I'm uncertain as to whether or not this is still an "active" site. I'm close to two years late in discovering it. I'm old enough to have actually met and had my picture taken with Herbert Howells. It was in 1979 when, despite failing health, he spoke, following an evening meal, at the Royal School of Church Music summer course for international students. We had a delightful time. He reminisced, answered questions, signed copies of his music, consented to pictures and even gave us close-up glimpses of the ring on his finger which had once belonged to Stanford. I adore his music. I'm an organist and my initial introduction and lifelong "hook" to the music of HH was his Psalm-Prelude for organ, number one from the first set. I shall never forget the experience of hearing it in Salisbury Cathedral. His music is ravishingly sublime and distinctive.
The ending of Howells' Te Deum might be one of the greatest moments in choral music. King's college released an album honoring Stephen Cleobury and ends it with the Te Deum
This is fantastic, Matt! Howells is one of my favorites and you did such a wonderful job highlighting this highly underestimated composer! Much love, friend!
I live in Lydney where Herbert was born, never knew we had someone from here buried at Westminster Abbey! Sad to say he is very much unknown around here, your video was great, thanks very much
I have known Herbert Howells looong before I watched this. First contact with his music was when I studied as a chorister in my town's cathedral. First of his music that I heard is the 'Sing Lullaby' sung by the Cambridge Singers, and it drew my attention and I instantly fell in love with his music.
The music of Howells does require the superb reverberance of a Gloucester Cathedral or a York Minster. I don't think it would work in a concert hall. There certainly is a strange, mystical, quite timeless quality to his music which makes it highly distinctive.
Thank you SO MUCH for this! Just love the music of RVW and Howells! I discovered this through listening to "Behold O God Our Defender" guess which recording???
As a retired professional church musician, Howells is one of my favorites. Have a look at Gerald Finzi. English names: pronounce the first and last syllables and leave out everything in the middle.
An excellent presentation. Howells should be more widely know, he's one of my favourite composers. You should also check out his chamber works, a lot of which is recorded on the Naxos label. Also well done on your (proper😉) English pronunciation. Incidentally, Ralph Vaughan Williams would get rather annoyed if his first name was pronounced incorrectly. Thank you once again.
Check out Howells' Sonatina for piano , a product of his later years. It has some amazingly lively counterpoint in its outer movements, and a moody Sarabande, one of his favourite forms, as a second movement.
Yes! This is a really interesting topic in classical music. As you suggest, a lot of it has to do with the type of music you focus on, and choral is a key factor here. The other obvious factor is country. In the UK for instance we have a very narrow idea of the Baroque, focused on Bach and Handel, but neglect entire schools of other countries such as the Neapolitan School. Just one work snuck out of this school into the British repertoire, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater. I used to think this was a uniquely brilliant work, but now I know it's virtually a copy of works by Alessandro Scarlatti! In the UK we seem to only know the keyboard works of his son. My theory is that because this school was famous for operas in its day, and those failed to make it to the standard UK repertoire, the composers of this school are largely forgotten, BUT they also wrote a lot of great choral works too, the obvious Alessandro Scarlatti one being Messa di Santa Cecilia, but there are countless others, so that is my suggestion 'composers of the Neapolitan School'.
Liked and composers who deserve more attention: Robert Simpson, Graham Whettam, Nicholas Maw, Bernard Stevens, William Alwyn, Alan Rawsthorne, Alan Bush, Edmund Rubbra.
You could and should have mentioned his masterpiece Hymnus Paradis for soloists, chorus and orch. The Requiem formed the basis for this extended piece. Also piano concerto no.2, Paradise Rondell and In Greenways. All soaked in the English countryside, beautiful evocations of nature.
This is gorgeous stuff! Is it OK to like it a lot more than earlier periods? I haven't yet been persuaded to really enjoy pieces that sound somewhat like the sad faces of the medieval Byzantine paintings. I assume the Spotless Rose was sung by Brevitas. The others?
If I walked into c university classroom knowing what I know today, and saw Stanford, Howells and Perry just sitting and chatting away...I'd DIE....that's crazy :P 0_o!
