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 59 Collections and/or Records:
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 10 October 1899
Postcard, 10 October 1899, Meiningen, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss Weisse for a bank note and describing the concerts Tovey has seen at Meiningen. Holograph signed, with black and white photographs of Eugene d' Albert, Hermine d'Albert - Fink, Dr. Felix Kraus, Adrienne Osborne, Ejnar Forchammer and Leonard Borwick.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 December 1900
Postcard, 17 December 1900, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of Tovey's voyage to Ostende from Dover. Holograph signed, with colour picture of the boat ' Prince Albert '.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 22 August 1908
Postcard, 22 August 1908, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Loch Swen and music to accompany Greek mythology. Typescript copy.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 27 September 1908
Postcard, 27 September 1908, Skye, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Comment on the weather in Skye, and music to accompany Theseus coming out of the sea. Typescript copy.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1911
Postcard, [1911], Vienna, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's travels, and of Busch and Mandyczewski, and a description of Bruckner's 9th Symphony. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1912
Postcard, [1912], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Praising a performance of the Beethoven Mass and news of his visit. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 19 January 1916
Postcard, 19 January 1916, Amsterdam, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of a successful concert in Amsterdam and details of Tovey's travels. Holograph signed.
Postcard to Sophie Weisse fromSir Donald Francis Tovey, 09 October 1899
Postcard, 9 October 1899, Meiningen, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of Tovey's companions and a note on Fritz Steinbach's conducting. Holograph signed, with black and white picture of Fritz Steinbach.
Telegram to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 26 July 1897
Telegram, 26 July 1897, London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of cost of a ticket to Luxembourg. Typescript copy.
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