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, 16 November 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2368

Scope and Contents

Letter, 16 November 1893, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for her letter and gift and suggesting that Donald apply for a scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford. Holograph signed.

Dates: 16 November 1893

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, 06 July 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2376

Scope and Contents

Letter, 6 July 1894, Worthing, Hubert Parry to Sophie Weisse. Expressing his desire that Tovey's talents will flourish at Oxford and congratulations. Holograph signed.

Dates: 06 July 1894

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 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2377

Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 February 1895, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Explaining to Miss. Weisse that Parry is busy. Holograph signed.

Dates: 20 February 1895

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 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2378

Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 February 1895, London, Hubert Parry to Sophie Weisse. Suggesting Tovey should try for a Mendelssohn scholarship. Holograph signed.

Dates: 18 February 1895

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, 03 December 1896

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2381

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 December 1896, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that it would be a ' singular waste of a remarkable gift ' if Tovey were to give up music. Holograph signed.

Dates: 03 December 1896

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, 07 December 1896

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2382

Scope and Contents

Letter, 7 December 1896, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Wishing Tovey well and suggesting his career in music is a promising one. Holograph signed.

Dates: 07 December 1896

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, c1890

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2383

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], London, Hubert Parry to Sophie Weisse. Explaining that Parry is unable to give Tovey lessons, and informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey does not need extra lessons anyway as he has natural talent. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1890

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, 10 May 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2385

Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 May 1900, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Discussion of violin and pianoforte methods, news of Tovey's development. Holograph signed.

Dates: 10 May 1900

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, 08 May 1901

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2386

Scope and Contents

Letter, 8 May 1901, Oxford, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Expressing pleasure at hearing news of Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 08 May 1901

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 1906

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2387

Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 November 1906, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Explaining that Parry is too busy to see Miss. Weisse. Holograph signed.

Dates: 09 November 1906

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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