Classical Music: Gipps: Orchestral Works, Vol. 4

Gipps: Orchestral Works, Vol. 4

Symphony No. 5, Violin Concerto, Leviathan

BBC Philharmonic, Rumon Gamba

Charlie Lovell-Jones (violin), Bill Anderson (contrabassoon)

Chandos Records CHAN 20319
chandos.net

Rumon Gamba's ongoing excavation of Ruth Gipps' musical oeuvre reaches new heights with these world première recordings that showcase the composer's remarkable range and expertise. This triumvirate of works—the Fifth Symphony, Violin Concerto, and Leviathan—performed by the BBC Philharmonic, reveals a composer whose significance continues to grow with each rediscovery.

The Violin Concerto, composed for Gipps' elder brother Bryan when she was merely 22, displays a compositional maturity that belies her youth. Echoes of her teacher Vaughan Williams occasionally surface, yet the voice remains distinctly her own. Soloist Charlie Lovell-Jones captures the work's pastoral essence with heartfelt affection, his lyrical interpretation finding perfect partnership with the BBC Philharmonic's sympathetic accompaniment. The orchestra provides a sensitive backdrop that enhances rather than overshadows the soloist's voice. Lovell-Jones navigates the gorgeous melodic passages with beautiful lyricism, whilst the energetic third movement sees all performers delivering rhythmical energy with aplomb.

Leviathan, an intriguing five-minute work for contrabassoon and orchestra from the late 1960s, features the BBC Philharmonic's own Bill Anderson as soloist. This captivating miniature showcases Gipps' exceptional understanding of wind instruments and her orchestrational skill in ensuring the unconventional solo voice maintains prominence. Anderson's instrument produces delightfully resonant low notes that provide particular pleasure throughout this brief but compelling composition.

The Fifth Symphony, completed in 1982 and dedicated to Sir William Walton, represents Gipps at her most ambitious. Written for substantial forces—quadruple wind, six horns, two harps, and extensive percussion—its most distinctive feature is a final movement structured as a Missa brevis for orchestra. It is suggested that attentive listening reveals how instrumental lines correspond to unsung liturgical texts, with orchestrational details thoughtfully reflecting the spirit of each section of the mass.

As Lewis Foreman notes in his excellent programme notes, the symphony received its première from the London Repertoire Orchestra at the Guildhall School of Music in February 1986. Poignantly, its rejection by the BBC for broadcast caused the composer considerable distress. How fitting, then, that the BBC Philharmonic now delivers this magnificent interpretation under Gamba's assured direction. The orchestra is in splendid form throughout, producing wonderfully nuanced dynamics and thrilling sonorities that should elevate the symphony's profile, despite the logistical challenges posed by the percussive requirements of vibraphone, glockenspiel, xylophone, tam-tam, whip, and castanets, alongside the conventional percussion battery.

This latest Chandos release further cements Ruth Gipps' reputation as a composer of significance and imagination—a testament to both her compositional brilliance and Gamba's unwavering advocacy.