Ruth Barrett Phelps
Ruth Barrett Phelps | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anna Ruth Barrett October 21, 1899 |
| Died | August 20, 1980 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Organist |
| Spouses | Walter M. Arno and Lawrence I. Phelps |
Ruth Barrett Phelps (October 21, 1899 - August 30, 1980) was an American organist whose career included both theatre organ and church performance.
Biography
Ruth was born on October 21, 1899, in Albany, New York.[1] She studied under a number of well-known teachers including Lilian Carpenter, Lynnwood Farnam, Ernest Mitchell, Fritz Heitmann, and Frank La Forge; and attended Guilmant Organ School in New York City and American School of Music in Fontainebleau, France.[2][3]
In 1926 she was a resident organist at the
She married Lawrence I. Phelps, an organ builder, and from this point on performed as Ruth Barrett Phelps.[4][5] She became the principal organist at The First Church of Christ, Scientist by 1950, the Aeolian-Skinner organ installed during her tenure was designed by her husband.[5][6][7] As a result, she became one of Boston's prominent musicians, and made recordings and national radio broadcasts from the church.[8][9] She was the first woman dean of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Guild of Organists.[7][3] In addition to the church work she gave concerts of classical music.[10] She wrote a monthly review column in The Christian Science Monitor, and published a number of music books.[3] Among these books were several compilations of Mary Baker Eddy hymns and other music "suitable for Christian Science services".[11]
Ruth Barrett Phelps died on August 30, 1980, in San Mateo, California.[1]
References
- ^ a b "Additional Dates and Information". A Directory of Composers for Organ. John Henderson.
- ^ Hawke, H. William (December 16, 2013). "Lynnwood Farnam". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Women of History: Ruth Barrett Phelps. April 6, 2020
- ^ ISSN 0040-5531.
- ^ OCLC 856647447.
- ^ "Obituaries: Lawrence Phelps". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. April 9, 1999. p. B7 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Church Organists of the Nation Want Better Pay". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. June 24, 1950. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Koontz, Jonathan (November 27, 1955). "Local Man Makes Good at 78". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 29 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Radio Highlights". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. November 28, 1960. p. 5B – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Music This Week". Boston Globe. June 2, 1968. p. A-25 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Worldcat "Ruth Barrett Phelps author" search". Retrieved 2022-10-24.
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