Herbert Howells

Herbert Norman Howells CH (17 October 1892 – 23 February 1983) was an English composer, organist, and teacher.

Howells was born in Lydney, Gloucestershire, and was the youngest of six children born to Oliver and Elizabeth Howells. His father was an amateur organist, and Herbert himself showed early musical promise. He studied first with Herbert Brewer at Gloucester Cathedral, as an articled pupil alongside Ivor Novello and Ivor Gurney, the celebrated English songwriter and poet, with whom he became great friends. Later he studied at the Royal College of Music under C.V. Stanford, Hubert Parry and Charles Wood.

In 1915 he was diagnosed with Graves' disease and given six months to live. Since doctors believed that it was worth taking a chance on a previously untested treatment, he became the first person in the country to receive radium treatment. He was briefly assistant organist at Salisbury Cathedral in 1917, though his severe illness cut this appointment short; he later served as acting organist of St John's College, Cambridge during World War II.

In his twenties and thirties his compositional output focussed chiefly on orchestral and chamber music, including two piano concertos. The hostile reception given to the second of these in 1925 largely silenced Howells' compositional activities for almost ten years. A further blow came with the death of his son, Michael, from polio (or meningitis; accounts vary) in 1935, which deeply affected Howells. It did, however, appear to unleash a new period of creativity; both Howells himself and his music were never the same after this period of his life. Though not an orthodox Christian, he became increasingly identified with the composition of religious music, most notably the Hymnus Paradisi for chorus and orchestra. This was composed after his son's death but not released for performance until 1950, at the insistence (according to Howells' own account) of his close friend and mentor Ralph Vaughan Williams. It incorporates passages from the earlier unaccompanied Requiem, begun before Michael's death but not published until 1981, with a dedication to his memory. Again, this private account of grief remained in his desk drawer for forty years before he submitted it for publication.

Hymnus Paradisi was the first of four large-scale sacred choral works. His Missa Sabrinensis is on the same scale, in terms of length and forces required, as Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, while An English Mass is scored for significantly smaller forces, is performed almost entirely in English, and follows the Anglican tradition of placing the Gloria last. Finally, Howells' setting of the Stabat Mater, at about 50 minutes, is one of the longest extant settings of that text.

Howells is particularly known for his large output of Anglican church music, including a complete Service for King's College, Cambridge (the Collegium Regale) and settings of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis for the choirs of St John's College, Cambridge, New College, Oxford, Westminster Abbey, Worcester, St Paul's, and Gloucester cathedrals, as well as for two parish churches, St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol and St Augustine's Church, Edgbaston. These settings are often tailored for the building after which they are named. For example, the St Paul's Service has a very slow rate of harmonic change to suit the prolonged reverberation in that cathedral. The motet Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing, written shortly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, is dedicated to Kennedy's memory, and is considered by many to be perhaps his finest a cappella anthem. Two other anthems, 'Like as the hart' and 'Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem' are similar in style and rhapsodic beauty and enjoy a firm and deserved place in the Anglican choral repertoire.

He wrote two works for brass band: Pageantry and Three Figures. Pageantry was written for the 1934 British Open brass band championships. Howells arranged its first movement, King's Herald, for full orchestra for the coronation of King George VI in 1937.

In later life he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Cambridge University, and was made a Companion of Honour. He died in 1983 in London. He was godfather to the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. His daughter Ursula (1922 - 2005) was an actress.

