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 and Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Walter Parratt, 10 February 1910

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1467

Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 February 1910, Windsor, Walter Parratt to Sophie Weisse and Donald Tovey. Expression of love and gratitude. Holograph signed.

Dates: 10 February 1910

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from A. J. Hipkins, 15 October 1902

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2228

Scope and Contents

Letter, 15 October 1902, London, A. J. Hipkins to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her letter concerning concert tickets, comments on the young Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 15 October 1902

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Alice M. Price, c 12 September 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2407

Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 September [n.y], Alice M. Price to Sophie Weisse. Looking forward to Tovey's piano recital, and informing Miss. Weisse of Prices visit to Englefield Green. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 12 September 1900

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Anna Walter Thomas, 23 March 1915

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2513

Scope and Contents

Letter, 23 March 1915, Merioneth, Anna Walter Thomas to Sophie Weisse. Inviting Miss. Weisse to Wales and informing Miss. Weisse of Tovey's charming visit and news of the family. Holograph signed.

Dates: 23 March 1915

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Anna Walter Thomas, c 30 December 1915

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2514

Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 December [n.y], Anna Walter Thomas to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her gift of lavender scent, and her care and support of Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 30 December 1915

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Antonia Speyer, 27 November 1906

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2471

Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 November 1906, Hertfordshire, Antonia Speyer to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her kindness and describing Tovey's playing as exquisite. Holograph signed.

Dates: 27 November 1906

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Antonia Speyer, 27 March 1908

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2472

Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 March 1908, Hertfordshire, Antonia Speyer to Sophie Weisse. Expressing gratitude for Miss. Weisse's kindness and Tovey's encouragement musically. Holograph signed.

Dates: 27 March 1908

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from C. Haydin Coffin, 16 December 1906

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2208

Scope and Contents

Letter, 16 December 1906, London, C. Haydin Coffin to Sophie Weisse. Accepting Miss. Weisse's kind offer of fifty pounds. Holograph signed.

Dates: 16 December 1906

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Cecilia Warre Cornish, 30 May 1883

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2089

Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 May 1883, Eton, Cecilia Warre Cornish to Sophie Weisse. Inviting Miss. Weisse and Tovey to stay. Holograph signed.

Dates: 30 May 1883

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from [Clara] Minnie Wallace, c 11 September 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2665

Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 September [n.y], Suffolk, [Clara] Minnie Wallace to Sophie Weisse. Enclosing a letter from John Tovey and requesting that he be allowed to stay in Suffolk until another young family leave. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 11 September 1900

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 and Sir Donald Francis Tovey from Sir Walter Parratt, 10 February 1910

Letter to Sophie Weisse from A. J. Hipkins, 15 October 1902

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Alice M. Price, c 12 September 1900

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Anna Walter Thomas, 23 March 1915

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Anna Walter Thomas, c 30 December 1915

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Antonia Speyer, 27 November 1906

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Antonia Speyer, 27 March 1908

Letter to Sophie Weisse from C. Haydin Coffin, 16 December 1906

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Cecilia Warre Cornish, 30 May 1883

Letter to Sophie Weisse from [Clara] Minnie Wallace, c 11 September 1900

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