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 William Strecker, 30 January 1911

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2483

Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 January 1911, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Tovey has the parts of his concerto, and discussing publication. Typescript signed.

Dates: 30 January 1911

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 22 February 1911

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2484

Scope and Contents

Letter, 22 February 1911, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Suggesting that Tovey approach Lord Plymouth and praising a concerto. Typescript signed.

Dates: 22 February 1911

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 25 October 1911

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2485

Scope and Contents

Letter, 25 October 1911, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of the cheapest estimate for engraving and printing Tovey's Sonata and quintette, and discussing their publication to coincide with performance. Typescript signed.

Dates: 25 October 1911

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 29 November 1929

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2487

Scope and Contents

Letter, 29 November 1929, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Enclosing a letter from Denman and concert programmes and arranging a meeting with Tovey and Denman. Typescript signed.

Dates: 29 November 1929

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 09 January 1912

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2489

Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 January 1912, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Details of dates the Aeolian Hall is available, and regards to Tovey. Typescript signed.

Dates: 09 January 1912

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 30 January 1912

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2490

Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 January 1912, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Enclosing a letter that reveals ' the facts' that explain a situation that may have hurt Tovey. Typescript signed.

Dates: 30 January 1912

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 30 January 1912

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2491

Scope and Contents

Letter, 30 January 1912, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Advising Miss. Weisse to inform Tovey that she is paying for his works to be published, discussing copyright fee and explaining that the Tovey's works were published because of their artistic merit rather than a business point of view. Typescript signed.

Dates: 30 January 1912

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 17 February 1917

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2492

Scope and Contents

Letter, 17 February 1917, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Discussing the advertisement of the forthcoming Chelsea concert series, and news of a biographical sketch of Tovey's to appear in the ' Musical Record'. Holograph signed.

Dates: 17 February 1917

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 29 February 1912

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2493

Scope and Contents

Letter, 29 February 1912, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse that Strecker has booked The Aeolian Hall for Tovey's piano recitals, and details for the publicity of the concerts. Typescript signed.

Dates: 29 February 1912

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Tovey Collection / Papers of Donald Francis Tovey / Correspondence

Letter to Sophie Weisse from William Strecker, 09 March 1912

Item

Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2494

Scope and Contents

Letter, 9 March 1912, London, William Strecker to Sophie Weisse. Enclosing the proofs of the prospectus for the Chelsea concerts, and discussion of the printing of the programmes. Typescript signed.

Dates: 09 March 1912

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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