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, 04 July 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L460

Scope and Contents

Letter, 4 July 1897, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Discussing essays in Roman history, a forthcoming concert, informing of an invitation to Bayreuth by Maurice Baring. Holograph signed, With duplicate typescript copy, 26 x 21cm.

Dates: 04 July 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 July 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L461

Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 July 1897, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for a letter. Holograph signed, with duplicate typescript copy, 26 x 21cm.

Dates: 19 July 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, 22 July 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L462

Scope and Contents

Letter, 22 July 1897, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending sketchbooks which Tovey compares to his own musical sketchings, informing Miss. Weisse that he can not afford to practice the piano, as he will be working towards his degree, details of a Bishops party. Holograph signed, with duplicate typescript copy, 26 x 21cm.

Dates: 22 July 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 July 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L463

Scope and Contents

Letter, 22 July 1897, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for a sketchbook and discussion of a movement from a Haydn quartet. Holograph signed, with duplicate typescript copy, 26 x 21cm.

Dates: 20 July 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, 30 July 1897

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L465

Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 July 1897, Bonn, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of Tovey's tour of Bonn, including Beethoven's house. Typescript copy.

Dates: 30 July 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, 21 October 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L1680

Scope and Contents

Letter, 21 October 1894, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of a tutorial with Farmer and a request that Tovey continue lessons with Parry. Photocopy of Holograph signed.

Dates: 21 October 1894

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/L2675

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Apologising for causing confusion over travelling matters, concern over getting advice from Parry. 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, c1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2676

Scope and Contents

Letter, 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for the present of some scores and notes on the scores. Photocopy of Holograph signed.

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, c1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2677

Scope and Contents

Letter, [n.d], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Explaining to Miss Weisse that Tovey can not work at the moment, news that Bray is feeling run down as well. Photocopy of Holograph signed.

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, c1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2678

Scope and Contents

Letter, 1895, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending presents, details of a concert given by Paderewski, criticising a piano, Tovey's studying plans, and other news. Photocopy of Holograph signed.

Dates: c1895

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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