Ruth Gipps: Symphony No 3 op.57 (1965) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Rumon GambaI listened to this a few times and enjoyed it every time. While there are obvious influences Gipps' music has a very individual stamp. I find her orchestration quite magical and ravishingly beautiful at times. There are some strikingly imaginative touches. Somebody mentioned "tuned percussion" (Albion,probably).* I'm not a trained musician and I can't read music (musically illiterate! ::)) but I think that's what I was listening to?! ::) :) ! Best of all the invention is very consistent and it's all very tightly constructed.Not a wasted note. It's not one of those symphonies (or orchestral works) where I kept looking at the tracking to see how much is left! In short (too late now! ::) ;D) I was very impressed! This would make a great follow up to Chandos first cd! It is astonishing that such fine music has been left to rot for so long! But that's fashion for you!! I also enjoyed Gipps' own performance of the symphony & it was very interesting and rewarding to hear both performances side by side!
*"The second movement is a Theme and Variations and the Scherzo, employing with great effect an ostinato figure on the harp and glockenspiel". I got this from an article on Gipps by
David Wright! I hope he doesn't mind?!! ;D Reading his article on Gipps does make me want to hear more Gipps. (I couldn't find an article on Musicweb. Although,maybe a cursory search just couldn't find one?!! The Wikipedia article doesn't delve into individual works). His description of the
Fifth Symphony makes it sound very enticing,indeed!
Here are two works by Gipps I would love to hear,among others (Apart from symphonies 1 & 5) :
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)