Try Gerald Finzi - and Howell's Piano Quartet Opus 21- loved your focus and appreciation of the Three Choirs perfkrmance of Thomas Tallis by Vaughan Williams
There used to be great music that came out of transistor radios. There is a Swiss band that were leaders in Electronic music, The Young Gods. Bono of U2 said that they were on of his biggest influences. When saw them in concert in 1990, I didn't like them and we went to another tent. Some of them became patients and friends, and they changed their music. Not because of me, but they evolved. They performed a concert at Francomania with a string quartet, and it was one of the best concerts I ever saw, and I saw Dark Side Of The Moon. If you want to talk with them about how they did the arrangements, I can let them know. BTW here is my video for exercises to prevent back pain. th-cam.com/video/tK9sc0ckSpw/w-d-xo.html
![เปิดใจ "อาจารย์เบียร์ คนตื่นธรรม" อดีตเคยสุดทุกทาง ถ้าใช้หนี้หมดไปบวชแน่ l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IxeE0xVhy08/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks. An example of one of his organ pieces would have been a nice addition. The 6 Psalm Preludes are stunning.
I'm uncertain as to whether or not this is still an "active" site. I'm close to two years late in discovering it.
I'm old enough to have actually met and had my picture taken with Herbert Howells. It was in 1979 when, despite failing health, he spoke, following an evening meal, at the Royal School of Church Music summer course for international students. We had a delightful time. He reminisced, answered questions, signed copies of his music, consented to pictures and even gave us close-up glimpses of the ring on his finger which had once belonged to Stanford.
I adore his music. I'm an organist and my initial introduction and lifelong "hook" to the music of HH was his Psalm-Prelude for organ, number one from the first set. I shall never forget the experience of hearing it in Salisbury Cathedral. His music is ravishingly sublime and distinctive.
Thank you, thank you, for this! HH is easily in my top ten composers of all time.
The ending of Howells' Te Deum might be one of the greatest moments in choral music. King's college released an album honoring Stephen Cleobury and ends it with the Te Deum
Totally agree!
I had never heard of Howells, thanks! How about doing a video on Lili Boulanger ?
This is fantastic, Matt! Howells is one of my favorites and you did such a wonderful job highlighting this highly underestimated composer! Much love, friend!
Yes! Howells is one of the best! Thanks!
I live in Lydney where Herbert was born, never knew we had someone from here buried at Westminster Abbey! Sad to say he is very much unknown around here, your video was great, thanks very much
Thank you so much for this video! I have recently discovered Howells and it has been a lovely discovery.
I have known Herbert Howells looong before I watched this. First contact with his music was when I studied as a chorister in my town's cathedral. First of his music that I heard is the 'Sing Lullaby' sung by the Cambridge Singers, and it drew my attention and I instantly fell in love with his music.
Fantastic video! Thank you so much.
Really well done and a good choice of highlights !
The music of Howells does require the superb reverberance of a Gloucester Cathedral or a York Minster. I don't think it would work in a concert hall. There certainly is a strange, mystical, quite timeless quality to his music which makes it highly distinctive.
I really enjoyed this video, I love your enthusiasm. Keep making more!
Thank you! It's a lot of work, but more is coming!
Thank you SO MUCH for this! Just love the music of RVW and Howells! I discovered this through listening to "Behold O God Our Defender" guess which recording???
You need to do one of these on Charles Tournemire!
Our Episcopal church choir sings a lot of Howells. Performing the requiem soon and have sung many of these pieces. Not easy to learn but great music.
great video. thank you very much!
As a retired professional church musician, Howells is one of my favorites. Have a look at Gerald Finzi. English names: pronounce the first and last syllables and leave out everything in the middle.
Thank you! Never heard of you or Howells but I will be back. We have a concert this month at Rice U/Context...his Quartet for Strings and Piano.
Yesssss!
Love Howells - those who know, know. If you’ve ever sung his work you know; it gets under your skin.
An excellent presentation. Howells should be more widely know, he's one of my favourite composers. You should also check out his chamber works, a lot of which is recorded on the Naxos label. Also well done on your (proper😉) English pronunciation. Incidentally, Ralph Vaughan Williams would get rather annoyed if his first name was pronounced incorrectly. Thank you once again.
