Jubilate Deo (No 3 - 6 Sketches)

Cecil Armstrong Gibbs was born on 10 August 1889 at The Vineyards, Great Baddow, Chelmsford in Essex, UK. He was the first child born to David Cecil Gibbs and Ida Gibbs (nee Whitehead). His mother died when he was only two years old and he was raised by his five maiden aunts.

The youngster disliked the name Cecil, so was known as Armstrong.

The aunts recognised his musical talents and begged his father to send him abroad for a musical education, however, his father, who had been educated in Germany, was determined to give his son the benefit of an English public school education.

The young Armstrong was sent to a preparatory school on the Hove/Brighton border and then on to Winchester College.

From Winchester, he went to Trinity College Cambridge to read history. After completing his History Tripos in 1911 he stayed on at Cambridge to take his Mus. B. During that period, he received composition and harmony lessons from E. J. Dent and Charles Wood and studied the organ briefly under Cyril Rootham.

Further musical tuition came from Sir Adrian Boult (conducting) and Ralph Vaughan Williams (composition) at the RCM. Gibbs was a contemporary of Herbert Howells, Sir Arthur Bliss and Sir Arnold Bax.

Known principally for his solo songs, Gibbs also wrote music for the stage, sacred works, three symphonies and a substantial amount of chamber music, much of which is unpublished.

He gained wide recognition during the early part of his life, but in recent times, like many of his contemporaries, has been little known.

Although he retired from adjudicating, he continued to compose and conduct up until his death in Chelmsford, Essex on 12 May 1960. He is buried with his wife Honor in Danbury churchyard.

Apart from the larger sacred choral works, Gibbs wrote a number of hymn tunes and carols. There were also anthems and settings of canticles. His output for organ was small, but there are a number of significant piano works.