Orchestral works
Pianoforte Concerto no.1, op.4, 1913;
The B's, suite, op.13, 1914, unpubd;
3 Dances, op.7, violin, orch, 1915;
Puck's Minuet, op.20 no.1, 1917;
Suite, op.16, String Orchestra, 1917, unpubd;
Elegy, op.15, Viola, String Quartet, String Orchestra, 1917;
Thé dansant, 1919, lost;
Merry Eye, op.20 no.2, 1920;
Procession, op.36, 1922;
Pastoral Rhapsody, 1923, unpubd;
Pianoforte Concerto no.2, op.39, 1925;
Paradise Rondel, op.40, 1925, unpubd;
Mother's Here (incid music), 1929, collab. G. Jacob, lost;
Penguinski (ballet), 1933;
Pageantry, suite, brass band, 1934;
King's Herald, 1937, unpubd [1st movt of Pageantry, arr. orch];
Fantasia, Violoncello, Orchestra, 1937;
Threnody, Violoncello, Orchestra, late 1930s, orch. C. Palmer, 1992;
Concerto for Strings, 1938;
Folk Tune Set, 1940, unpubd;
First Suite, str, 1942;
Second Suite, str, 1942, lost;
Fanfare for Schools, brass, timp, str, 1943, unpubd;
Music for a Prince, 1948, (arr. of 2 movements of "The B's")
3 Figures: Tryptych, brass band, 1960;
Fanfare to Lead into the National Anthem, brass, perc, org, 1977

Chamber music

Three or more instruments
Variations for 11 solo insts, op.3, c1913, lost
Lady Audrey's Suite, op.19, String Quartet, 1915
Piano Quartet, op.21, 1916 (extensive revision in 1936)
Phantasy String Quartet, op.25, 1916–17
In Gloucestershire [fantasy string quartet] (String Quartet no.3), 1916–c1935 [1st version lost, rev. 1920, final version early 1930s]
Rhapsodic Qnt, op.31, clarinet, strings, 1919
The Old Mole, Pianoforte Quintet, 1937, unpubd [folktune arr.]
Hunsdon House, Pianoforte Quintet, 1937, unpubd [arr.]

One or two instruments
Sonata, b, vn, pf, 1911, unpubd
Comedy Suite, op.8, cl, pf, c1913, lost
Prelude no.1, hp, 1915, unpubd
3 Pieces, op.28, vn, pf, 1917
Pastorale
'Chosen' Tune
Luchinushka
Damsons, vn, pf, c1917, unpubd
Phantasy Sonata in E, vn, pf, 1917 (rev. in 1918 as Sonata No. 1, op. 18, vn, pf)
Sonata no.2, E-flat, op.26, vn, pf, 1917, unpubd
Cradle Song, vn, pf, 1918, unpubd
Sonata no.3, e, op.38, vn, pf, 1923
A Country Tune, vn, pf, c1925
A Croon, vn, pf, c1925
Slow Air, vn, pf, c1927
Lambert's Clavichord (3 transcrs), vc, pf, 1929
Sonata, ob, pf, 1942
Minuet (grace for a fresh egg), bn, pf, 1945
Sonata, cl, pf, 1946
A Near Minuet, cl, pf, 1946, 2 Pieces, fl, vn, unpubd
Air, Alla Menuetto; Lento, assai espressivo, vn, pf, unpubd

Organ music
Sonata, c, op.1, 1911
Phantasy Ground Bass, c1915, lost
3 Psalm-Preludes set 1, op.32, 1915–16
Rhapsody, op.17 no.1, 1915
Rhapsody, op.17 no.2, 1918
Rhapsody, op.17 no.3, 1918
Sonata (no.2), 1932
3 Psalm-Preludes set 2, 1938–39
Fugue, Chorale and Epilogue, 1939
Master Tallis's Testament, 1940
Preludio Sine nomine, 1940
Saraband for the Morning of Easter, 1940
Paean, 1940
Intrata (no.2), 1941
Saraband In Modo Elegiaco, 1945
Siciliano for a High Ceremony, 1952
Prelude De profundis, 1958
Rhapsody no.4, 1958
2 Pieces, 1959: Dalby's Fancy, Dalby's Toccata
A Flourish for a Bidding, 1969
Partita, 1971–2
Epilogue, c1971
St Louis comes to Clifton, 1977
6 Short Pieces (1987)
2 Slow Airs (1987)
Miniatures (1993)

