Par HOWELLS HERBERT. Herbert Howells composed his Magnificat And Nunc Dimittis evening canticles for St Paul's Cathedral in 1951, going on to become among his most famous and enduring works. These beautiful canticles were composed by a master of setting the Anglican liturgy, and are arranged for SATB Chorus and Organ Accompaniment. These two wonderful works of choral music are characterised by a unique blend of unison harmonies and disparate melodies that highlight each voice perfectly. The lingering notes, crescendos and subtle dynamic changes were composed with the acoustics of that great cathedral in mind, but they also work equally well in any setting. / Niveau : Intermédiaire à Avancé / Répertoire / Choeur Mixte (SATB) et Orgue

The Hymn Tune Kensington was written by Herbert Howells in 1969. It is in an 87 87 87 metre and was originally intended to be sung with the words To The Name Of Our Salvation written by John Mason Neale in 1851. It has also been used with the words God Who Spake In The Beginning written in 1968 by Fred Kahn. It is in F major with a comfortable range for the melody part with a simple but lyrical tune.Herbert Howells (1892-1983) was an English composer and teacher who is perhaps best known for his choral music in the Anglican tradition.

St Peter In Westminster-Herbert Howells is a giant of 20th century Anglican church music the remainder of whose oeuvre is in the process of gaining new appreciation. Over the course of his compositional life he created many settings for the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis. Howells made a practice of writing his settings for these texts and completed twenty services generally specifically for the church buildings or cathedrals in which they were to be performed. In this way he wrote works for the cathedrals of St Paul’s Worcester and Gloucester as well as York Minster King’s College Cambridge New College Oxford and St John’s College Cambridge among others. This setting was written forWestminster Abbey in 1957.

The poetry set by Howells was written by Scottish poet Andrew Young a prolific writer of hymns who is perhaps best known for ‘There Is A Happy Land’. This major/modal hymn is particularly appropriate for Harvest Festival and has been used effectively as an introit and collection hymn.Herbert Howells is a giant of 20th century Anglican church music the remainder of whose oeuvre is in the process of gaining new appreciation. He wrote this hymn as a commission for The Cambridge Hymnal published in 1967 a collection that combine the novel forms of sung worship with traditional tunes.

Herbert Howells’ Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (Collegium Regale) for SATB and Organ accompaniment is a vibrant sacred work with beautiful voicings and a wonderful effervescence. This is rich and colourful church music with integrity he has successfully brought together Tudor church music and merged it with modern harmony and counterpoint. It is this best-of-both-world’s feature that makes Howell’s version of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis a pleasing one and it is dedicated to King's College Cambridge.

This is the full score of Herbert Howells' 1950 composition Hymnus Paradisi for Soprano and Tenor Soli SATB chorus and orchestra. Now available for the first time in print this score has been prepared from the known sources revised and edited with critical commentary and includes a preface by Paul Spicer and introductory notes by Sir David Willcocks. Four of the choral movements (II-V) are settings of Latin and English texts. These are drawn from the Psalms and the 'Miss pro defunctis' the book of Common Prayer and are immemorial reflections upon the transient griefs and indestructible hopes of mankind. All are appropriate to the mood and purpose ofa Requiem. Movement VI is a setting of lines from the Salisbury Diurnal used here in the translation by Dr G. H. Palmer appearing at the end of Robert Bridges' Anthology The Spirit of Man. The first performance was at the Three Choirs Festival at Gloucester on 7th September 1950 which the composer conducted. The Bach Choir gave the first London performance early in 1951 and recorded the work in 1970 with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Sir David Willcocks.

Herbert Howells' Salve Regina is set for SSATBB O Salutaris Hostia for SATB a cappella. These Latin pieces have been edited by Patrick Russill.

Michael (A Fanfare Setting) was composed by Herbert Howells and arranged by Christopher Palmer for SATB Choir and full Orchestra.

I Heard A Voice From Heaven is a work by Herbert Howells from 'Requiem' scored for Unaccompanied SATB Choir. A full performance lasts around 4 minutes.

Herbert Howells' setting of the Evening Canticles Magnificat And Nunc Dimittis for SATB choir and Organ.

Herbert Howells' A Spotless Rose is a carol for SATB a cappella. A Piano accompaniment is scored for rehearsal use.

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.

Music for Royal Occasions is an exciting volume of pieces written for coronations and other royal celebrations over the past five centuries. It includes long-standing favourites, such as Handel's Zadok the priest and Parry's I was glad - and works from earlier years, such an Henry Purcell's I was glad and the delightful Rejoice in the Lord alway . Many well-loved composers were commissioned to write motets for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and several are published here, including George Dyson's stirring Confortare , William Harris's Let my prayer and Herbert Howells's Behold O God our defender . In addition, two pieces performed at the wedding oF the present Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are included: Paul Mealor's beautiful Ubi caritas , and Hubert Parry's epic anthem, Bless pair of sirens . Music for Royal Occasions provides a well-rounded concert programme in itself for choral societies or community choirs. The collection offers many useful and accessible pieces for church choirs, suitable for a wide variety of occasions. 'an inventive selection of festive music' - Jeremy Summerly, Choir and Organ / SATB

For SATB unaccompanied chorus edited by Patrick Russill.'This seventeen-bar miniature was according to the owner of the autograph ‘written by Dr Howells in some spare minutes before the end of a theory lesson at the Royal College of Music in June 1966’. We shall never know whether the composer himself would have wanted to see it in print but now that it is many choirs will surely rejoice and welcome it into their repertoires. Though it looks on paper barely more taxing to sing than a hymn-tune the harmonies require singers who can pitch dissonant notes with confidence and who have fairly wide ranges. The irregular metre gives the music an expressiveflexibility but this too presents challenges. It is in the final phrase that the hand of a master is revealed with an exquisite darkening of the harmony at ‘God be at mine end . . .’ and a final cadence that is quintessential Howells.'     - RSCM Reviews