Don’t forget! This coming Holy Saturday, 31st March, the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra will give the United States première performance of Ruth Gipps’ Symphony No. 2, amongst other works. This might seem a long delay for a work written in 1945, but given that Gipps’ fifth symphony has still not received a single broadcast in her home country, or that no commercial recordings exist of any but the second, and that hardly any of her other music is known or performed, this is actually a very good sign that her work is receiving new attention, and deserves an international stage. The conductor, Adam Stern, speaks of a ‘joyous journey of discovery’ in preparing the work, and says that this is ‘one of the most important premières the Philharmonic has ever done.’
I don’t know from this distance whether this performance will be broadcast, or if a recording will be available afterwards, but in a way it is exciting enough simply to know that the performance will take place. I will be very interested to hear how it goes. Hopefully this will spur our own musical life in Britain into action!
Conductor Adam Stern explains the work:
Conductor Adam Stern explains the work:
Dear Dominic,
ReplyDeleteThank you, yet again, for your kind attention to our concert. I think it is no exaggeration to say that the whole orchestra is behind this performance; their immersion into Gipps' symphony has been moving and inspiring, and I feel that they love the work as intensely as I do. If desired, I will gladly send a follow-up regarding the performance and its reception!
Very best regards,
Adam Stern
Dear Adam,
DeleteThank YOU in turn for your comment, and for performing the symphony in the first place! I'm really glad to hear that it has captured the orchestra's heart, and that it's not just I but professional, accomplished musicians who agree that it is music of great beauty. I have read somewhere, I think in Jill Halstead's biography, that Ruth Gipps tried to write every individual instrument part so that it was interesting and enjoyable to play. Perhaps this is the reward, that the music wins over those who play it.
I'd really love to hear how it goes – so yes please to a note afterwards, if you have a moment! The only frustration is that I can't be there as I am in London, while you are in Seattle... but that can't be helped, and I think it's better, in a way, that Ruth Gipps' name should be spread as widely as possible.
With best intercontinental wishes for the concert (all the works, as well as the Gipps),
Dominic
This is some wonder! What grace if so obviously very fine music be "discovered" also by others.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to all involved : - )
Thanks for your comment! When I first discovered Ruth Gipps I couldn't believe I'd never heard of her, and I think others making the same discovery have felt similarly. Swiftly on the heels of that feeling followed a sense of injustice, that for no good reason our musical culture is deprived of her work. However, I'm very hopeful that this concert in Seattle tonight will give a big jump-start to a Gipps revival. (There are some recordings of her work in existence, but very few performances, and her symphonies in particular are in urgent need of discovery).
DeleteDear Dominic,
ReplyDeleteRuth Gipps' Symphony scored a decided triumph earlier today. The audience cheered it with genuine and rousing enthusiasm. I was so thankful for the orchestra's ultra-committed performance, and especially for the incredible gift Gipps has given to us.
If this was any indication of the effect her music can have on first-time hearers, then her INEVITABLE revival (of which I fully intend to keep being a part) will bring a great deal of joy to a great many people.
Ecstatically yours,
Adam
Dear Adam,
DeleteThis is wonderful to hear! Surely this is the point of music, that it moves people and that they enjoy it! I must say I was altogether confident that Ruth Gipps' music would go down well with the audience, but I know it couldn't have been a success without a great deal of hard work on your part.
Many thanks indeed to you and the whole orchestra for leading the vanguard in bringing my compatriot's music to light! I will certainly keep an eye on the Seattle Philharmonic from now on, as well as the unfolding Gipps revival...
Happy Easter!
Dominic
Dear Dominic,
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to share with you and your followers the video recording of the Seattle Philharmonic's performance of Ruth Gipps' Symphony No. 2 from last March. I think the joy and excitement we all felt that day comes through...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FSm_DUbb_0
All best regards from Seattle,
Adam
Dear Adam,
DeleteThank you very much indeed for this. This is absolutely wonderful to hear, and a treat to find that it was filmed as well! It's a recording to treasure. Many thanks to you and all involved.
Joy and excitement indeed — and a sense of something resolved — which matches that symphony's fundamental mood. One of the remarkable aspects of Ruth Gipps' music, I feel, is the extraordinary balance she strikes between romantic tenderness on one hand and liveliness, almost spikiness, on the other, and on a first hearing I can hear both in this rendition.
As soon as I can I'll give it its own blog-post. This has been a great year for Ruth Gipps' music! If you ever feel inclined to perform any more of her music, well... you'll hear no complaints from these quarters.
With very best wishes to you, the Orchestra and all music-lovers in Seattle,
Dominic