Pianoforte music
4 Romantic Pieces, 1908, unpubd [only no.2 extant]
Marching song, 1909, unpubd
Summer Idylls, 1911, unpubd
Minuet, a, c1915, unpubd;
Snapshots, op.30, 1916–18
The Street Dancer
The Polar Bear
Wee Willie Winkie
Phantasie, 1917, unpubd
Sarum Sketches, op.6, 1917
The Ooce march
The Drudge talks to himself
The Drudge forgotten
Ooce reads 'Arabian nights'
Ooce at leisure
Charades
Procession, op.14 no.1, 1918
Phantasy Minuet, op.27, pianola, 1919
Rhapsody, op.14 no.2, 1919
Jackanapes, op.14 no.3, 1919
The Chosen Tune, 1920
Once upon a time …, suite (London, 1920)
A Lonely Princess
Shepherd Boy
An Angry King
The Dark Forest
Good-Fairy
And They Lived Happy Ever After
Gadabout, c1922
A Mersey Tune, 1924
2 Pieces, 1926
Slow Dance
Cobler's Hornpipe
Country Pageant (London, 1928)
Merry Andrew's Procession
Kings and Queens
There was a most beautiful lady
The Mummer's Dance
A Little Book of Dances (London, 1928)
Minuet
Gavotte
Pavane
Galliard
Rigadoon
Jig
A Sailor Tune (London, 1930)
O Mensch bewein dein Sünde gross (arr. Bach: Chorale prelude,bwv 622)
Triumph Tune, 1934, arr. 2 pf, 1941, unpubd
Promenade for Boys (London, 1938)
Promenade for Girls (London, 1938)
Minuet, 1939, unpubd
Polka, 2 pf, c1939
Puck's Minuet, 2 pf, c1941, unpubd [arr. of 2 Pieces for Small Orch, op.20 no.1]
Musica Sine Nomine, 1959
Pavane and Galliard, 1964, unpubd
Et nunc et semper, 1967, unpubd
Petrus Suite, 1967–73, unpubd
H-plus-H gavotte, 1970, unpubd
Sonatina, 1971

Clavichord music
Lambert's Clavichord, op.41, 1926–7
Howells' Clavichord, 1941–61
My Lady Harewood's Pavane, 1949, My Lord Harewood's Galliard, 1949; Finzi: his rest, 1956

Choral works

Vocal and orchestral
When cats run home (A.L. Tennyson), SS, orch [orig. version 1907]
The Lord shall be my help (fugue), 5vv, str, 1914, unpubd
Sir Patrick Spens (trad.), op.23, Bar, SATB, orch, 1917
Sine nomine: a Phantasy, op.37, S, T, SATB, orch, 1922
The Trial of Jesus (J. Masefield), vv, pf, str, 1926, unpubd
In Green Ways, op.43, S, orch/S, pf, 1928 (reworking of 5 Songs for S and chamber orch, 1915)
Under the greenwood tree (W. Shakespeare)
The goat paths (J. Stephens)
Merry Margaret (J. Skelton)
Wanderer's night song (J.W.v. Goethe, trans. Howells)
On the merry first of May (Parker, Aveling
A Maid Peerless (medieval poem), SSAA, orch, 1931, rev. 1951
A Kent Yeoman's Wooing Song (T. Vautor, T. Ravenscroft), S, Bar, SATB, orch, 1933
Hymnus Paradisi, S, T, SATB, orch, 1938
Behold O God, Our Defender (Ps lxxxiv), SATB, orch, 1952
The House of the Mind (J. Beaumont), SATB, org, str, 1954
Missa Sabrinensis, S, A, T, B, SATB, orch, 1954
An English Mass, SATB, orch, 1955
Stabat Mater, T, SATB, orch, 1959–65
Michael: A Fanfare Setting, vv, org, orch, 1970, completed C. Palmer, 1992
Te Deum (Collegium Regale), SATB, orch, 1977 [version of Te Deum, 1944]

