Ruth Gipps
Encyclopedia
Ruth Gipps was a British
composer
, oboist
and pianist
.
, England
in 1921. She was something of a child prodigy
, winning performance competitions in which she was considerably younger than the rest of the field -- and female, to boot. After performing her first composition at the age of 8 in one of the numerous music festivals she entered, the work was bought by a publishing house for a guinea and a half. Winning a concerto competition with the Hastings Municipal Orchestra began her performance career in earnest.
In 1936 Gipps entered the Royal College of Music
, where she studied theory, composition, piano, and eventually oboe, and where several works of hers were first performed. Continuing her studies at Durham University
would lead her to teachers Gordon Jacob
and Ralph Vaughan Williams
, as well as her future husband, clarinettist Robert Baker.
She was an accomplished all-round musician, as a soloist on both oboe and piano as well as a prolific composer. When she was 33 her performance career ended, however, due to a hand injury, and she decided to focus her energies on conducting
and composition.
A turning point in Gipps' career was the Symphony No. 2, Op. 30, first performed in 1946, which showed the beginnings of her mature style. Gipps' music is marked by a skillful use of instrumental color, and often shows the influence of Vaughan Williams, rejecting the trends in avant-garde modern music such as serialism
and twelve-tone music. She considered her orchestral works — particularly her five symphonies — her greatest works. Two substantial piano concertos were also produced.
Her early career was affected strongly by discrimination against women in the male-dominated ranks of music (and particularly composition), by professors and judges as well as the world of music criticism. (For example, she was not even considered for the post of conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
where her longtime associate George Weldon
vacated it, because the thought of a woman conductor was "indecent".) Because of it she developed a tough personality that many found off-putting, and a fierce determination to prove herself through her work.
She founded the London Repertoire Orchestra in 1955 as an opportunity for young professional musicians to become exposed to a wide range of music, and the Chanticleer Orchestra in 1961, a professional ensemble which included a work by a living composer in each of its programs, often a premiere performance. Later she would take faculty posts at Trinity College, London (1959 to 1966) and the Royal College of Music (1967 to 1977), and then the Kingston Polytechnic.
She died in 1999, aged 78, after suffering the effects of cancer and a stroke.
Concertante
(Ruth Gipps Piano Concerto in G minor Op. 34 received its premiere recording in 2011.
It was made by Cameo Classics for CD (CC9046CD). The soloist was Angela Brownridge, who
had been conducted by Gipps as a child prodigy. No full score existed, and this was created
from a set of parts by Elizabeth Smith as a commission from Cameo Classics. The orchestra
was the Malta Philharmonic conducted by Michael Laus).
Chamber music
Piano
Choral
Vocal
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, oboist
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Biography
Ruth Gipps was born in Bexhill-on-SeaBexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill-on-Sea is a town and seaside resort in the county of East Sussex, in the south of England, within the District of Rother. It has a population of approximately 40,000...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1921. She was something of a child prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
, winning performance competitions in which she was considerably younger than the rest of the field -- and female, to boot. After performing her first composition at the age of 8 in one of the numerous music festivals she entered, the work was bought by a publishing house for a guinea and a half. Winning a concerto competition with the Hastings Municipal Orchestra began her performance career in earnest.
In 1936 Gipps entered the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, where she studied theory, composition, piano, and eventually oboe, and where several works of hers were first performed. Continuing her studies at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
would lead her to teachers Gordon Jacob
Gordon Jacob
Gordon Percival Septimus Jacob was an English composer. He is known for his wind instrument composition and his instructional writings.-Life:...
and Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
, as well as her future husband, clarinettist Robert Baker.
She was an accomplished all-round musician, as a soloist on both oboe and piano as well as a prolific composer. When she was 33 her performance career ended, however, due to a hand injury, and she decided to focus her energies on conducting
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and composition.
A turning point in Gipps' career was the Symphony No. 2, Op. 30, first performed in 1946, which showed the beginnings of her mature style. Gipps' music is marked by a skillful use of instrumental color, and often shows the influence of Vaughan Williams, rejecting the trends in avant-garde modern music such as serialism
Serialism
In music, serialism is a method or technique of composition that uses a series of values to manipulate different musical elements. Serialism began primarily with Arnold Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique, though his contemporaries were also working to establish serialism as one example of...
and twelve-tone music. She considered her orchestral works — particularly her five symphonies — her greatest works. Two substantial piano concertos were also produced.
Her early career was affected strongly by discrimination against women in the male-dominated ranks of music (and particularly composition), by professors and judges as well as the world of music criticism. (For example, she was not even considered for the post of conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. The Orchestra's current chief executive, appointed in 1999, is Stephen Maddock...
where her longtime associate George Weldon
George Weldon
George Weldon was an English conductor.-Biography:Weldon was educated at Sherborne School and at the Royal College of Music. He studied conducting with Malcolm Sargent and Aylmer Buesst...
vacated it, because the thought of a woman conductor was "indecent".) Because of it she developed a tough personality that many found off-putting, and a fierce determination to prove herself through her work.
She founded the London Repertoire Orchestra in 1955 as an opportunity for young professional musicians to become exposed to a wide range of music, and the Chanticleer Orchestra in 1961, a professional ensemble which included a work by a living composer in each of its programs, often a premiere performance. Later she would take faculty posts at Trinity College, London (1959 to 1966) and the Royal College of Music (1967 to 1977), and then the Kingston Polytechnic.
She died in 1999, aged 78, after suffering the effects of cancer and a stroke.
