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 Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 19 October 1890

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2355

Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 October 1890, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Apologising for not being able to give Tovey a lesson and suggesting a time when Parry will be available. Holograph signed.

Dates: 19 October 1890

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 23 October 1890

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2356

Scope and Contents

Letter, 23 October 1890, Oxford, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Arranging to see Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 23 October 1890

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 09 November 1890

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2358

Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 November 1890, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Parry is unable to see Tovey this week. Holograph signed.

Dates: 09 November 1890

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 05 January 1891

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2360

Scope and Contents

Letter, 5 January 1891, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of the cost of Tovey's lessons and suggestng he is scatterbrained and forgetful and needs self discipline. Holograph signed.

Dates: 05 January 1891

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 14 April 1891

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2362

Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 April 1891, Gloucester, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Asking whether to expect Tovey or not. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 April 1891

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 13 December 1891

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2363

Scope and Contents

Letter, 1891 Dec 13, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of Parry's busy schedule, and arranging to see Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 13 December 1891

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 18 February 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2364

Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 February 1892, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Details of Parry's busy schedule, news of his return to London and his hope to see Tovey again. Holograph signed.

Dates: 18 February 1892

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 20 February 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2365

Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 February 1892, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Discussion of Tovey's ability to play ' the variations' by heart and his progress. Holograph signed.

Dates: 20 February 1892

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 12 October 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2366

Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 October 1892, Oxford, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Sympathy over Tovey's crooked spine, details of Parry's engagements, and comment on a musical fund for scholars. Holograph signed.

Dates: 12 October 1892

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 14 December 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2367

Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 December 1892, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Parry is overworked although he hopes to make time for Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 December 1892

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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