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Created page with "'''Herbert''' Norman '''Howells''' (1892-1983) English composer, organist and educator, was born and began his musical training - like so many contributors to..."
'''Herbert''' Norman '''Howells''' (1892-1983) [[English]] [[composer]], [[organ|organist]] and educator, was born and began his musical training - like so many contributors to the musical fabric of early and mid twentieth century culture - in the west country of England. Like [[Ivor Gurney]], only two years his senior and life-long friend, his first “job” was playing the organ at [[Gloucester]] [[Cathedral]].
Like Gurney he studied under [[Charles Villiers Stanford|Stanford]] at the Royal College of Music. He spent time as organist at [[Salisbury]] Cathedral, wrote for the Athenaeum magazine and in 1920 began teaching at the RCM. In 1937 he succeeded [[Gustav Holst]] as musical director at St. Paul’s school for girls. For much of this time he adjudicated at many of the music competitions that were and are a part of British musical culture. He also marked exam papers. Ill health had prevented him from serving in [[World War I|the Great War]]
All this held back the composing career he is known for today. He did write but not a lot. A mass, a [[piano]] [[concerto]] and various short pieces. His first real success was the [[oratorio]] ''“Hymnus Paradisi”'' in 1950.
He is best known for the music written for the [[Anglican]] church – [[anthem]]s, liturgical music for the Anglican “Service” and his [[motet]]s (a form that had been largely neglected since the early eighteenth century.) He composed a well known [[Requiem]]. His anthems are known around the English speaking world and are not restricted to Anglican churches. One is particularly well known: his setting of [[Psalm]] 42, ''“Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks”''.
His music is well known in America. He was commissioned to write for the Memorial Service for [[John F. Kennedy]]. The motet, ''“Take him earth for cherishing”'', a setting of a translation by Helen Waddell of ''“Hymnus circa exsequias defunct”'' by the fourth century Christian [[poet]], Aurelius Prudentius Clemens was performed as part of the Service in Washington Cathedral, the year after Kennedy’s death.
His music is well crafted, delicate yet often [[rhapsody|rhapsodic]] and approachable though firmly rooted in the twentieth century. These days it is well served on CD.
[[Category:Composers]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howells, Herbert}}
Like Gurney he studied under [[Charles Villiers Stanford|Stanford]] at the Royal College of Music. He spent time as organist at [[Salisbury]] Cathedral, wrote for the Athenaeum magazine and in 1920 began teaching at the RCM. In 1937 he succeeded [[Gustav Holst]] as musical director at St. Paul’s school for girls. For much of this time he adjudicated at many of the music competitions that were and are a part of British musical culture. He also marked exam papers. Ill health had prevented him from serving in [[World War I|the Great War]]
All this held back the composing career he is known for today. He did write but not a lot. A mass, a [[piano]] [[concerto]] and various short pieces. His first real success was the [[oratorio]] ''“Hymnus Paradisi”'' in 1950.
He is best known for the music written for the [[Anglican]] church – [[anthem]]s, liturgical music for the Anglican “Service” and his [[motet]]s (a form that had been largely neglected since the early eighteenth century.) He composed a well known [[Requiem]]. His anthems are known around the English speaking world and are not restricted to Anglican churches. One is particularly well known: his setting of [[Psalm]] 42, ''“Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks”''.
His music is well known in America. He was commissioned to write for the Memorial Service for [[John F. Kennedy]]. The motet, ''“Take him earth for cherishing”'', a setting of a translation by Helen Waddell of ''“Hymnus circa exsequias defunct”'' by the fourth century Christian [[poet]], Aurelius Prudentius Clemens was performed as part of the Service in Washington Cathedral, the year after Kennedy’s death.
His music is well crafted, delicate yet often [[rhapsody|rhapsodic]] and approachable though firmly rooted in the twentieth century. These days it is well served on CD.
[[Category:Composers]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howells, Herbert}}