Selected works
Orchestra- Knight in Armour, tone poem, Op. 8
- Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 22 (1942)
- Death on a Pale Horse, Op. 25
- Symphony No. 2 (in One Movement), Op. 30 (1945)
- Mahomet and the Cat, Op. 32 (1947)
- Cringlemire Garden, Impression for String Orchestra, Op. 39 (1952)
- Song, Op. 33 (1948)
- Symphony No. 3, Op. 57 (1965)
- Symphony No. 4, Op. 61 (1972)
- Symphony No. 5, Op. 64 (1982)
- Ambarvalia for small orchestra, Op. 70 (1988)
Concertante
- Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, Op. 9 (1940)
- Jane Grey, Fantasy for Viola and String Orchestra, Op. 15 (1940)
- Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra, Op. 20 (1941)
- Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 24 (1943)
- Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 34 (1948)
(Ruth Gipps Piano Concerto in G minor Op. 34 received its premiere recording in 2011.
It was made by Cameo Classics for CD (CC9046CD). The soloist was Angela Brownridge, who
had been conducted by Gipps as a child prodigy. No full score existed, and this was created
from a set of parts by Elizabeth Smith as a commission from Cameo Classics. The orchestra
was the Malta Philharmonic conducted by Michael Laus).
- Concerto for Violin, Viola and Small Orchestra, Op. 49 (1957)
- Concerto for Horn and Orchestra, Op. 58 (1968)
- Leviathan for Contra-Bassoon and Chamber Orchestra, Op. 59 (1969)
- Introduction and Carol: The Ox and the Ass for Double Bass and Chamber Orchestra, Op. 71 (1988)
Chamber music
- Kensington Gardens Suite for Oboe and Piano, Op. 2 (1938)
- Sea-Shore Suite for Oboe and Piano, Op. 3b (1939)
- Chamois for 2 Violins and Piano, Op. 3c (1939)
- Sonata No.1 for Oboe and Piano, Op. 5 (1939)
- The Kelpie Of Corrievreckan for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 5b (1939)
- Pixie Caravan for Flute and Piano (1939)
- Rowan for Flute and Piano (1940)
- Trio for Oboe, Clarinet and Piano, Op. 10 (1940)
- The Piper of Dreams for Oboe Solo, Op. 12b (1940)
- Sea-Weed Song for English Horn and Piano, Op. 12c (1940)
- Suite for 2 Violins, Op. 12d (1940)
- Elephant God for Clarinet and Percussion, Op. 12e (1940)
- Sabrina for String Quartet, Op. 13 (1940)
- Quintet for Oboe, Clarinet, Violin, Viola and Cello, Op. 16
- Brocade for Piano Quartet, Op. 17
- Rhapsody in E for Clarinet Quintet, Op. 23 (1942)
- Rhapsody for Violin and Piano, Op. 27a (1943)
- Scherzo: The Three Billy Goats Gruff for Oboe, Horn, and Bassoon, Op. 27b
- Sonata for Violin and Piano, Op. 42 (1954)
- Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 45 (1955)
- Lyric Fantasy for Viola and Piano, Op. 46 (1955)
- String Quartet, Op. 47 (1956)
- Evocation for Violin and Piano, Op. 48 (1956)
- Prelude for Bass Clarinet Solo (or B Clarinet), Op. 51 (1958)
- Seascape for 2 Flutes, Oboe, English Horn, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons and 2 Horns, Op. 53 (1958)
- A Tarradiddle for 2 Horns, Op. 54 (1959)
- Sonatina for Horn and Piano, Op. 56 (1960)
- Triton for Horn and Piano, Op. 60 (1970)
- Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 63 (1978)
- Octet for 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons and 2 Horns, Op. 65 (1983)
- Sonata No. 2 for Oboe and Piano, Op. 66 (1985)
- The Saint Francis Window for Alto Flute and Piano, Op. 67 (1986)
- The Riders of Rohan for Trombone and Piano (1987)
- Scherzo and Adagio for Cello Solo, Op. 68 (1987)
- Sinfonietta for 10 Winds and Percussion, Op. 73 (1989)
- Threnody for English Horn and Piano (or Organ), Op. 74 (1990)
- The Pony Cart for Flute, Horn and Piano, Op. 75 (1990)
- A Wealden Suite, Quartet for E, B, A and Bass Clarinets, Op. 76 (1991)
- Cool Running Water for Bass Flute and Piano, Op. 77 (1991)
- Pan and Apollo for 2 Oboes, English Horn and Harp, Op. 78 (1992)
Piano
- The Fairy Shoemaker (1929)
- Conversation for 2 Pianos, Op. 36 (1950)
- Theme and Variations, Op. 57a (1965)
- Opalescence, Op. 72 (1989)
Choral
- Mazeppa's Ride for Female Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 1
- The Cat, Cantata for Alto, Baritone, Double Mixed Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 32 (1947)
- Goblin Market for 2 Sopranos, Female Chorus and String Orchestra (or Piano), Op. 40 (1953)
- An Easter Carol for Soprano, Mixed Chorus and Piano or Organ, Op. 52 (1958)
- Magnificat and Nunc dimittis for Mixed Chorus and Organ, Op. 55 (1959)
- Gloria in excelsis for Unison Chorus and Organ, Op. 62 (1977)
- A Service for Holy Communion for Mixed Chorus and Organ, Op. 62a (1974)
Vocal
- Four Baritone Songs for Baritone and Piano, Op. 4b (1939)
- Heaven for High Voice and Piano (1939)
- Four Songs of Youth for Tenor and Piano (1940)
- Two Songs for Soprano and Piano, Op. 11 (1940)
- Rhapsody for Wordless Soprano and Small Orchestra, Op. 18
- Ducks for Soprano, Flute, Cello and Piano, Op. 19 (1941)
- The Song of the Narcissus for Soprano and Piano, Op. 37 (1951)
- Three Incantations for Soprano and Harp, Op. 50 (1957)
- The Lady of the Lambs for Soprano and Wind Quintet, Op. 79 (1992)