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, 12 January 1904

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L579

Scope and Contents

Letter, 12 January 1904, London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's time in Germany, his awe of Joachim and his forthcoming schedule. Holograph signed.

Dates: 12 January 1904

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, c01 February 1912

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L637

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1 February 1912], [Budapest], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of a concert in Budapest, and confusion over a Steinway and Bosenlofer piano. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: c01 February 1912

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, c01 April 1913

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L638

Scope and Contents

Letter, [April 1913], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Describing some time to be spent 'making music' with the Rontgens, development of Tovey's compositions, and of time spent at the Trevelyan's house. Holograph signed.

Dates: c01 April 1913

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, 05 April 1913

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L639

Scope and Contents

Letter, 5 April 1913, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Tovey's arrival in Bonn, and news of the Busch family. Holograph unfinished.

Dates: 05 April 1913

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, c1914

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L640

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1914], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Report from Edinburgh assuring Miss. Weisse all is well. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed notepaper.

Dates: c1914

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, c01 April 1914

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L641

Scope and Contents

Letter, [April 1914], Aachen, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of a birth in the Busch family, arranging to meet Miss. Weisse in Paris, and a story of musical traditions in Aachen. Holograph signed.

Dates: c01 April 1914

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, c01 September 1915

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L642

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1 September 1915], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Edinburgh University senate meetings, the difficulty of arranging leave, thoughts on Tovey's position during the war and the status of the music faculty during war. Holograph.

Dates: c01 September 1915

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, 15 December 1915

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L643

Scope and Contents

Letter, 15 December 1915, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's trip to Wales and problems he may encounter leaving the country. Holograph signed.

Dates: 15 December 1915

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 1920

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L644

Scope and Contents

Letter, 18 December 1920, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of music scores and Ms. Tovey has and news of correcting proofs of Bride of Dionysus. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: 18 December 1920

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, 11 November 1920

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L645

Scope and Contents

Letter, 11 November 1920, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Question about the Schumann's wish to raise money and news of Tovey's orchestra. Holograph signed.

Dates: 11 November 1920

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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