Gramophone Magazine
September 2024
Editor's Choice

Juliana Koch (oboe), Michael McHale (piano), Julian Bliss (clarinet)

Gipps: Sonata No. 2, Op. 66
Gipps: Kensington Gardens Suite, Op. 2
Gipps: Sea-weed Song, Op. 12c
Gipps: Sea-shore Suite, Op. 3b
Gipps: Sonata No. 1, Op. 5a
Gipps: The Piper of Dreams, Op. 12b
Gipps: Trio, Op. 10
Gipps: Threnody, Op. 74

Ruth Gipps made her musical talents apparent from an early age, and they were encouraged by her very supportive mother. She entered the Royal College of Music in 1937, aged 16, studying oboe and piano, in addition to composition, with Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gordon Jacob. Whilst at college, she performed Brahms's Second Piano Concerto, and her tone poem "Knight in Armour" (CHAN 20078) was presented by Sir Henry Wood at the Last Night of the Proms in 1942.

As the war continued, Gipps left London to become principal oboe with the City of Birmingham Orchestra, where she also performed as pianist and had several of her works programmed. Returning to London after the war, Gipps found fewer opportunities as a performer, and less interest in her orchestral scores. She concentrated on composing more chamber music, alongside a successful teaching career.

This album of her chamber music for oboe (and cor anglais) features works composed from 1938 to 1990, representing Gipps's entire compositional life. In demand as a soloist all over Europe, Juliana Koch was appointed Professor of Oboe at the Royal College of Music, London, in 2018 and is Principal Oboe of the London Symphony Orchestra.

"I have nothing but praise for the irreproachable musicianship displayed by Juliana Koch (principal oboe with the LSO), who in turn enjoys sterling support from Michael McHale... All in all, a delectable disc." - Gramophone Magazine, September 2024