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 95 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 10 November 1895
Letter, 10 November 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Tovey describing concerts he has performed in and explaining his feelings of inadequacy compared to other Balliol scholars. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 20 October 1895
Letter, 22 October 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of a pianoforte quintet Tovey is composing. Holograph, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 12 February 1896
Letter, 12 February 1896, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Discussion of musical scoring, details of a concert. Holograph signed, incomplete.
letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895
letter, [1895], Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of life at Balliol college, Oxford. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 21 February 1896
Letter, 21 February 1896, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notice of Tovey's arrival date and forthcoming engagements. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1896
Letter, [1896], Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Advice on musical themes, discussion of meeting with Parry. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 21 January 1897
Letter, 21 January 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News from Oxford. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 03 February 1897
Letter, 3 February 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News from Oxford. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 February 1897
Letter, 9 February 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notes and news of Oxford. Typescript copy.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 24 February 1897
Letter, 24 February 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Anxiety over the pressures of Oxford life and doubting his skills of composition. Typescript copy.
Filtered By
- Subject: Oxford Oxfordshire England X
Additional filters:
- Subject
- Social Interaction 56
- Instruction and Study 28
- Surrey (England) 24
- Performances 13
- Concert Programs 12
- Composition (Music) 8
- Instrumentation and Orchestration 5
- Examinations 4
- Ill Health 4
- Music 4
- Scholarships 4
- Musical Criticism 3
- Professional Recognition 3
- Family 2
- Music Theory 2
- Performance practice (Music) 2
- Professional Interaction 2
- Societies and Clubs 2
- Academic Writing 1
- Choral Music 1
- Family History 1
- Finance, Personal 1
- Memorials 1
- Music History and criticism 1
- Portraits 1
- Study, Courses of 1
- Voyages and Travel 1 + ∧ less