Mary Anne Virginia Gabriel (7 February 1825 – 7 August 1877) was an English singer and composer. She was also known as Mrs. George E. March.
Life Virginia Gabriel was born in Banstead, Surrey, England, the daughter of Major-general "Archangel" Gabriel. She studied piano with Johann Peter Pixis, Theodor Dohler, Sigismond Thalberg and Bernhard Molique and composition with opera composer Saverio Mercadante.
In 1870 Gabriel went for an extended stay at Glamis Castle in the Scottish Lowlands, and was reportedly responsible, among others, for later accounts of the castle's "secret" having to do with a mysterious occupant, the Monster of Glamis.
Gabriel wrote popular ballads which established her reputation as a songwriter and composer. Although women songwriters were well accepted in the 19th century, and she had no problems in getting her songs published, she struggled to get publishers for her more serious compositions. For example, she had to pay for self-publication of her cantata Dreamland. Although her songwriting style was Romantic, her songs always reflected ability and inventiveness because of her strength as a serious composer.
Gabriel married her librettist George March in 1874, who was employed by the Foreign Office. The Times reported that she died in 1877 from "injuries sustained by a fall from a carriage". Her Evening Post obituary described her as being "much liked in Society" and as possessing "...a kindness of heart."
Works Gabriel was known for cantatas and operas and she also wrote songs. Selected works include: Evangeline (1873) cantata Graziella (1870) cantata Dreamland (1870) cantata Widows Bewitched (1865) opera A Quiet Chateau (1867) opera Who's The Heir? (1868) opera Lost and Found (1870) opera Grass Widows, opera The Shepherd of Cornouaille's, opera The Follies of a Night, opera A Rainy Day, opera The Lion's Mouth, opera bouffe Change upon change (Text: Elizabeth Barrett Browning) Du bist wie eine Blume, op. 1, no. 3 (Text: Heinrich Heine) Oh, wilt thou have my hand, Dear (Text: Elizabeth Barrett Browning) Orpheus With His Lute (Text: John Fletcher) At the Window (Text: Robert Browning) song A Mother's Song, song Don't Forget Me Quite (Text: Mrs Francis Anne Kemble) song Ruby, song Beryl (Companion Song to Ruby) Brighter Hours, song Asleep, song Pearl, song Emerald, song The Opal Ring, song When Sparrows Build (Text: Jean Ingelow) song List'ning Mother, song The Door Ajar, song A Song to Lay at the Feet of my Love Little Golden Hair, song Corra Linn, song O Spare my Boy at Sea, song Slumber, Mine Own, song At my Feet, song Light through Darkness (from the cantata: Dreamland) song Dreams of Those who loved me (from the cantata: Dreamland) song Chloe sat beside the River (from the opera: Widows Bewitched) song Love is gone a Maying (from the opera: Widows Bewitched) song Sweet Seventeen, song The Golden Wedding Day, song Under the Trellised Vine (from the cantata: Graziella) song Farewell my Bark (from the cantata: Graziella) song You came to me with winning smile, song The Fisherman's Widow, contralto song I will arise, sacred song What will you do? sacred song The Lord is my portion church anthem Lily Graeme, song A Dead Past, song The Choice, song Thoughts! song Spirit Love, song Twilight, song Three Lilies, song Friends, song
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