An Evening of Memories and Music in Tribute to Dr. Rita Steblin (April 22, 1952 - September 3, 2019)
On Friday January 31, 2020 7:00pm at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts in Burnaby BC Dianne Globe organized an evening tribute to Dr. Rita Steblin. Along with remembrances from friends and colleagues including Dr. John Glofcheskie and Andrew Werner, pianist Wayne Weng performed a moving selection of Schubert’s works. The program included Minuet in A+ D.334, Der Müller und der Bach (transcribed by Liszt), Piano Piece in C+ D. 946 no. 3, Impromptu in Gb+ D.899, Sonata in Bb- D.960. As the President of the Vancouver/Burnaby Branch, Rita’s " alma mater”, I was also invited to speak at the event and to give a brief view of her time on the Executive as well as some personal reflections.
My first encounter with Rita was in 1987, when she was treasurer of the Branch and I was still in the Student Teachers’ Auxiliary. The composer Dmitri Kabalevsky, whose pieces are especially beloved of students, had died that Spring and in the Fall Rita proposed a student recital featuring his works. I attended the event at the Canadian Memorial United Church on 16th and Burrard where Rita gave a brief introduction and was the MC. Even then, her enthusiasm was apparent as was her deep commitment to the musical community.
Two years later with more teaching experience under my belt, I joined the Vancouver RMT and was asked to become a part of the Executive. It was February 1989 and Rita had risen to the position of Madame President. Then, as now, there wasn’t always a clear path of succession in our organization and since there was a need, she gamely stepped over the position of vice-president to take the helm of the group.
As was tradition, the executive usually met in the home of the president. My impression of her westside apartment, accurate or otherwise, was that it was the quintessential scholar’s workplace. There were books and scores everywhere, music memorabilia were scattered on most surfaces, and pictures with composers or other musical themes decorated the walls. I suspect many of the items I saw were gifts from family, friends, or students as she once noted that she should be no problem to buy for as ANYTHING music related was appreciated. Her piano was a vintage upright with the candle holders still in place to light up the score and allow for evening music making. I imagine her apartment in Vienna was similar, but others would have to confirm this.
Throughout her years in the Vancouver Branch, Rita made several presentations to the group. The two that are most prominent in my memory featured her work on the Beethoven portrait and the sexual stereotyping of musical instruments. She continued to refine and publish her findings in these areas along with a myriad of other topics as we all know.
Part way through her term as president, Rita made the monumental decision to follow her heart and move to Vienna to be a full-time musicologist. She sincerely regretted being unable to fulfil her mandate, and while we would miss her cheerful attitude and efficiency, I do not believe anyone on the Executive felt anything less than gratitude for the contributions she had already made. She left with our best wishes for her bold new venture.
I do not know how often Rita returned to Vancouver, but I only saw her on one or two occasions. Her publications however, cropped up more frequently when I was in graduate school studying musicology in the early 2000’s. I used and quoted her book A History of Key Characteristics in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries several times in various essays and class assignments. Through amazing perseverance and fastidious research she solved many historical mysteries including the identity of Beethoven’s Immortal Beloved. She was an outstanding musicologist who deserved far more recognition than she received in her lifetime but which will undoubtably be fully acknowledged by future scholars.
Although I had not seen Rita in many years, like many I was shocked to hear of her sudden passing this Fall. People with a passion like Rita never retire and I suspect she had many more musicological leads she wanted to follow. Had she had more time we would have been the richer for her efforts, as it is, we can still be grateful for the lives she touched and the legacy she created.
To view a list of Rita’s exceptional publications please visit her wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Steblin
Barbara Siemens
February 2, 2020