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, 10 December 1906

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2388

Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 December 1906, Gloucester, Hubert Parry to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a letter, a full score and news about Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 10 December 1906

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, 11 October 1906

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2389

Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 October 1906, London, Hubert Parry to Siophie Weisse. Praising Miss. Weisse, suggesting that Parry visits and wishing Tovey well. Holograph signed, with stamped envelope, envelop annotated by Sophie Weisse.

Dates: 11 October 1906

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, c 07 January 1940

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2390

Scope and Contents

Letter, [7 January 1940], Woking, Hubert Parry to Sophie Weisse. Congratulating Tovey on getting his foot on the ladder. Holograph signed, date as postmark, though this unlikely to be the original date, probably sent to Tovey by Sophie Weisse on this date.

Dates: c 07 January 1940

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, 25 October 1908

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2392

Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 October 1908, Gloucester, Hubert Parry to Sophie Weisse. Praising a plants beauty, and sending love to Tovey. Typescript copy.

Dates: 25 October 1908

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, 25 October 1908

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2393

Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 October 1908, Gloucester, Hubert Parry to Sophie Weisse. Praising a plants beauty, and sending love to Tovey. Typescript copy.

Dates: 25 October 1908

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 January 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2370

Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 January 1894, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Attempting to arrange a time to look over Tovey's symphony. Holograph signed.

Dates: 20 January 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, 11 February 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2371

Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 February 1894, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Apologising for not writing, arranging a time for Tovey's lesson. Holograph signed.

Dates: 11 February 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, 27 February 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2373

Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 February 1894, Gloucester, Hubert Parry to Sophie Weisse. Criticism of Tovey's composition and comment on Tovey's ability and talent. Holograph signed.

Dates: 27 February 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, 08 May 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2374

Scope and Contents

Letter, 8 May 1894, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Concerning cheques for payments of Tovey's lessons, informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey has a good chance of winning the Nettleship scholarship. Holograph signed.

Dates: 08 May 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, 31 May 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2375

Scope and Contents

Letter, 31 May 1894, Cambridge, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Information and advice about the Nettleship scholarship. Holograph signed.

Dates: 31 May 1894

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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