H. Howells
Herbert Howells
One of my favorite composers, Howells was born in 1892 in Lydney, Gloucester. By the year 1912 he had won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music, where his main teachers were Charles Stanford and Charles Wood. Shortly after his arrival, his Mass in the Dorian Mode was sung at Westminster Cathedral, providing Howells with lime-light.

Early in his career he fell ill, and was not expected to live, yet by 1920 he had recovered and in the same year began to teach composition at RCM, which he continued until he was 80. He taught, adjudicated and made people want to sing. He was appointed King Edward VII Professor of Music at London University in 1950.

Most of Howells church music was written well into his career, however there are three pieces worth mentioning which come from his earlier years; A Spotless Rose, Sing Lullaby, 1918-20; Nunc Dimittis, 1924. His music is an amelioration of the styles of Parry, Stanford, and Walton. He was inspired by all forms of music. He had a love of modes and counterpoint. He can be considered one of, if not, the greatest Georgian Composers, and his best works can be considered some of the finest writing by an English Composer in the 20th century.
Howells is one of my favourite composers. His work is so deep and profound, yet very easy to follow. The range of melodies and harmonies is astounding; it would have been great to take a lesson or two from him!

Some of Howells works:up

  • Mass in the Dorian Mode (1912) SATB
  • Even Such Is Time (1913) SSAATTBB
  • The Tinker's Song (1914) SATB
  • In Youth is Pleasure (1915) SSATB
    Sir F. Bridge and the Madrigal Society
  • Four Anthems to the B. V. M. (1916)
    • Alma Redemptoris Mater SATB
    • Ave regina SATB
    • Salve Regina SATB
    • Regina coeli SATB
  • Before Me, Careless Lying (1918) SSATB (R. R. Terry)
  • Sir Patrick Spens (1917) B Solo/SATB/Orch
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis in G (1918) SATB/Org
    Westminster Abbey
  • Three Carol Anthems (1918-1920)
    • Here is the little door (1918) SATB
    • A Spotless Rose (1919) Bar Solo/SATB
      A beautiful carol with longing sweeping phrases. Howells harmonics at their best.
    • Sing Lullaby (1920) SATB
      A quiet typically Howellian piece of dark harmonic proportions.
  • Haec Dies (1920) SATBSATB
  • Blessed are the Dead (1920) SATBSATB
  • Sine Nomine - a Phantasy (1922) 2 Soli/SATB/Org/Orch
  • My Master Hath a Garden (1923) SS/Piano
  • Lord, Who Createst Man (1923) SSATB/Piano
  • Six Choral Songs (1923-1925)
  • Te Deum (1924) Uni/Org
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1924) Uni/Org
  • Communion Service (1924) Uni/Org
  • Benedictus and Jubilate Deo (1924) Uni/Org
  • Nunc Dimittis (1924) SSAATTBB
    Written in 1914 for the choir of the new Catholic Cathedral of Westminster, This double-choir setting of the song of Simeon is surprisingly simple, and very graceful. A pity a companion Magnificat was never composed as the Catholic service of Compline doesn't contain it. This piece, although written in 1914, was not published until 1989, 6 years after Howell's death in 1983. The manusricpts had been lost in the music library at Westminster Cathedral.
  • When First Thine Eyes Unveil (1925) SATB/Org
  • My eyes for beauty pine (1925) SATB/Org
  • The Trial of Jesus (1926) SATB/Str/Piano
    a play by John Masefield
  • Kent Yeoman's Wooing Song (1933) S & B Soli/SATB/Orch
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1935) TTBB/Org
  • Requiem (1936) S & Bar Soli/SATB
    • Salvator Mundi
    • Psalm 23
    • Requiem Aeternam (I)
    • Psalm 121
    • Requiem Aeternam (II)
  • Hymnus paradisi (1938) S & T Soli/SATB/Org/Orch
    • Preludio (Lento, molto espressivo)
    • Requiem aeternam (Lento, teneramente)
    • The Lord is my Shepherd (Quasi lento, non troppo rubato)
    • Sanctus: I will lift up mine eyes (Allegro volante)
    • I heard a voice from Heaven (Lento, assai tranquillo)
    • Holy is the True Light (Con moto, ma assai sostenuto)
  • Four Anthems (1941) SATB/Org
    • O pray for the peace of Jerusalem
    • We have heard with our ears
    • Like as the hart
    • Let God arise
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1941) TTBB/Org
  • Great is the Lord (1941) SATB/Org
  • Ponder My Words, O Lord (1941) SATB/Org
  • Te Deum/Jubilate (1944) SATB/Org
    Collegium Regale
    Whoa! Hold on! The Te Deum is a nice well rounded piece, but the Jubilate has to be my favourite of the two, it has great modal changes and the key change half the way through is masterfully done. As usual, Howells is able to make a unison line fit perfectly with the organ accompaniment. The best part is the Amen at the end when the organ resolves while the choir holds an Eb for a good 5 meaures of 4/4.
  • Three Motets (1944-1958)
    • God is gone up (1944) SATB/Org or Str
    • House of the Mind, The (1954) SATB/Org or Str
    • King of Glory (1949) SATB/Org
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1945) SATB/Org
    Collegium Regale
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1946) SATB/Org
    Gloucester Cathedral
    First class piece of music. The sopranos in the mag weave in and out of each other during their usual exposition at the start of the setting. What gets me every time when I listen to this piece of music is the "as it was" in the Doxology at the end of both settings, the basses enter, then the tenors, but you don't realize that the build up is going to climax the way it does when the tenors build up steam, but the sopranos are the ones who let it fly.
