GEDMUND RUBBRA
(1901-1986)

Edmund Rubbra was born on the 23rd May 1901, in Northampton. He started learning the piano at the age of eight and when fourteen became a railway clerk. About this time he began to be attracted by the music of Cyril Scott and when only sixteen he gave a concert consisting entirely of Cyril Scott's works in his home town of Northampton. This led directly to a meeting with the composer who took him as a private pupil.
At nineteen he won a composition scholarship to Reading University and this was followed by the winning of an open scholarship to the Royal College of Music in 1921. At the R.C.M. his teachers were Holst for composition and R.O. Morris for counterpoint.
He also studied the piano privately. Many songs and small choral works date from this period.
On leaving the R.C.M. he taught, worked in London as a musical journalist and wrote music for a travelling theatre group as well as some larger compositions.
The first major recognition of Rubbra's talents as a composer came with the First Symphony (1935-1937) and this was quickly followed by the Second and Third Symphonies. During 1941 he was conscripted for service in the Royal Artillery, but he was still able to complete the scoring of his Fourth Symphony, which was first performed at a Promenade Concert in 1942. After being called up he was instructed to form a Piano Trio and this he did, with Joshua Glazier, violin, and William Pleeth, 'cello, and they gave many concerts for Service personnel throughout this country and in Germany.
Throughout the rest of his life he earned and was awarded many honours, including a C.B.E. From 1947 to 1968 he was a lecturer in music at Oxford University and from 1961 to 1974 was Professor of Composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Rubbra's music, emanating as it did from a deep spirituality, has much to contribute to our present age and is beginning to receive the recognition it so strongly deserves.

SOME WORKS

Up to Op. 165, output includes 11 symphonies, works for solo instruments with orchestra, solo instrumental music, chamber music, vocal, anthems, part songs, secular and sacred choral music.
For complete listing visit www.edmundrubbra.co.uk