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 David Oswald Hunter Blair ], 10 January 1901

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2246

Scope and Contents

Letter, 10 January 1901, Oxford, [ David Hunter Blair ] to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a letter and information on Tovey. Holograph incomplete, author taken from annotation in red at top of letter by Miss. Weisse.

Dates: 10 January 1901

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Frances Tovey, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2674

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Describing Tovey's indigestion, asking for advice concerning the performance of Tovey's violin sonata at the Oxford University musical club. Photocopy of 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 Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1889

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2726

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1889], Windsor, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining themes of String quartets. Photocopy of holograph signed.

Dates: c1889

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2727

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Windsor, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Looking at Beethoven's 'Eroica'. Photocopy of 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 Sir Donald Francis Tovey, c1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2736

Scope and Contents

Letter, 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Explaining a misunderstanding between Miss. Weisse and Tovey's father, and suggesting that they both can play a part in developing Tovey's reading skills. Typescript copy.

Dates: c1897

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 22 September 1931

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1918

Scope and Contents

Letter, 22 September 1931, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Explaining why Miss. Weisse could not attend a broadcast of Tovey's and praising the broadcast. Holograph signed.

Dates: 22 September 1931

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 03 January 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L355

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 January 1893, Paisley, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining Tovey's travel arrangements and his anxiety to complete a first movement. Typescript copy.

Dates: 03 January 1893

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 14 May 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L356

Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 May 1893, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Inquiring how Miss. Weisse is, and news of Tovey family life. Typescript copy.

Dates: 14 May 1893

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 17 July 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L357

Scope and Contents

Letter, 17 July 1893, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss Weisse of Tovey's time of arrival. Typescript copy.

Dates: 17 July 1893

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

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Donald Francis Tovey, 01 August 1893

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L358

Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 August 1893, Suffolk, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of Tovey's visit to Lowestoft. Typescript copy.

Dates: 01 August 1893

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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