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 Donald Francis Tovey, 28 February 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L451

Scope and Contents

Letter, 28 February 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Advising Miss. Weisse of tickets Tovey has for a forthcoming concert. Typescript copy, incomplete.

Dates: 28 February 1897

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, 19 March 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L452

Scope and Contents

Letter, [19 March 1897], Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of Oxford life, including a description of a cello sonata and lecture. Holograph signed, with a duplicate typescript copy, [2]p. 26 x 20cm.

Dates: 19 March 1897

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, 06 April 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L454

Scope and Contents

Letter, [6 April 1897], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of his arrival, apologising for being cross and mourning Brahms's death. Holograph signed, with a duplicate typescript copy 26 x 21cm.

Dates: 06 April 1897

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, 19 May 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L455

Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 May 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Praising a concert both had attended, thanking Miss. Weisse for a cheque, and news from Oxford. Holograph signed, with duplicate typescript copy, [3]p. 26 x 21cm.

Dates: 19 May 1897

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, 20 May 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L456

Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 May 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notes describing Oxford life and Tovey's plans for composition in University holidays. Holograph signed, with duplicate typescript copy, [2]p. 27 x 20cm.

Dates: 20 May 1897

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, 25 May 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L457

Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 May 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Tovey trying to sort out a misunderstanding between his father and Miss. Weisse and expressing anger that Tovey had not been chosen to play the piano at the Oxford club. Typescript copy.

Dates: 25 May 1897

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, 20 June 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L458

Scope and Contents

Letter, 20 June 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Information on Tovey's progress at Balliol, description of a performance and outlining future plans. Holograph signed, with duplicate typescript copy, 26 x 21cm.

Dates: 20 June 1897

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, c1910

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L627

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1910], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining a dispute with Speyer over the Chelsea concerts and the Classical concert society. Holograph signed in pencil.

Dates: c1910

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, c1911

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L628

Scope and Contents

Letter, [January 1911], Mainz, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description and criticism of performances of Faust and Lohengrin. Holograph signed incomplete.

Dates: c1911

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, c1911

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L629

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1911], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of the Mandyczewsiki's and Casals, development of a cello duet, and forthcoming engagements in Reading and Bayreuth. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1911

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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