Weisse, Sophie, 1852-1945 (Scottish music teacher)

Person

Staff Only

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 Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 25 December 1898

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L524

Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 December 1898, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Wishing Miss. Weisse a Happy Christmas. Typescript copy.

Dates: 25 December 1898

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 28 October 1898

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L525

Scope and Contents

Letter, 28 October 1898, Biggar, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Wishing ' Sister Mary ' well, and asking about Miss. Weisse's plans to return top Cambridge. Typescript copy.

Dates: 28 October 1898

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1899

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L526

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1899], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Explaining why Tovey had not written to Miss. Weisse sooner and concern over the issue of an analytical programme for Bach concerts. Holograph signed in pencil.

Dates: c1899

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1899

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L533

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1899], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notes on a visit to the British library and a meeting with Joachim. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1899

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 05 January 1898

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L537

Scope and Contents

Letter, 5 January 1898, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Christmas wishes, praise of a concerto by Joachim and a discussion of the progress of Tovey's composition. Holograph signed.

Dates: 05 January 1898

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 04 February 1898

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L538

Scope and Contents

Letter, 4 February 1898, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Describing the experience of playing with Kruse, details of a performance and of Oxford life. Holograph signed.

Dates: 04 February 1898

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L543

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1900], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of engagements, asking Miss. Weisse for 'time off ' . Typescript copy of 544.

Dates: c1900

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L544

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1900], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of engagements and asking Miss. Weisse for 'time off '. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1900

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 December 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L557

Scope and Contents

Letter, 17 December 1900, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of an available room and of Germany. Typescript copy.

Dates: 17 December 1900

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1901

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L558

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1901], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's mother, a concerto and Tovey's consultation of Gevaerts, 'Cours Methodique'. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1901

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Filtered By

Subject: Social Interaction X

University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Weisse, Sophie, 1852-1945 (Scottish music teacher)

Dates

Biography

Found in 366 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 25 December 1898

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 28 October 1898

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1899

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1899

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 05 January 1898

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 04 February 1898

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 December 1900

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1901

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