Sacred choral
Missa Sine Nomine (Mass in the Dorian Mode), SATB, 1912
O Salutaris Hostia, SATB (1913)
Even Such is Time (W. Raleigh), SATB, SATB, 1913
Nunc dimittis, SSAATTBB, 1914
4 Anthems to the Blessed Virgin Mary, op.9, SATB, c1915 [only Regina coeli and Salve Regina extant]
Haec Dies, SSATB, c1918
Here is the little door (F. Chesterton), SATB, 1918
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, G, SATB, org, c1918
A Spotless Rose (14th-century carol), SATB, 1919
Blessed are the dead, SATB, SATB, 1920
Sing Lullaby (F. Harvey), SATB (London, 1920)
Lord, who created man (G. Herbert), 3vv, pf, 1923
My master hath a garden (anon.), SS, pf, 1923
Morning Service, E , unison vv, org, 1924
Evening Service, E , unison vv, org, 1924
Te Deum, E , unison vv, 1924
Communion Service, E , unison vv, org, 1924
When first thine eies unveil (H. Vaughan), T, SATB, org, 1925
My eyes for beauty pine (R. Bridges), SATB, org, 1925
Requiem, S, A, T, B, SATB, 1932
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, TTBB, org, 1935
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, TB, org, 1941
4 Anthems, SATB, org, 1941
O pray for the peace of Jerusalem
We have heard with our ears
Like as the hart
Let God arise
Great is the Lord, SATB, org, 1941, unpubd
arr.: Sussex Mummers' Carol, vv, str, org, c1942
God is gone up (Ps xxxxvii), SATB, org, 1944
Te Deum and Jubilate Deo (Collegium Regale), SATB, org, 1944
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Collegium Regale), SATB, org, 1945
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Gloucester), SATB, org, 1946
Te Deum and Benedictus (Canterbury), SATB, org, 1946
Where Wast thou? (Motet for Canterbury), Bar, SATB, org, 1948
King of Glory (Herbert), SATB, org, 1949
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (New College, Oxford), SATB, org, c1947
Long, Long ago (J. Buxton), SATB, 1950
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Worcester), SATB, org, 1951
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (St Paul's), SATB, org, 1951
Te Deum and Benedictus (St George's Chapel, Windsor), SATB, org (London, 1952)
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, b, SATB, org, c1955
Office of Holy Communion (Collegium Regale), SATB, org, 1956
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (St Peter in Westminster), SATB, org, 1957
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Collegium Sancti Johannis Cantabrigiense), SATB, org, 1957
Missa Aedis Christi, SATB, 1958
Aubade for a wedding (Levavi oculos meos) (Ps cxxi), S, org, 1959, unpubd
A Hymn for St Cecilia (U. Vaughan Williams), SATB, org, 1960
Coventry Antiphon (Bible: Isaiah, Haggai), SATB, org, 1961
A Sequence for St Michael (Alcuin, trans. H. Waddell), SATB, org, 1961
Take him, earth, for cherishing (Prudentius, trans. Waddell), SATB, 1964
God be in my head (Pynson), SATB, 1965, unpubd
Te Deum (St Mary Redcliffe), SATB, org, c1965
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Sarum), SATB, org, 1966
Te Deum (Columbia University), SATB, org, 1966
Benedictus es, Domine (Apocrypha), SATB, org, 1967
Jubilate Deo, SATB, org, 1967
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Winchester), SATB, org, 1967
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Chichester), SATB, org, 1967
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (St Augustine, Birmingham), SATB, org, 1967
Preces and Responses, SATB, 1967
One thing have I desired (Ps xxvii), SATB, 1968
The Coventry Mass, SATB, org, 1968
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Hereford), SATB, org, 1969
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Collegium Magdalenae Oxoniense), SATB, org, 1970
Thee will I love (R. Bridges), SATB, org, 1970
A Grace for William Walton (R. Armstrong), SATB, 1972
Now abideth faith, hope and charity (Bible: 1 Corinthians), SATB, org, 1972
Come my soul (J. Newton), SATB, 1972
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (York), SATB, org, 1973
Te Deum (West Riding Cathedrals), SATB, org, 1974, unpubd
Exultate Deo (Pss of David), SATB, org, 1974
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Dallas Canticles), SATB, org, 1975
The fear of the Lord (Apocrypha: Ecclesiasticus), SATB, org, 1976
Sweetest of sweets (Herbert), SATB, c1976
Antiphon (Herbert), SATB, c1976
I love all beauteous things (R. Bridges), SATB, org, 1977
Hills of the north, rejoice (Oakley), SSS, org, 1977
Tryste noel (L. Guiney), SATB, pf, c1977
I would be true (H. Walter), SATB, org, c1978
Te Deum (Washington Cathedral), SATB, org, no date (London, 1991) [completed J. Buttrey]
Remember O thou man (Ravenscroft), SATB
Te Deum, Benedictus, Jubilate Deo and Communion Service, G, SATB, org [inc.]

