Rubbra, Edmund (1901-1986) was an English composer, pianist, and teacher. His large output includes 11 symphonies, his best-known compositions. Rubbra composed in every musical style except works for the stage. He composed much religious music, including five masses—one Anglican and four for the Roman Catholic Church, which he joined in 1948. He also wrote chamber music, choral music and songs, and orchestral works other than his symphonies.
Charles Edmund Rubbra was born on May 23, 1901, in Northampton, Northamptonshire, and attended school there. He worked as a railroad clerk before winning scholarships to Reading University (1920-1921) and the Royal College of Music (1921-1925), where his teachers included the English composers Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Rubbra was a senior lecturer in music at Oxford University from 1947 to 1968. He died on Feb. 14, 1986.
