Monday, April 09, 2018

Ruth Gipps: the revival gathers pace

Conductor Adam Stern, under whom the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra recently gave the United States première performance of Ruth Gipps' symphony no. 2, was kind enough, on the very day of the concert, to send in a comment to this blog to report its success!
Ruth 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
This makes thoroughly pleasing reading, to say the least!  I can only repeat my thanks to the Seattle Philharmonic for going to the trouble of putting this performance on, bringing this neglected English composer out of the shadows and to an international audience.

And now more good news from East Sussex, the county of Ruth Gipps' birth.  A concert of chamber music, with a programme mostly of her music — pieces completely unheard as far as I am concerned — is due to be given at St. John the Baptist's church in the village of Ripe, where the composer was organist during the 1980s.  It  is part of the Villages Music Festival, and will take place at 7.30 p.m. this coming 29th June, 2018. The concert announcement, not failing to seize a golden punning opportunity, puts it most aptly: 'The time is ripe'!


Ruth Gipps: Symphony no. 3, third movement, Scherzo

4 comments :

  1. Listening to this at my desk now. Pleasantly melancholic!

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    1. I'm glad you like it! The main theme in seven-four time (i.e. count seven) as well, interestingly. I like the melismatic violin as well.

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    2. A new word for me, right there!

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    3. Am not altogether sure I've used it properly since there are no words to the violin part, of course...
      ...But it sounds good!

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