Herbert Howells

Review: As part song for the New Year this work offers an attractive alternative to the Benjamin Britten carol which uses the same traditional words ('Here we bring new water from the well so clear'). Howells's joyful setting is very approachable, being mostly in unison with some straightforward two-part sections.

40383b | Songbook $5.95 | 2-Part

Review: Hymnus Paradisi is composed for SATB chorus and orchestra with soprano and tenor soloists, and is characterised by an extraordinary depth and power. The text includes lines from the traditional Latin Requiem along with lines from the Anglican burial service, as well as the texts of Psalm 23 and Psalm 121. Because of the personal nature of the composition, Hymnus Paradisi remained unperformed until 1950. This vocal score includes a piano reduction of the orchestral score.

11061b | Songbook $19.95 | SATB

Review: Herbert Howells' Magnificat And Nunc Dimittis written for the choir of Worcester Cathedral in August 1951. Scored for SATB Choir and Organ Accompaniment.

40365b | Songbook $4.50 | SATB

Review: Herbert Howell's Requiem written for unaccompanied SATB chorus and soli. Although written in 1936, Requiem was not released for performance until 1980, held back by Howells following the death of his son in 1935. It is a harmonious and deeply Romantic composition, but restrained and it is at these moments we realise how affected he was by his loss. It was the composer's intention that Requiem should be performed a cappella, however he provided a limited organ part, for rehearsal purposes only, which is included here.

Songlist: Psalm 23, Salvator Mundi, Requiem Aeternam 1, Requiem Aeternam 2, I Heard a Voice From Heavan, Psalm 121

7238b | Songbook $9.95 | SATB English Choral Arrangements

Review: Three of the finest of all settings of the English language canticles. Over the past quarter of a century, Howells has emerged as among the greatest and certainly most widely performed composers of choral liturgical works of the last hundred years. At last, his most important services appear in a series of four handsome collections that link geographically the cathedral choirs for which they were written, newly edited with interpretative notes by David Hill.

11062b | Songbook $17.95 | SATB

Review: Four of the finest of all settings of the English language canticles. Over the past quarter of a century, Howells has emerged as among the greatest and certainly most widely performed composers of choral liturgical works of the last hundred years. At last his most important services appear in a series of four handsome collections that link geographically the cathedral choirs for which they were written, newly edited with interpretative notes by David Hill.

11068b | Songbook $19.95 | SATB

Review: Three of the finest of all settings of the English language canticles. Over the past quarter of a century, Howells has emerged as among the greatest and certainly most widely performed composers of choral liturgical works of the last hundred years. At last, his most important services appear in a series of four handsome collections that link geographically the cathedral choirs for which they were written, newly edited with interpretative notes by David Hill.

11072b | Songbook $17.95 | SATB

Review: This recording is a choral tribute to the sacred music of two visionary composers who, among their other achievements, made distinctive, lasting and much-cherished contributions to the musical repertory of the English Church. There are many links between Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) and Herbert Howells (1892-1983), the most obvious being that from 1912 to 1916 Howells was one of Stanford's many composition students at the Royal College of Music in London, where Howells was himself later to teach composition for over fifty years. Both men were outstanding teachers, Stanford in particular being virtually father to a whole generation of British composers, including Vaughn Williams, Holst, Bridge, Butterworth, Bliss, Ireland and Gurney. With the exception of the Howells Requiem and the two sacred part-songs, the music heard on this recording was intended for use in the church, in the context of the Anglican liturgy. As such, much of it is familiar and well-loved within Anglican circles but all too little-known elsewhere. It deserves to be more widely appreciated on its own considerable merits.- John Rutter

Songlist: Magnificat in G, Magnificat, Magnificat in B flat, Nunc Dimittis in B flat, O for a closer walk, Like as the Hart, The fear of the Lord, Requiem, Salvator mundi, Psalm 2, Requiem aeternam, Psalm 121, I Heard A Voice From Heaven, When Mary thro' the garden went, Long, long ago, Te Deum in C, All My Hope on God is founded

7024c | 1 CD $15.98 English Choral CDs

Review: In a series focusing on sacred 20th century choral works of British composers, the 20-strong mixed choral group The Finzi Singers, founded and directed by Paul Spicer, have presented some brilliant works by relatively unknown composers. Herbert Howells, described as "the central composer for the 20th century Anglican liturgy," is hardly unknown, but here are early works for the church that were believed lost up until very recently. Included are 15 of Howells' songs, including the 8 soaring movements of "Mass in the Dorian Mode, "Salve Regina," "O salutaris Hostia," "Sweetest of Sweets," "Come My Soul," "Antiphon," Nunc dimittis" and Regina caili," Following are works by Bernard Stevens, like Howells, closely associated with the Royal College of Music. The 5 movements of his 1939 "Mass for Double Choir," "Kyrie eleison," "Gloria," "Sanctus," "Benedictus" and "Agnus Dei" are striking works by a brilliant composer whose works are under-performed and under-recognized today. The Finzi Singers are one of the best church choirs we've heard, and they have recorded a very special CD. The extensive liner notes have all lyrics and information about the composers.

Songlist: Mass in the Doriam Mode:, I Kyrie, II Gloria in Excelsis, III Credo, IV Sanctus, V Benedictus, VI Osanna, VII Agnus Dei I, VIII Agnus Dei II, Salve Regina, O salutaris Hostia, Sweeest of sweets, Come, my soul, Antiphon, Nunc dimittis, Regina caeli, Mass for Double Choir:, I Kyrie eleison, II Gloria, III Sanctus, IV Benedictus, V Agnus Dei

6875c | 1 CD $15.98

Review: This is another exemplary addition to the Finzi Singers' ever-expanding discography. The earliest offerings here include "Even Such Is Time," an unpublished effort from 1913, and spans all the way to 1970, with "and Thee I Will Love," a heartfelt setting from 1970 with words by Robert Bridges, "commemorating the massacre of the monks of the Abbey of Medehamstede - now Peterborough Cathedral - in AD 870". As we have now come to expect from this partnership on record, these are splendidly fervent, finely disciplined performances (one readily forgives the occasional raw sonority from the sopranos). Excellent Chandos engineering, too. A hearty recommendation.

Songlist: Behold, O God our Defender, Here is the Little Door, Sing Lullaby, A Spotless Rose, Te Deum, The Scribe, Thee will I Love, Blessed are the Dead, Even Such is Time, Inheritance, Heac Dies, God is Gone Up

6894c | 1 CD $15.98 English Choral CDs