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 John Alexander Fuller Maitland, c 10 October 1920

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2171

Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 October [n.y], Ayrshire, J. A. Fuller Maitland to Sophie Weisse. Requesting material to compile an article on Tovey. Typescript copy.

Dates: c 10 October 1920

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from John Farmer, 08 May 1899

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2139

Scope and Contents

Letter, 8 May 1899, Oxford, John Farmer to Sophie Weisse. Praising Tovey's exceptional talent, comparing the young Tovey to Brahms. Holograph signed.

Dates: 08 May 1899

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

Letter to [Sophie Weisse] from Joseph Joachim, 16 April 1904

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2258

Scope and Contents

Letter, 16 April 1904, Berlin, Joseph Joachim to [Sophie Weisse]. Discussing concert dates and sending best wishes to Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 16 April 1904

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

Letter to [Sophie Weisse] from Joseph Joachim, 02 February 1905

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2261

Scope and Contents

Letter, 2 February 1905, Berlin, Joseph Joachim to [Sophie Weisse]. Discussing Joachim's plans to see Tovey and to perform Laucker's concerts with Tovey. Dictated signed.

Dates: 02 February 1905

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Joseph Joachim, c 08 February 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2263

Scope and Contents

Letter, 8 February [n.y], Cambridge, Joseph Joachim to Sophie Weisse. Commenting on a concert performance of Tovey's and planning a programme for a future concert. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 08 February 1900

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Karl Bluth, 12 February 1941

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2043

Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 February 1941, London, Karl Bluth to Sophie Weisse. Discussing bombings and invasions, discussing the final months of Tovey's life and his death. Typescript signed.

Dates: 12 February 1941

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Kate Friskin, 15 August 1940

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2165

Scope and Contents

Letter, 15 August 1940, New York, Kate Friskin to Sophie Weisse. Expressing sympathy over the death of Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 15 August 1940

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Leonard Borwick, c 03 May 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2044

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 May [n.y], London, Leonard Borwick to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for a gift and kind words. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 03 May 1900

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Louis Fleury, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2148

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Louis Fleury to Sophie Weisse. Discussing dates for concert performances at Northlands. 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 Louis Fleury, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2150

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], London, Louis Fleury to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Fleury is in London and would like to see Tovey and Miss. Weisse. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1900

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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