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 Mary Jane Gillies Whittaker, 12 November 1936

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2641

Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 November 1936, Edinburgh, Mary Whittaker to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that she is to receive an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh. Holograph signed.

Dates: 12 November 1936

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary Tovey, 05 December 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2527

Scope and Contents

Letter, 5 December 1900, Surrey, Mary Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Concerning a letter from Fuller Maitland praising Tovey's talents. Holograph signed.

Dates: 05 December 1900

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mary V, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2548

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Longniddry, Mary V to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a copy of Nettleship's works, and enclosing poems for Miss. Weisse to read, news from Scotland. 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 Maud MacCarthy, c 13 March 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2281

Scope and Contents

Letter, 13 March [n.y], London, Maud MacCarthy to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that MacCarthy will come to Northlands to work with Tovey. Holograph signed, see also, Mrs. Maud Foulds.

Dates: c 13 March 1900

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from May Scott, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2447

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Chatham, May Scott to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for informing Scott of the death of Joachim, and expressing sympathy for Donald. 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 Minnie Wallace, c 03 August 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2666

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 August [n.y], Suffolk, Minnie Wallace to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her parcel and news of John and his young friends. Holograph signed.

Dates: c 03 August 1900

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Mr and Mrs. Randall Davidson, c 03 May 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2664

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 May [n.y], London, Mr and Mrs. Randall Davidson to Sophie Weisse. Invitation to Miss. Weisse. Typescript, Mr. Randall Davidson , also The Archbishop of Canterbury.

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 Neville Stephen Bulwer-Lytton, 12 December 1911

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2279

Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 December 1911, Sussex, Neville Lytton to Sophie Weisse. Expressing admiration for Tovey's playing. Holograph signed.

Dates: 12 December 1911

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Oxford Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L433

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1895], Oxford Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of Tovey's progress in his studies at Balliol. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1895

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Oxford Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 October 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L438

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1895], Oxford Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. List of works by Bach, Schumann and Brahms. Holograph.

Dates: 01 October 1895

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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