Herbert Howells: Sine Nomine, A Fantasia Op. 37 (1922)

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & The Bach Choir conducted by / Orquesta Sinfónica de Bournemouth y The Bach Choir dirigidos por David Hill. Soprano: Alison Hill. Tenor: Benjamin Hulett.
Herbert Howells (1892-1983) is one of the most important composers of the British Musical Renaissance during the 20th Century. His works are mainly choral, but he also composed for orchestra and chamber ensembles. One of the most daunting works of his first period is the fantasia Sine Nomine. Conceived as a piece of absolute music designed to exploit the acoustic potential of the Gloucester Cathedral, the work is perfectly inscribed into a series of atmospheric works composed at the beginning of the 20th Century, such as Nielsen’s Third Symphony, that also exploit human voices as an instrument along orchestral forces.
Herbert Howells (1892-1983) es uno de los compositores más importantes del Renacimiento Musical Británico durante el siglo 20. Sus obras son principalmente corales, pero también compuso para orquesta y ensambles de cámara. Una de sus obras más intrigantes de su primer periodo es la fantasía Sine Nomine. Concebida como pieza de música absoluta con el fin de explotar el potencial acústico de la Catedral de Gloucester, la obra se inscribe dentro una serie de obras atmosféricas de principios del siglo 20, como la Tercera sinfonía de Nielsen, que explotan el potencial de la voz humana como instrumento a la par de la orquesta.
Image/imagen: Gloucester Cathedral / Catedral de Gloucester. Charles M. Gere, 1947.

[@TheLyonest]

Misteriosa y maravillosa pieza. Una auténtica delicia.

[@richardsedding8444]

Magnificent singing, such powerful harmonies, HH speaks volumes without a single word.

[@mibi1946]

This is one of HH finest. Glorious, sublime, moving, romantic. Thank you for posting this wonderful work

[@davidsevenbros3065]

Early on reminds me of Vaughn Williams Flos Campi, yet the Howellsian pathos is unmistakable. Beautiful, atmospheric. Thank you for sharing.

[@stephenmatthews861]

Howells used the wordless human voice to express ecstasy in this piece. He was following in the footsteps of VW and the Delius. Stunning piece of music

[@johnsilverton639]

Was a composer ever so underrated as H H

[@SoCalCath]

Agree 100%.

[@Archimusik]

This is an astonishing piece.

[@galas062]

thank you!!

[@theladykillersofficialyout8323]

Splendid.

[@charlierumoldboi3939]

Howells being v religious his music expressed the 'evermore'. Hence the ecstasy. Personally I find this music pervaded with eroticism, the intertwining of the voices and the numerous climaxes certainly suggest something more!