Hymn tunes
God of our England: Hymn for the Coronation (O God of Britain hear today), 1911, unpubd
St Briavel's (My God, I thank thee who hast made the earth so bright), c1925
Father of Men: a hymn for Charterhouse, 1930
Michael (All my hope on God is founded), c1930
Severn (My God, I thank thee who hast made the earth so bright), c1931
David (Hills of the north, rejoice), 1937, unpubd
Twigworth (God is love, let Heav'n adore Him), c1937
Love divine, all loves excelling, c1962, unpubd
Newnham (Lord Christ when first Thou cam'st to men), c1962
Salisbury (Holy spirit, ever dwelling), c1962
Sancta civitas (O holy city seen of John), 1962
Erwin (Lord by whose breath), 1966
In manus tuas (This world, my God, is held within your hand), c1968
Norfolk (With wonder, Lord, we see your works), c1968
Kensington (To the name of our salvation), c1970
Jesu dulcis memoria (Jesu, the very thought is sweet), unpubd
Jesu, guide our way, unpubd
Urbs beata (Blessed city, heavenly Salem), unpubd
9 Anglican double chants (and several unpublished)

Secular choral
To the owl (Tennyson), SS, pf, 1909
5 Partsongs, op.5, male vv, TTBB, pf, c1914 [nos. 1 and 2 lost]
Love's secret (W. Blake)
Is the moon tired? (C. Rossetti)
Weep you no more (J. Dowland)
The winds whistle cold (D. Terry)
A Dirge (Shakespeare)
The Tinker's song (trad.), SS, pf, c1916
In youth is pleasure (R. Wever), SSATB, 1915
5 Partsongs, op.11, female vv, SA, pf, 1915–17
The shepherd (Blake)
The pilgrim (Blake)
A croon (trad.)
A sad story (trad.)
Come all ye pretty fair maids (trad.)
The Skylark (J. Hogg), SS, pf, 1916
An old man's lullaby (T. Dekker), SS, pf, 1917
3 Songs, op.24, female vv, SS, pf, 1917
Under the greenwood tree (Shakespeare)
A north-country song (trad.)
A true story (T. Campian)
Before me, careless, lying (A. Dobson), SSATB, 1918
A golden lullaby (T. Dekker), SS, pf, c1920
The duel (E. Field), SS, pf (London, 1922)
The wonderful Derby ram (trad.), unison vv, pf, 1922
All in this pleasant evening (trad.), unison vv, pf, 1923
Creep afore ye gang (J. Ballantine), SATB, 1923
The Shadows (S. O'Sullivan), SATB, 1923
Spanish lullaby (trad.), unison vv, pf, 1923
Bells (trad.), SS, pf (London, 1924)
First in the garden (trad.), SS, pf, 1924
Holly song (trad.), unison vv, pf, 1924
Irish wren song (trad.), SS, pf, 1924
Mother Mother (trad.), unison vv, pf (London, 1924)
Robin Hood's song (A. Munday), SS, pf, 1924
Sing ivy (trad.), SS, pf, 1924
Singe lully by, lully (trad.), SS, pf (London, 1924)
Swedish May song (trad.), SS, pf, 1924
The days are clear (C. Rossetti), unison vv, pf, c1925
Eight o'clock the postman's knock (C. Rossetti), unison vv, pf, c1925
Mother shake the cherry tree (C. Rossetti), unison vv, pf, c1925
The Saylor's song (trad.), SS, pf, 1927
Tune thy music (Campion), unison vv, pf, 1927
Good counsel (G. Chaucer), unison vv, pf, 1928
Delicates so dainty (trad.), unison vv, pf, 1931
Sweet content (R. Greene), unison vv, pf, 1931
Bunches of grapes (W. de la Mare), unison vv, pf, 1933
To music bent (Campion), SS, pf (London, 1933)
Sea Urchins (song set for children, G. Balcomb), SS, pf (London, 1935)
A Song of Welcome (F. Harvey), unison vv, pf, 1935
Piping down the valleys wild (Blake), SS, pf, 1938
The History of an Afternoon (Howells), round for 3vv, 1939
A New Year Carol (trad.), SS, pf, 1939
Shadow March (R.L. Stevenson), SS, pf, 1939
The Key of the Kingdom (de la Mare), SS, pf (London, 1948)
Walking in the Snow (Buxton), SATB, 1950
Inheritance (de la Mare), SSAATTBB, 1953
Four Horses (trad.), unison vv, pf (London, 1954)
The Scribe (de la Mare), SATB, 1957
I mun be married a Sunday (N. Udall), unison vv, pf, 1957, unpubd
New Brooms (A. Wilson), unison vv, pf, 1957, unpubd
Pink Almond (K. Tynan), SS, pf, 1957
A Christmas Carol (G. Wither), unison vv, pf (London, 1958)
The summer is coming (B. Guinness), SATB, 1964
The Poet's Song (Tennyson), SS, pf, unpubd

