Gilda Ruta Explained

Gilda Ruta (13 October 1853 – 26 October 1932) was an Italian pianist, music educator and composer.

Biography

Countess Gilda Ruta Cagnazzi was born in Naples, the daughter of composer Michele Ruta and English singer Emilia Sutton.^{[1] [2]}

She studied music with her father and with the opera composer Saverio Mercadante and became a noted pianist.^[3] She played before Queen Margherita of Italy at the Constanzi Theater in Rome (now Teatro dell'Opera di Roma) and won a gold medal at the International Exposition in Florence. After being widowed at age of 27 with two children, she began composing. She moved to New York City, taught private piano lessons in Greenwich Village, and died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Manhattan at age 79.^[4]

Works

Ruta produced more than 125 works for piano and orchestra, and also composed for opera.^[5]

Selected works include:

• Scherzo for pianoforte
• Voglio guarire, melodia romantica
• Tempo di Gavotta e Musette for pianoforte
• Canto melanconico for contralto and basso
• La Gavotta per pianoforte
• Partirai!! canto for mezzo-sop and baritono
• Alle stelle melodia romantica
• Canzone marinaresca for soprano
• Allegro appassionato for pianoforte
• Per te! canto
• Dolci memorie! melodia
• Dammi un' ora d'amor! melodia romantica
• The Fire-Worshippers opera
• Cuore su Cuore valzer
• Siciliana for pianoforte

Notes and References

1. Web site: Babbe. Annkatrin. Ruta, (Teresa Emelina) Gilda. Sophie Drinker Institut. 22 May 2017. DE.
2. Book: Sica. Francesca Perruccio. Sadie. Julie Anne. Samuel. Rhian. The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers. 1995. W. W. Norton & Company. New York City. 398.
3. Book: Woman's Work in Music. Elson, Authur. 30 October 2010. 9781406863024. 2007-09-01. Echo Library .
4. Milestones, Nov. 7, 1932. https://web.archive.org/web/20121106081814/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,744684-2,00.html. dead. November 6, 2012. 30 October 2010 . Time. 7 November 1932.
5. Web site: Famous Women in Musical History. July 1909. The Etude. Elson, Arthur. 30 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20120305203832/http://scriabin.com/etude/1909/07/famous-women-in-musical-history.html. 5 March 2012. dead.