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 Pablo Casals, 14 September 1911

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2068

Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 September 1911, Pablo Casals to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her concern over the cholera epidemic in Barcelona and Catalonia. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 September 1911

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Pablo Casals, 16 September 1912

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2070

Scope and Contents

Letter, 16 September 1912, Pablo Casals to Sophie Weisse. Suggesting a holiday for Tovey with Casals, where he can walk and swim and work, and looking forward to a concert at Northlands on October 3. Holograph signed.

Dates: 16 September 1912

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Rev Duncan Crooks Tovey, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2523

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Guildford, Duncan Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a gift, and news of a burglary. 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 Robert Bridges, c 16 May 1920

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2051

Scope and Contents

Letter, 16 May [n.y], Berkshire, Robert Bridges to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for a letter from Joachim, and for Miss. Weisse's hospitality. Holograph signed, with signed poem, [1]p. 15 x 10cm, with stamped envelope.

Dates: c 16 May 1920

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 20 October 1917

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2354

Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 October 1917, Robert Trevelyan to Sophie Weisse. Reassuring Miss. Weisse that Trevelyan has Tovey's best interests at heart and is keen for Tovey to finish the ' Bride of Dionysus'. Holograph in pencil.

Dates: 20 October 1917

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 03 November 1916

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2533

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 November 1916, Surrey, R. C. Trevelyan to Sophie Weisse. Agreeing to act as trustee to Miss. Weisse's will. Holograph signed.

Dates: 03 November 1916

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2535

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Robert Trevelyan to Sophie Weisse. Assuring Miss. Weisse that nothing has been said to Tovey. Holograph signed, in pencil.

Dates: c1900

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 17 March 1926

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2537

Scope and Contents

Letter, 17 March 1926, Surrey, Robert Trevelyan to Sophie Weisse. Recommending Miss. Busch as a translator. Holograph unfinished.

Dates: 17 March 1926

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Robert Calverley Trevelyan, 26 July 1939

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2542

Scope and Contents

Letter, 26 July 1939, Robert Trevelyan to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that a German doctor is treating Tovey and will give an opinion on Tovey's illness. Typescript copy.

Dates: 26 July 1939

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from [ Robert V. Mendelssohn], 14 July 1907

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2307

Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 July 1907, [ Robert V. Mendelssohn] to Sophie Weisse. Description of 'the great mans' illness, inviting Tovey to visit Joachim. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 July 1907

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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