Gillian Bibby

Gillian Bibby
MNZM
Bibby in 2020
Born
Gillian Margaret Bibby

(1945-08-31)31 August 1945
Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Died7 August 2023(2023-08-07) (aged 77)
Wellington, New Zealand
Occupations
  • Composer
  • pianist
  • music teacher

Gillian Margaret Bibby MNZM (31 August 1945 – 7 August 2023) was a New Zealand composer, pianist, writer and teacher.

Bibby was born in Lower Hutt, New Zealand on 31 August 1945, the daughter of the Reverend Lawrence Vincent Bibby and Margaret Valerie Bibby (née Davidson).[1][2][3] She studied at the University of Otago and Victoria University of Wellington[1] with Douglas Lilburn. She continued her studies in Berlin and Cologne with Aloys Kontarsky, Mauricio Kagel and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

In 1976, Bibby returned to New Zealand to take up a two year Mozart Fellowship at the University of Otago in Dunedin.[4]

Bibby relocated to Wellington in 1978 and worked as a pianist, composer, music teacher and university lecturer.[5][6]

Bibby was active in several music-related organisations, serving as president and chair, and founded the CHAMPS Trust to offer opportunities for youth in music. She was awarded the Philip Neill prize in composition, the Kranichsteiner prize in composition and the Darmstadt prize for new music.[7]

In the 2020 New Year Honours, Bibby was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music and music education.[8]

Bibby died in Wellington on 7 August 2023, at the age of 77.[9][10][11]

Works

Selected works include:

  • 11 Characters in Search of a Composer for orchestra or military band
  • Aie! A Conversation Piece for tape
  • Musik für drei Hörer (Music for 3 Listeners) for clavichord, voice, and percussion
  • Sanctuary of Spirits, children's opera
  • The Beasts, song cycle of 6 songs and 5 snatches
  • You can't kiss the Tummy of a Caged Lion: Pavane pour un genre defunt for voices and chamber ensemble[7]

Her music has been recorded and issued on CD, including:

  • Life, Love and Death
  • The Songs of the Morning: a story of music in early Antarctica
  • Douglas Lilburn: Salutes to Poet

References

  1. ^ a b Dees, Pamela Youngdahl (2004). A Guide to Piano Music by Women Composers: Women born after 1900.
  2. ^ "Births". Evening Post. Vol. 140, no. 54. 1 September 1945. p. 1. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Wedding: Bibby–Davidson". Evening Star. No. 22361. 10 June 1936. p. 15. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  4. ^ "The Mozart Fellowship – previous recipients". University of Otago. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  5. ^ International who's who in classical music. Europa Publications Limited. 2007.
  6. ^ Sadie, Julie Anne; Samuel, Rhian (1994). The Norton/Grove dictionary of women composers. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 9780393034875. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Gillian Bibby - composer". SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music. SOUNZ. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  8. ^ "New Year honours list 2020". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Gillian Bibby obituary". The Post. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  10. ^ "In memory of Gillian Bibby MNZM". Tributes Online. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  11. ^ Bess, Manson (26 August 2023). "Pianist Gillian Bibby came to life teaching". The Post. Stuff. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
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