Emily Josephine Troup (7 July 1853, Woodberry Down, London – 11 April 1913, Saltwood, Kent) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

composer of songs and works for piano and violin. A scholarship for female students studying orchestral composition was established in her name at the Royal Academy of Music, in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. Her obituary states that she founded the scholarship.

Family and early life

Josephine was the youngest daughter of Susanna and John Troup, a jeweller and watchmaker, of Essex Lodge, Clapton, England. Her early years were spent among Unitarian surroundings where it is thought she probably acquired the habit of industry that led her to develop so fully her exceptional musical and literary gifts, and the keen sense of duty that made her ever anxious to use them as a means of social service.

Career

Troup was an active member of the South Place Ethical Society., contributing to its newsletters and participating in fundraising activities. An obituary published in the Report of the Committee of

South Place Ethical Society The Conway Hall Ethical Society, formerly the South Place Ethical Society, based in London at Conway Hall, is thought to be the oldest surviving freethought organisation in the world and is the only remaining ethical society in the United Kin ...

, May 1913, page 3 states that she was the “

Eliza Flower Eliza Flower (1803 – 12 December 1846) was a British musician and composer. In addition to her own work, Flower became known for her friendships including those with William Johnson Fox, Robert Browning, John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor. B ...

of our generation” making reference to the composer and member of the Society. Between January 1889 and February 1902 she took part in 49 Sunday Evening Concerts at South Place, later joining the Society. She was known too for her financial largesse giving generously to societies in both the UK and America. In addition to her ''Every-day Songs'' for children’s services, Josephine compiled and edited three Ethical Hymn Books, including ''Ethical Songs with Music'' (1892), and ''Hymns of Modern Thought'' (1912). Her contributions were so great that she veiled her identity under a variety of pseudonyms.

Death

Troup died on 11 April 1913 and was buried in

Kensal Green Cemetery Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in the Kensal Green area of Queens Park in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. Inspired by Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, it was founded by the barrister George Frederick ...

. At her memorial service, William Rawlings said of her: 'She was always overflowing with cheerfulness and vivacity, bearing with her an atmosphere of brightness and lightheartedness; and at the same time one of sincerity, earnestness, and depth of character.’

Selected works

Orchestral

* 'March of the Workers' for soprano, bass solo, chorus and orchestra.

Chamber

* Romanza in C for string quartet Six sketches for violin and piano ''pub. by Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew Ltd'' *''Kleines Wiegenlied'' (1909) * Portuguese Love Song * Spring Showers

Children's songs

Selected works include: *''The Daddy Longlegs'' (Text: Edward Lear) *''The Duck and the Kangaroo'' (Text: Edward Lear) *''The Jumblies'' (Text: Edward Lear) *''In love, if love be love'' (Text: Lord Alfred Tennyson) *''On a faded violet'' (Text: Percy Bysshe Shelley) *''Today'' (Text: Thomas Carlyle)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Troup, Josephine 1853 births 1912 deaths 19th-century classical composers Women classical composers English classical composers Musicians from London 19th-century British composers 19th-century women composers