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, c1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L599

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1897], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Outlining the qualities of Tovey's friend Kelly, news of being with Joachim in Berlin. Holograph incomplete, in pencil.

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, c1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L437

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1895], Berkshire, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notes and suggestions for a lecture on song, including operatic arias. Holograph, incomplete.

Dates: c1895

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, 21 February 1896

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L439

Scope and Contents

Letter, 21 February 1896, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notice of Tovey's arrival date and forthcoming engagements. Typescript copy.

Dates: 21 February 1896

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/L440

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1895], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss Weisse of Tovey's changing dates of meetings. Typescript copy.

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, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L441

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of Tovey's life at Balliol college, Oxford, request for funds. Typescript copy, incomplete.

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, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L442

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Notes on Tovey's studies and life at Balliol, and a description of how Egyptians treated crocodiles. Typescript copy, incomplete.

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, c1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L443

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Describing a meeting with and praising Mr. Watts, thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a Brahms concerto. Typescript copy, incomplete.

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, c1896

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L444

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Note explaining that Tovey has overslept. Holograph, in pencil.

Dates: c1896

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, c1896

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L445

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1896], Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Advice on musical themes, discussion of meeting with Parry. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1896

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, 21 January 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L446

Scope and Contents

Letter, 21 January 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News from Oxford. Typescript copy.

Dates: 21 January 1897

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:

Additional filters: