Ralph Cupper
Encyclopedia
Ralph Cupper is an organist, director and composer who was born and raised in Norwich, England.
After he concluded his studies at ‘The Hewett School’ in Norwich, Ralph Cupper studied at the Royal Academy of Music
in London. While he was there he studied the Organ with Douglas Hawkridge; Choir/Orchestra Direction with Dr. Douglas Hopkins; Harmony
, Counterpoint
and fuge with Drs. Arthur Pritchard and Arthur Wills
. After he finished in 1976 he did an extended course of Organ studies with Susi Jeans
and Nicholas Kynaston with the help of a Stipend from ‘The Alderman Norman Foundation’. In 1979 Ralph Cupper was awarded a Stipend from ‘The Arts Council of Great Britain to study the organ with the well known Dutch Organist Bernard Bartelinck, who was at that time Organist at the Bavo Cathedral in Haarlem in the Netherlands.
After his studies Ralph Cupper came back to his home City of Norwich
, to begin his career as a Concert Organist and Music Teacher within Adult Education. He has also been Organist/Choir Master in many Parishes in the County of Norfolk. Wymondham Abbey
and Christ Church
New Catton, Norwich were two of the last places where he was Organist and Choir Master. At that time he was also educated at the University in Theology and Androgogic studies.
Ralph Cupper lives in Nordfjordeid, Norway and is 'Kantor' of Eid Church and is also a music teacher. He is married to the locally well known Author, Karin Cupper. They have 2 children, Matthew and Mark, a cat called Bella and a dog called Monty.
.
While living in Norway he has given out 2 CD's with his friend Inge Asbjørn Haugen. In these two music CD's they have combined the organ and saxophone while playing popular film and classical music.
He is also known in Nordfjordeid
for supporting the local hospital and Community Events by arranging Concerts, dedicating funds for their causes.
Every year in Nordfjordeid, as part of Ralph Cupper's Job, he arranges a Musical Festival, ‘Aftenmusikk’. The Concert series takes place every Tuesday in February, with a view of encouraging people, who come to visit, whilst on holiday. The Music Festival has existed for over 5 years and is the cultural high point of the Churches year in Nordfjordeid with many known local and some international artists or groups.
History
Ralph Cupper began to play the Piano with Edna Watering when he was 6 years old. Later he learnt the Organ with David Storey and Peter Notley and the Clarinet with Charles Unwin. While he was at the well known ‘Hewett School’ he became a member of the School Choir. It was while he was at school that Ralph Cupper became influenced by the music environment which Colin Clouting and the distinguished Concert Pianist Eileen Last had responsibility for. It was during this period that Cupper had piano tuition with Eileen Last.After he concluded his studies at ‘The Hewett School’ in Norwich, Ralph Cupper studied at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London. While he was there he studied the Organ with Douglas Hawkridge; Choir/Orchestra Direction with Dr. Douglas Hopkins; Harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
, Counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
and fuge with Drs. Arthur Pritchard and Arthur Wills
Arthur Wills
Dr Arthur Wills OBE is a musician, composer, and professor. He was Director of Music at Ely Cathedral from 1958 to 1990, and also held a Professorship at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1964 until 1992...
. After he finished in 1976 he did an extended course of Organ studies with Susi Jeans
Susi Jeans
Susi Jeans , otherwise Lady Jeans, was an Austrian-born organist, musicologist and noted teacher. Born in Vienna, she was the oldest child of Oscar and Jektaterina Hock. Initially, she trained as a ballet dancer by the modernist teacher Gertrud Bodenwieser, but growing rather rapidly, switched to...
and Nicholas Kynaston with the help of a Stipend from ‘The Alderman Norman Foundation’. In 1979 Ralph Cupper was awarded a Stipend from ‘The Arts Council of Great Britain to study the organ with the well known Dutch Organist Bernard Bartelinck, who was at that time Organist at the Bavo Cathedral in Haarlem in the Netherlands.
After his studies Ralph Cupper came back to his home City of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, to begin his career as a Concert Organist and Music Teacher within Adult Education. He has also been Organist/Choir Master in many Parishes in the County of Norfolk. Wymondham Abbey
Wymondham Abbey
Wymondham Abbey is situated in the town of Wymondham in Norfolk, England.-Background:It is the Anglican parish church of Wymondham, but it started life as a Benedictine priory....
and Christ Church
Christ Church
-Churches in Australia:* Christ Church, Lavender Bay, Sydney* Christ Church, Rouse Hill, Sydney* Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney-England:* Christ Church, Alsager, Cheshire* Christ Church, Ashford, Kent* Christ Church, Bacup, Lancashire...
New Catton, Norwich were two of the last places where he was Organist and Choir Master. At that time he was also educated at the University in Theology and Androgogic studies.
Ralph Cupper lives in Nordfjordeid, Norway and is 'Kantor' of Eid Church and is also a music teacher. He is married to the locally well known Author, Karin Cupper. They have 2 children, Matthew and Mark, a cat called Bella and a dog called Monty.
Known for
Ralph Cupper is a known concert pianist and organist and has held many concert tours around England, Germany and Norway. He has also done work for the Norwegian TV channel NRK and the British Broadcasting Corporation BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
While living in Norway he has given out 2 CD's with his friend Inge Asbjørn Haugen. In these two music CD's they have combined the organ and saxophone while playing popular film and classical music.
He is also known in Nordfjordeid
Nordfjordeid
Nordfjordeid is the administrative capital of the municipality of Eid, in Sogn og Fjordane county, western Norway. It is located close to the Eidsfjord, an arm of Nordfjord, below Hornindalsvatnet lake. The village of Stårheim is located about to the west, the village of Mogrenda is about to the...
for supporting the local hospital and Community Events by arranging Concerts, dedicating funds for their causes.
Every year in Nordfjordeid, as part of Ralph Cupper's Job, he arranges a Musical Festival, ‘Aftenmusikk’. The Concert series takes place every Tuesday in February, with a view of encouraging people, who come to visit, whilst on holiday. The Music Festival has existed for over 5 years and is the cultural high point of the Churches year in Nordfjordeid with many known local and some international artists or groups.
Other pages
- http://www.ralphcupper.com/ Ralph Cupper's homepage
- http://home.online.no/~iahaugen/ Inge Haugen's homepage