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, 03 January 1892

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2717

Scope and Contents

Letter, 3 January 1892, Paisley, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of a party, and New Year greetings. Photocopy of holograph signed.

Dates: 03 January 1892

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, 18 December 1891

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2718

Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 December 1891, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Detailed description of Tovey's lesson with Parry and Parry's comments on Tovey's compositions, news of Tovey's time at home with his family, and wishing Miss. Weisse a happy new year. Photocopy of holograph signed.

Dates: 18 December 1891

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 June 1891

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2721

Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 June 1891, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey has lent his mother a copy of ' Travels with a donkey'. Photocopy of holograph signed.

Dates: 30 June 1891

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, 27 April 1891

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2722

Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 April 1891, Cambridge, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey, a request for music paper. Photocopy of holograph signed.

Dates: 27 April 1891

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, 12 January 1891

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2723

Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 January 1891, London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of a performance of The Messiah at the Albert Hall, and details of Tovey's social life. Photocopy of holograph signed.

Dates: 12 January 1891

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 October 1889

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2724

Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 October 1889, Windsor, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Detailed description of the Leeds music festival, and news of Tovey's visit to Cambridge. Photocopy of holograph signed.

Dates: 25 October 1889

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 May 1889

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2725

Scope and Contents

Letter, 22 May 1889, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Description of a tennis party at Miss. Sackville West's house. Photocopy of holograph signed, photocopy of L346.

Dates: 22 May 1889

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, c14 December 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L556

Scope and Contents

Letter, [14 December 1900], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News from Tovey of Fra Diavolo concert attended. Typescript copy.

Dates: c14 December 1900

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 December 1900

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L557

Scope and Contents

Letter, 17 December 1900, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of an available room and of Germany. Typescript copy.

Dates: 17 December 1900

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, c1901

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L558

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1901], Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's mother, a concerto and Tovey's consultation of Gevaerts, 'Cours Methodique'. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1901

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: