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 155 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sophie Weisse from [James Higgs], 30 September 1890
Letter, 30 September 1890, London, [James Higgs] to Sophie Weisse. Arranging a time to resume Tovey's lessons, and suggesting preparation for Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from James Higgs, 03 October 1890
Letter, 3 October 1890, London, James Higgs to Sophie Weisse. Praising Tovey's progress and suggesting that Tovey should not be pushed. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from James Higgs, 24 January 1891
Letter, 24 January 1891, London, James Higgs to Sophie Weisse. Discussing Tovey's progress and suggesting he has a lesson in counterpoint every other week. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from James Higgs, 07 April 1893
Letter, 7 April 1893, London, James Higgs to Sophie Weisse. Praise of the young Tovey's progress in counterpoint and exceptional musical talent. Holograph signed, with envelope written on by Miss. Weisse.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from John Farmer, 08 May 1899
Letter, 8 May 1899, Oxford, John Farmer to Sophie Weisse. Praising Tovey's exceptional talent, comparing the young Tovey to Brahms. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Oxford Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 October 1895
Letter, [1895], Oxford Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. List of works by Bach, Schumann and Brahms. Holograph.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 20 October 1917
Letter, 20 October 1917, Robert Trevelyan to Sophie Weisse. Reassuring Miss. Weisse that Trevelyan has Tovey's best interests at heart and is keen for Tovey to finish the ' Bride of Dionysus'. Holograph in pencil.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 01 April 1890
Letter, 1 April 1890, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Expressing and interest in hearing Tovey play. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 27 May 1890
Letter, 27 May 1890, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Arranging times of Tovey's lessons. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 05 June 1890
Letter, 5 June 1890, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of the times Parry is available to teach Tovey. Holograph signed.
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