On that note, his middle name is not pronounced 'von' but rhymes with 'warn' :-)
Excellent presentation.. thanks
Thank you!
Check out Howells' Sonatina for piano , a product of his later years. It has some amazingly lively counterpoint in its outer movements, and a moody Sarabande, one of his favourite forms, as a second movement.
I first heard the music of herbert howells in Rochester Cathedral it sounded amazing I was definitely hooked
It finds its way into your heart.
Yes! This is a really interesting topic in classical music. As you suggest, a lot of it has to do with the type of music you focus on, and choral is a key factor here. The other obvious factor is country. In the UK for instance we have a very narrow idea of the Baroque, focused on Bach and Handel, but neglect entire schools of other countries such as the Neapolitan School. Just one work snuck out of this school into the British repertoire, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater. I used to think this was a uniquely brilliant work, but now I know it's virtually a copy of works by Alessandro Scarlatti! In the UK we seem to only know the keyboard works of his son. My theory is that because this school was famous for operas in its day, and those failed to make it to the standard UK repertoire, the composers of this school are largely forgotten, BUT they also wrote a lot of great choral works too, the obvious Alessandro Scarlatti one being Messa di Santa Cecilia, but there are countless others, so that is my suggestion 'composers of the Neapolitan School'.
Liked and composers who deserve more attention: Robert Simpson, Graham Whettam, Nicholas Maw, Bernard Stevens, William Alwyn, Alan Rawsthorne, Alan Bush, Edmund Rubbra.
You could and should have mentioned his masterpiece Hymnus Paradis for soloists, chorus and orch. The Requiem formed the basis for this extended piece. Also piano concerto no.2, Paradise Rondell and In Greenways. All soaked in the English countryside, beautiful evocations of nature.
This is gorgeous stuff! Is it OK to like it a lot more than earlier periods? I haven't yet been persuaded to really enjoy pieces that sound somewhat like the sad faces of the medieval Byzantine paintings. I assume the Spotless Rose was sung by Brevitas. The others?
Yes! It's okay to like certain periods of music more than others! That is your preference and no one can say it's wrong.
Another choral/organ composer, a contemporary of HH was German composer Hugo Distler.
There are some great romantic like solo pieces woth mentioning. Above all King David which actually is my favorite.
If I walked into c university classroom knowing what I know today, and saw Stanford, Howells and Perry just sitting and chatting away...I'd DIE....that's crazy :P 0_o!
10:50 I think the Gloria in the communion service is also great
I performed Amy Beach's "Let this mind be i n you" almost every Palm Sunday. At that time she was always known as "Mrs. H.H.A. Beach."
Love Aeternum examples 🙌✨nice. Hahaha. Let me get these masterpieces out of my drawer 😂
Agreed! What other masterpieces are hidden in some drawer right now?
Try Gerald Finzi - and Howell's Piano Quartet Opus 21- loved your focus and appreciation of the Three Choirs perfkrmance of Thomas Tallis by Vaughan Williams
LOVE Gerald Finzi!
The requiem words "world without end" is really expanded if it becomes "worlds without end." The Ephesians 3:21 Greek is "generations forever."
There used to be great music that came out of transistor radios.
There is a Swiss band that were leaders in Electronic music, The Young Gods. Bono of U2 said that they were on of his biggest influences. When saw them in concert in 1990, I didn't like them and we went to another tent. Some of them became patients and friends, and they changed their music. Not because of me, but they evolved. They performed a concert at Francomania with a string quartet, and it was one of the best concerts I ever saw, and I saw Dark Side Of The Moon.
If you want to talk with them about how they did the arrangements, I can let them know.
BTW here is my video for exercises to prevent back pain.
th-cam.com/video/tK9sc0ckSpw/w-d-xo.html
YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE COPYRIGHT BOTS! Yay!!!!
Oh my gosh! You're right! I did! #lovewins
But I didn't get notified of this episode when it came out. I stumbled upon it.
Me going through the comments to find people who hadn’t heard of him 👀
How about arnold rosner.. anyone.. anyone? Beuhler ?
2.57 No !! Muzzle