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, c01 March 1916

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L646

Scope and Contents

Letter, [March 1916], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of a successful Reid concert, criticism of a music critic in 'The Scotsman', and news of life in Edinburgh. Holograph unfinished, on University of Edinburgh headed notepaper.

Dates: c01 March 1916

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, 01 October 1920

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L648

Scope and Contents

Letter, 1 October 1920, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's wife and son and hopes for the future. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed notepaper.

Dates: 01 October 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, 06 August 1918

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L649

Scope and Contents

Letter, 6 August 1918, Surrey, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Requesting that Miss. Weisse send Tovey's sympony and two violin sonatas to him. Holograph signed.

Dates: 06 August 1918

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, c1919

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L650

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1919], Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Hartree, Maud Macarthy's engagement, and the development of ' The Bride of Dionysus'. Holograph signed.

Dates: c1919

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, 14 April 1919

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L651

Scope and Contents

Letter, 14 April 1919, Oxford, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. News of Tovey's Aunt Anna and of Tovey. Holograph signed.

Dates: 14 April 1919

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 April 1919

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L652

Scope and Contents

Letter, 22 April 1919, London, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Arranging to meet Miss. Weisse, hint of Tovey's wife's condition and comments on church music Tovey has heard recently. Holograph signed, paper headed ' Hotel Victory, Leicester Square, W.C. 2.

Dates: 22 April 1919

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 September 1919

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L653

Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 September 1919, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Thanking Miss. Weisse for sending a table, news of Tovey's composition, comment on interesting visit 'South', and news of Mrs. Tovey. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed notepaper.

Dates: 25 September 1919

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 October 1919

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L654

Scope and Contents

Letter, 19 October 1919, Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Wishing Miss. Weisse a Happy Birthday, comments on the start of the University term, especially on a gifted violin player, suggestion that his work be called a music-drama rather than grand opera, and notes on the Ms. of the work. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed paper.

Dates: 19 October 1919

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, c1919

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L656

Scope and Contents

Letter, [1919], Edinburgh, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Details of trying to contact Beecham to look at Tovey's composition. Holograph signed, written on University of Edinburgh headed paper.

Dates: c1919

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 1920

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L657

Scope and Contents

Letter, 27 April 1920, Kent, Donald Tovey to Sophie Weisse. Recommending a doctor to Miss. Weisse, news of the Busch family, development of opera score. Holograph signed.

Dates: 27 April 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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