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]

References

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. 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. "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.