CMC was saddened to learn of composer and pianist John Gibson's unexpected death on 1 September 2016 at his home in Cork. By way of a small tribute, CMC asked two composers who knew him well and worked with him during his career - Vincent Kennedy and Jane O'Leary - to share some of their memories of him.
Vincent Kennedy
It was a very sad time hearing of the death of my friend John Gibson in very early September. I had known John along time. He and I grew up around the corner from each other in Dublin in a time when Dublin was more like a collection of villages and even if you didn’t know someone’s name you knew where they lived and that they were of your place.
It was while waiting for a bus to Westland Row on Sandford Road that we first conversed. John asked what instrument was in the case I was holding and was surprised to learn that in Westland Row there existed another institution that taught music other than the RIAM. He knew of the existence of CBS Westland Row but until then not of its unique concert band. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
John was always interested in what I was doing. A humble man, one had to coax out of him his plans for life and composition and performance. And the coaxing was worth it. I learned a lot from John over the years and was inspired by his ways. He told me how he put on subscription concerts of his own music and that he composed music continuously and could not wait around to be asked to do concerts or to be commissioned to write new music, although he gladly accepted these opportunities when they came along.
John was a man of faith and when he wrote religious music he wrote to and for the glory of God. He took music to those who could no longer come to concerts in his local community. John also loved combining his love of performance and his interest in places and people and went as a pianist on a number of cruises.
I remember a great concert John gave as a performer in the NCH. One could see how he loved to perform. He was a big man and when he unleashed his fortissimo it was a magnificent sound and an awesome sight to behold. He had a beautiful pianissimo like the sound of an arctic fox walking on freshly fallen snow.
John was always generous in his time to anyone who sought his advice and assistance. He appreciated fine food and good wine and loved sharing these with good company. In his conversations with me John was always passionate for equality in all aspects of life and abhorred the widening gap between poor and rich in our country. He could not understand how as the country grew wealthier the numbers of homeless on our streets was rising.
John Gibson performing in CMC's courtyard for the launch of his CD in 2011
It was a great honour for me when John asked to launch his CD in 2011
The John Gibson Collection. This was John’s sixth CD since 1990. The day after the launch John invited me to lunch in the Shelbourne Hotel where he gave the gift of two books one of which is “Tibetan Sound Healing” by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and every day since I perform the meditative breathing exercises I learnt from the book. On that occasion John said that “the measure of any society is not how wealthy it becomes, but how well it treats its old, infirm and poor”. My world is the better for knowing John and I shall miss him and his wonderful laugh, his inspiration and his beautiful music.
Ar dheis Dé do raibh a anam.
Jane O'Leary
When we began to think about setting up a new music ensemble in Dublin early in 1976, John Gibson was an eager participant and contributor. He was willing, enthusiastic, and of course very capable as a musician and pianist. In Concorde’s first concerts, John and I shared piano parts – he played solo pieces like Aaron Copland’s Piano Variations, Claudio Spies’ Impromptu and Bagatelle, as well as Gershwin’s jazzy Three Preludes, and accompaniments to Copland songs sung by Anne Woodworth. In 1977 John played Schoenberg’s Op. 33 piano solo in a programme at the Goethe Institute. In April 1978 Concorde gave their first concert in the Hugh Lane Gallery, and I remember having a lot of fun with John as we got together to play Stravinsky’s perky duets (Five Easy Pieces and Three Easy Pieces). After playing with us in November 1978 – works by Morton Feldman (The Viola in my Life), songs by Charles Ives and Gustav Holst, solo pieces by Messiaen, and Chansons Madecasses by Ravel – John moved to Cork, and we were sorry to see him go.
John Gibson, speaking in 2005 about music in Dublin during the 1970s
I remember John as always smiling, always pleasant, always comfortable playing the piano and sharing music with others. I met him a few years ago by chance in Dublin Airport, and he was contemplating retirement from teaching. I sensed how much he loved working with students and how hard it was for him to contemplate withdrawing from that part of his life. John was a gentleman in the best sense of the word and a true musician with breadth and depth; he radiated enjoyment of all he did.
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