  • Te Deum/Benedictus (1946) SATB/Org
    Canterbury Cathedral
  • Where Wast Thou? (1948) SATB/Org
    Canterbury Cathedral
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1949) SATB/Org
    New College, Oxford
  • A Maid Peerless (1951) 4 Soli /SSAA/Str or Piano
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1951) SATB/Org
    Worcester Cathedral
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1951) SATB/Org
    St. Paul's Cathedral, London
  • Long, long ago (1951) SATB
  • Te Deum/Benedictus (1952) SATB/Org
    St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
  • Behold, O God, our defender (1952) SATB/Org or Orch
    Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
  • Inheritance (1953) SSAATTBB
    from "A Garland for the Queen"
  • Missa sabrinensis (1954) SATB Soli/SATB/Orch
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis in b (1955) SATB/Org
  • An English Mass (1955) (St.Michael's)
    • Kyrie eleison (Lento, appenato)
    • Credo (Vivo, deciso)
    • Sursum corda (Poco lento)
    • Sanctus (Moderato, espressivo)
    • Benedictus (Lento, piacevole)
    • Agnus Dei (Adagio doloroso)
    • Gloria (Allegro vivo)
  • The Office of Holy Communion (1956) SATB/Org
    Collegium Regale
    Thematically related to the other settings in the Collegium Regale family, but it is a functional piece of music, more in the lines of the Mag and Nunc settings and not the larger concert type settings.
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1957) SATB/Org
    Westminster (St.Peter's)
    A very dark and mystical setting. Surprisingly the dox cadences from e7 to F#. pretty neat!
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1957) SATB/Org
    St. John's College, Cambridge
  • Missa Aedis Christi (1958) SATBSATB
  • A Hymn for St. Cecilia (1960) SATB/Org
  • Coventry Antiphon (1961) SATB/Org
  • Sequence for St. Michael (1961) SATB/Org
    St. John's College, Cambridge
  • Stabat mater (1963) T Solo/SATB/Orch
  • Take him, earth, for cherishing (1964) SATB
    For the memorial service for JFK. Wow is all I have to say. Howells uses a unison beginning, which is reflected and repeated throughout the work uniting it quite well. The best part is the end with the low bass note quietly rumbling...
  • The Summer is Coming (1965) SATB
    Cork International Festival
  • God Be In My Head (1965) SATB
  • Te Deum Laudamus (1965) SATB/Org
    St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
  • Te Deum Laudamus (1966) SATB/Org
    Columbia University, N.Y.
  • Preces & Responses I & II (1967) SATB/Org
    A difficult setting of the responses, my favourite way to listen to them is under the stars on a clear night because the great contrasts between the responses in color and dynamics can only be understood looking up at the night sky.
  • Jubilate Deo (1967) SATB/Org
    St. Peter ad Vincula Chapel
  • Benedictus es Domine (1967) SATB/Org
    St. John the Divine Cathedral, N. Y.
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1966) SATB/Org
    Sarum (Salibury) Cathedral
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1967) SATB/Org
    Winchester Cathedral
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1967) SATB/Org
    Chichester Cathedral
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1967) SATB/Org
    St. Augustine's, Edgbaston
  • The Coventry Mass (1968) SATB/Org
  • One thing have I desired (1968) SATB
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1969) SATB/Org
    Hereford Cathedral
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1970) SATB/Org
    Magdalen College, Oxford
  • Thee Will I Love (1970) SATB/Org
  • A Grace for William Walton (1972) SATB
    W. Walton's 70th birthday
  • Come, my soul (1972) SATB
  • Now Abideth Faith, Hope & Charity (1972) SATB/Org
  • Magnificat/Nunc dimittis (1973) SATB/Org
    York Cathedral
  • Te Deum (1974) SATB/Org
    Sheffield Festival
  • Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis (1975) SATB/Org
    Dallas
  • The Fear of the Lord (1976) SATB/Org
    Clare College, Cambridge
  • Tryste Noël (1977) SATB/Piano
  • Sweetest of sweets (1977) SATB
  • Te Deum (1977) SATB/Orch
    orchestrated version of 1944 Te Deum
  • I Love All Beauteous Things (1977) SATB/Org
    St. Alban's Abbey
  • Exultate Deo (1977) SATB/Org
  • Antiphon (1978) SATB
  • I Would Be True (1978) SATB/Org
  • O Mortal Man Remember Well (??) SATB/Org/Str
  • Let all the World (Antiphon) (1976?)
  • Come My Soul (1976?)
  • All my hope on God is founded Hymn (Unis)
    FAV!!
  • Four Horses Unis
  • The Scribe
  • Inheritance

Organ Music

  • Sonata No.1 (1911)
  • Three Psalm Preludes (First Set) (1915-1916)
  • Four Rhapsodies (1915, 1918, 1918, 19580
  • Sarum Sketches (1917)
  • Sonata No.2 (1933)
  • Three Psalm Preludes (Second Set) (1938-1939)
  • Six Pieces (1940)
    • Preludio: "Sine Nomine"
    • Saraband for the Morning of Easter
    • Master Tallis' Testament
    • Fugue, Chorale and Epilogue
    • Saraband (in modo elegiaco)
    • Paean
  • Siciliano for a High Ceremony (1953)
  • Prelude: "De Profundis" (1958)
  • Sonatina (1971)
  • Partita (1971)

Links to other Howells pagesup

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