Background
Virginia Gabriel was born in Banstead, Surrey, England, the daughter of Major-general "Archangel" Gabriel.
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.
She was also known as Mistress George East. March. 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 writer and composer.
Although women writers were well accepted in the 19th century and she had no problems in getting her s published, she struggled to get publishers for her more serious compositions.
Foreign example, she had to pay for self-publication of her cantata Dreamland. Although her writing style was Romantic, her s 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.".