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 Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby, 10 May 1901
Letter, 10 May 1901, Ascot, Mary Ponsonby to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse how thoroughly Ponsonby enjoyed Tovey's concert of the Bach variations and asking Miss. Weisse a question about a sewage pipe. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Tovey, 05 December 1900
Letter, 5 December 1900, Surrey, Mary Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Concerning a letter from Fuller Maitland praising Tovey's talents. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary V, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Longniddry, Mary V to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a copy of Nettleship's works, and enclosing poems for Miss. Weisse to read, news from Scotland. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Minnie Wallace, c 03 August 1900
Letter, 3 August [n.y], Suffolk, Minnie Wallace to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her parcel and news of John and his young friends. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mr and Mrs. Randall Davidson, c 03 May 1900
Letter, 3 May [n.y], London, Mr and Mrs. Randall Davidson to Sophie Weisse. Invitation to Miss. Weisse. Typescript, Mr. Randall Davidson , also The Archbishop of Canterbury.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Pablo Casals, 14 September 1911
Letter, 14 September 1911, Pablo Casals to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her concern over the cholera epidemic in Barcelona and Catalonia. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Pablo Casals, 16 September 1912
Letter, 16 September 1912, Pablo Casals to Sophie Weisse. Suggesting a holiday for Tovey with Casals, where he can walk and swim and work, and looking forward to a concert at Northlands on October 3. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Rev Duncan Crooks Tovey, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Guildford, Duncan Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a gift, and news of a burglary. Holograph signed.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Robert Bridges, c 16 May 1920
Letter, 16 May [n.y], Berkshire, Robert Bridges to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for a letter from Joachim, and for Miss. Weisse's hospitality. Holograph signed, with signed poem, [1]p. 15 x 10cm, with stamped envelope.
Letter to Sophie Weisse from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, c1900
Letter, [n.d], Robert Trevelyan to Sophie Weisse. Assuring Miss. Weisse that nothing has been said to Tovey. Holograph signed, in pencil.
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