Songs
For solo voice and piano unless otherwise stated

My Shadow (Stevenson), 1909, unpubd
Longing (Mcleod), c1911, unpubd
5 Songs, low v, 1911, unpubd
The twilight people (O'Sullivan)
The devotee (Gore-Booth)
The waves of Breffny (O'Sullivan)
The Sorrow of Love (Keohler)
The Call (Roberts)
5 Songs (Mcleod), 1913
By The Grey Stone
'St. Bride's Song'
The Valley Of Silence
When The Dew Is Falling
When There Is Peace
The evening darkens over (Bridges), 1913, unpubd
Three Rondeaux, op.12, 1915
Roses (C. Tarelli)
A rondel of rest (A. Symons)
Her scuttle hat (F. Sherman)
Four Songs, op. 22
There was a maiden (W.L. Courtney), 1915
A Madrigal (Dobson), 1916
The Widow Bird (P.B. Shelley), 1915
Girl's Song (W. Gibson), 1916
By the waters of Babylon (Ps cxxxvii), Bar, vn, vc, org, 1917
An Old Man's Lullaby (Dekker), 1917, unpub
Here she lies a pretty bud (Herrick), 1917, unpub
Upon a summer's day (M. Baring), 1917, unpubd
4 French chansons (arr., part of Répétoire Collignon), op.29, 1918
Sainte Catherine
Le Marquis de Maine
Le petit coutourier
Angèle au couvent
Mally O! (trad.) (London, 1918)
Old Skinflint (Gibson), 1918
The Restful Branches (W. Byrne), 1918
By the Hearth-Stone (H. Newbolt), 1919, unpub
Gavotte (Newbolt), 1919
King David (de la Mare), 1919
The Mugger's Song (Gibson), 1919
Peacock Pie (de la Mare), 1919
Tired Tim
Alas alack
Mrs MacQueen
The dunce
Full moon
Miss T
A Garland for de la Mare (de la Mare), 1919–73
Wanderers
The Lady Caroline
Before dawn
The old stone house
The three cherry trees
The old soldier
The song of the secret
Some one
A queer story
Andy Battle
The old house
Goddess of night (Harvey), 1920
O garlands, hanging by the door (Strettell), 1920, unpubd (material used in Oboe Sonata)
The little boy lost (Blake) (London, 1920)
O my deir hert (trad.), 1920
Blaweary (Gibson), 1921
Old Meg (Gibson), 1923
Come sing and dance (trad.), 1927
2 Afrikaans songs (Celliers), 1929
Vrijheidsgees
Eensamheid
arr.: 3 Folksongs, 1931 (no. 3 unpub)
I will give my love an apple
The brisk young widow
Cendrillon
Flood (J. Joyce), 1933
Lost Love Song (Chin., trans. C. Bax) (London, 1934)
Lethe (Doolittle), 1936, unpubd
Sweet Content (R. Greene), unpubd