In Memoriam

Ruth Stuber Jeanne
by James L. Moore

Ruth Stuber Jeanne, marimbist, percussionist, violinist and arranger, died April 6, 2004, in Newark, Ohio at the age of 93. Ruth’s many contributions to mallet percussion playing and her pioneering efforts throughout her long life touched many percussionists.

By the time Ruth was nine years old, her father had already taught her drumset and bells, piano, harmony, ear training, sight singing and dictation. Soon after that, her father, who was one of the founders of string programs in the schools, started her on violin. Ruth subsequently attended Northwestern University and earned a Bachelor of Music degree as a violin major.

In 1933, Ruth got her first marimba, and in her words, “just took off!”with Clair O. Musser as her first marimba teacher. She played in Musser’s 100-piece Marimba Orchestra for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. Then in 1936 she went to New York City where she studied marimba with George Hamilton Green and timpani with George Braun of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

In 1937, Ruth became timpanist with the all-female Chamber Orchestrette conducted by Frederique Petrides. Maestro Petrides wanted to feature the marimba with her orchestra, but after searching, she discovered that no suitable music had been written for marimba solo with orchestra. Composer Paul Creston accepted the challenge and as Ruth described, “He would bring me a page or two of music at a time to try out and evaluate until, in March of 1940, the work was finished.”On April 29, 1940, Ruth premiered the “Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra”with very good reviews by the New York music critics.

In the late 1950s Ruth and her family moved to Columbus, Ohio, and from this time on she began arranging music for student and adult marimba ensembles. Many of these arrangements are now published by Per-Mus Publications, and are widely used by school and college music departments throughout the country and the world. Of special interest was Ruth’s Adult Senior Citizens Marimba Ensemble formed in the early 1980s. Consisting of ten marimba players, mostly mature ladies, and two male string bass players, this ensemble performed at two PASICs in Columbus, Ohio to very enthusiastic, appreciative audiences.

Through Ruth Jeanne’s pioneering performances, her long teaching career, and her many wonderful arrangements for mallet instruments she has been instrumental in furthering the cause of the marimba as a serious concert instrument both as a solo instrument and in ensemble performances. This wonderful lady will be missed by all of us whose lives she touched and with whom she shared her many special talents.

A memorial service for Ruth Jeanne was held in Granville, Ohio on June 6, at which her two grandsons performed on her marimbas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Centenary United Methodist Church, 102 E. Broadway, Granville, Ohio 43023, where Ruth’s collection of marimbas was kept and where her ensembles frequently rehearsed and performed.

James L. Moore was founder and served as editor of Percussive Notes magazine for 18 years, and is editor/owner of Per-Mus Publications.

The Birth of the Creston Marimba Concerto: An Interview with Ruth Jeanne