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 Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 18 October 1893
Letter, 18 October 1893, Wokingham, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of a rehearsal of works by Beethoven and Brahms. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900
Letter, Hartree, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending Tovey a book by Danreuther on ornamentation, and a discussion of the work. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 April 1893
Letter, 14 April 1893, Moffat, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's writing and composing at Hartree. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 January 1893
Letter, 20 January 1893, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining Parry's comments on Tovey's composition. Photocopy of a typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 January 1893
Letter, 20 January 1893, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining Parry's comments on Tovey's composition. Photocopy of holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of Tovey's travelling plans, and a transcription of a ' Fantastic of three parts' by Orlando Gibbons. Photocopy of Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 January 1893
Letter, 9 January 1893, London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey has revised the first movement of his sonata, and details of Tovey's stay in Paisley. Photocopy of typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 January 1893
Letter, 9 January 1893, London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey has revised the first movement of his sonata, and details of Tovey's stay in Paisley. Photocopy of holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 03 January 1893
Letter, 3 January 1893, Paisley, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey's lesson with Parry is on Friday, news of Tovey's travel arrangements, and his hopes to finish the first movement of his composition. Photocopy of typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey now has all the scores he requires and outlining the scores. Photocopy of holograph signed.
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