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

Person

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 692 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Hilaire Belloc, 08 July 1911

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2042

Scope and Contents

Letter, 8 July 1911, Sussex, Hilaire Belloc to Sophie Weisse. Suggesting that Tovey put music to Belloc's children's verses. Typescript signed.

Dates: 08 July 1911

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from James Higgs, 16 November 1889

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2215

Scope and Contents

Letter, 16 November 1889, London, James Higgs to Sophie Weisse. Commenting on a pupils, [Tovey's] progress. Holograph signed.

Dates: 16 November 1889

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from [James Higgs], 30 September 1890

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2217

Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 September 1890, London, [James Higgs] to Sophie Weisse. Arranging a time to resume Tovey's lessons, and suggesting preparation for Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 30 September 1890

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from James Higgs, 03 October 1890

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2218

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 October 1890, London, James Higgs to Sophie Weisse. Praising Tovey's progress and suggesting that Tovey should not be pushed. Holograph signed.

Dates: 03 October 1890

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from James Higgs, 24 January 1891

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2219

Scope and Contents

Letter, 24 January 1891, London, James Higgs to Sophie Weisse. Discussing Tovey's progress and suggesting he has a lesson in counterpoint every other week. Holograph signed.

Dates: 24 January 1891

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from James Higgs, 07 April 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2221

Scope and Contents

Letter, 7 April 1893, London, James Higgs to Sophie Weisse. Praise of the young Tovey's progress in counterpoint and exceptional musical talent. Holograph signed, with envelope written on by Miss. Weisse.

Dates: 07 April 1893

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Johannes Röntgen, 06 July 1933

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2434

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 06 July 1933

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from John Alexander Fuller - Maitland, c 15 May 1908

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2168

Scope and Contents

Letter, 15 May [1908], London, J. A. Fuller-Maitland to Sophie Weisse. Discussion of tickets for concerts. Ms. Transcript, in Hubert Foss' s hand.

Dates: c 15 May 1908

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from John Alexander Fuller-Maitland, c1917

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2169

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1917], Edinburgh, J. A. Fuller - Maitland to Sophie Weisse. Praising Tovey's opera, and other material and performances he has produced, . Holograph signed.

Dates: c1917

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from John Alexander Fuller-Maitland, c1920

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2170

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], London, J. A. Fuller Maitland to Sophie Weisse. Returning a list and concert programmes, borrowed from Miss. Weisse. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1920

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

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

Dates

Biography

Found in 692 Collections and/or Records:

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