Ruth Tripp

Ruth Erskine Tripp (December 26, 1897 – May 1971) was an American[1] composer,[2][3] music critic,[4] educator,[5] and pianist.[6] She administered the Works Progress Administration's Federal Music Project (WPA FMP) in the state of Rhode Island from 1940 to 1943.[7]

Tripp was born in Dighton, Massachusetts, to Everett E. and Martha Erskine Tripp. She had three sisters: Martha, Elsie, and Gertrude.[8] In 1903 the family moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island.[7]

Tripp graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music and studied music in France at the Conservatorie Fountainbleu (probably one of the Fontainebleau Schools) in 1922.[9] Her teachers included May Atwood Anderson, Avis Bliven Charbonnel, and Ferdinand Motte-Lacroix.[10]

Tripp taught music at the Gordon School, a private school in Providence,[4] and later at the University of Rhode Island and Bryant College (today Bryant University).[7] She was music critic[11] for the Providence Journal-Bulletin for 27 years, and also worked as a church choir director and organist.[12] She served as president of Rhode Island's Federation of Music Clubs,[13] and received awards from the American Symphony Orchestra League (today the League of American Orchestras) and the Music Critics Association.[14] Tripp also participated in Rhode Island's Chaminade Club.[7]

Tripp's papers are archived at the Rhode Island Historical Society. She wrote a short story entitled The Jacknife.[7] Her musical compositions[15] include:

Chamber
  • Bergerette (flute and strings)[16]
Operetta
  • Rabbit's Foot (lyrics by Grace Sherwood)[7]
  • Wedding of Miss Mary Krissmass and Mr. Sandy Claws (lyrics by Grace Sherwood)[7]
Vocal
  • "Christmas Folk Song" (text by Lizette Woodworth Reese)[7]
  • "Earth Bread"[7]
  • In the Days of Herod the King (three women's voices; text Matthew 11:1-11)[7]
  • Land Grant: A Free Choral Adaptation of Portions of the Morrill Act of 1862 (M) Ostrich (text by Charles Malam)[7]
  • "Rivals" (text by James Stephens; written for the 1948 Gordon School commencement)[7]
  • "Rhode Island Campaign Song"[7]
  • Same Country (strings, harp, and choir; text Luke II: 8–14)[17]
  • Songs of the Sea (with Grace Sherwood)[7]
  • "Solitary Place shall be Glad" (text Isaiah 35:1-2-10)[7]
  1. ^ Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers : a handbook. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-1138-3. OCLC 3844725.
  2. ^ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International encyclopedia of women composers (Second edition, revised and enlarged ed.). New York. ISBN 0-9617485-2-4. OCLC 16714846.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Hixon, Donald L. (1993). Women in music : an encyclopedic biobibliography. Don A. Hennessee (2nd ed.). Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-2769-7. OCLC 28889156.
  4. ^ a b Livingston, Carolyn (1999). "The History of Music and Music Education in Rhode Island: A Project for Graduate Students". Bulletin of Historical Research in Music Education. 20 #2 (2): 121–141. doi:10.1177/153660069902000204. JSTOR 40214991. S2CID 148990630 – via JSTOR.
  5. ^ Burns, Kristine Helen (2002). Women and Music in America Since 1900: An Encyclopedia. Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-1-57356-309-3.
  6. ^ Musical America. Music Publications, Limited. 1916.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Rhode Island Historical Society". www.rihs.org. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  8. ^ "Ruth E Tripp (1897-1971) - Find A Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  9. ^ The Luther Family in America: A Genealogy of the Descendants of Captain John Luther of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1976. ISBN 978-0-9601064-1-7.
  10. ^ Thrasher, Herbert Chandler (1942). 250 Years of Music in Providence, Rhode Island, 1636-1886. Rhode Island Federation of music clubs.
  11. ^ Showcase: Music Clubs Magazine. National Federation of Music Clubs. 1961.
  12. ^ The Bulletin of Historical Research in Music Education. Department of Art and Music Education and Music Therapy, University of Kansas. 1998.
  13. ^ on, Best Books (1937). Rhode Island, a Guide to the Smallest State. Best Books on. ISBN 978-1-62376-038-0.
  14. ^ Musical Courier. 1960.
  15. ^ Directory of American Women Composers. National Federation of Music Clubs. 1970.
  16. ^ Livingston, Carolyn; Smith, Dawn Elizabeth (2008). Rhode Island's Musical Heritage: An Exploration. Harmonie Park Press. ISBN 978-0-89990-143-5.
  17. ^ Administration, United States Work Projects (1941). List of American Orchestral Works Recommended by WPA Music Project Conductors. Work projects administration, Federal works agency.