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 366 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Harold H. Joachim, 25 November 1908
Letter, 25 November 1908, Oxford, Harold H. Joachim to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse and Tovey their kindness, and allowing Harold Joachim to hear wonderful music. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Helen Dick Cunningham, 26 June 1908
Letter, 26 June 1908, Windsor, Helen Dick Cunningham to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss Weisse that Princess Victoria and Princess Christian would be delighted to accept her invitation to tea. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Johannes Röntgen, 06 July 1933
Letter, 6 July 1933, Canton De Vaud, Johannes Rontgen to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Rontgen has been invited to work as co-conductor of an orchestra in Czechoslavakia and thanking Tovey for attending Rontgen's wedding and gift. Holograph signed.
Letter to [Sophie Weisse] from Joseph Joachim, 16 April 1904
Letter, 16 April 1904, Berlin, Joseph Joachim to [Sophie Weisse]. Discussing concert dates and sending best wishes to Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Leonard Borwick, c 03 May 1900
Letter, 3 May [n.y], London, Leonard Borwick to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for a gift and kind words. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Louis Fleury, c1900
Letter, [n.d], London, Louis Fleury to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Fleury is in London and would like to see Tovey and Miss. Weisse. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Margaret Warre Cornish, c1920
Letter, [n.d], Margaret Cornish to Sophie Weisse. Asking how Miss. Weisse is and news of the Warre Cornish family. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Beasley, c1940
Letter, [n.d], Northampton, Mary Beasley to Sophie Weisse. Discussion of a photograph of Tovey. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Beasley, 14 October 1940
Letter, 14 October 1940, Northampton, Mary Beasley to Sophie Weisse. Discussing a photograph of Tovey and suggesting that Beasley might visit Edinburgh. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Beasley, 29 July 1941
Letter, 29 July 1941, Northampton, Mary Beasley to Sophie Weisse. Discussing Miss. Weisse's memorial to Tovey at Edinburgh University, praising Miss. Weisse's sense of style, discussion of enclosed photographs of Tovey. Holograph signed.
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