Ruth Gipps was an influential English composer, oboist, pianist, conductor, and educator, whose musical career spanned much of the 20th century. Born on February 20, 1921, in Bexhill-on-Sea, England, she was a musical prodigy, recognized for her talents at a very young age. Gipps studied at the Royal College of Music in London, where her teachers included Ralph Vaughan Williams for composition and Gordon Jacob for orchestration. She exhibited an extraordinary aptitude for composition, penning her first orchestral piece at the tender age of eight.

Despite the challenges faced by female composers of her era, Gipps carved out a successful career. Her compositions are known for their melodic richness, deft orchestrations, and an affinity for the British romantic tradition. Her body of work includes five symphonies, several concertos for instruments like the oboe and clarinet, as well as chamber music and pieces for piano. In the latter part of the 20th century, Ruth Gipps also contributed to the musical landscape as an educator and conductor, founding the London Repertoire Orchestra and the Chanticleer Orchestra to provide performance opportunities for young musicians. Gipps continued to compose and conduct until her death on February 23, 1999, leaving behind a legacy as a champion of British music and a trailblazer for women in the field of classical music composition. The resurgence of interest in her work has led to new recordings and performances of her compositions, revealing the depth and appeal of her music to a new generation.

Genres

Classical

Contemporary Classical

Related Artists

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Rebecca Clarke

William Alwyn

Malcolm Arnold

Frederick Delius

Arnold Bax

Gerald Finzi

Lili Boulanger

Anna Meredith

Delia Derbyshire

Edmund Rubbra

Anna Thorvaldsdottir

Latest Release

Gipps: Piper of Dreams

Ruth Gipps•

Juliana Koch•

Julian Bliss

Album - 18 Tracks - Released August 16, 2024