. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 September 1922
Letter, [September 1922], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Criticism of Dickens and news of Tovey's illness. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c01 August 1923
Letter, August 1923, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of the treatment for Tovey's skin condition and the price of treatment, news of Swoboda, . Holograph signed in pencil, incomplete.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Therese Dabis, 12 December 1900
Letter, 12 December 1900, Bonn, Therese Dabis to Sophie Weisse. Discussing the convalescence of a child. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Unknown, 01 August 1939
Letter, August 1939, London, Unknown to Sophie Weisse. Describing the authors illness and medicine prescribed by Dr. Dickson. Holograph, written on the back of a poem in German.
Postcard to Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sophie Weisse, 28 February 1923
Postcard, 28 February 1923, Edinburgh, Sophie Weisse to Donald Tovey. Informing Tovey that Miss. Weisse is not well enough to go to a rectorial address, but will attend a luncheon . Holograph signed.
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.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 16 August 1905
Postcard, 16 August 1905, Marlow, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of how Tovey is feeling. Holograph signed.
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