Herbert Howells

Synopsis

English organist, composer, and teacher

• Born in Lydney, England on October 17, 1892
• He studied with Brewer at Cloucester Cathedral.
• 1912 He won an open scholarship to the Royal Conservatory of Music.
• At the Conservatory he studied with Stanford for composition.
• He was influenced by Parry and admired his philosophy.
• He became sub-organist at Salisbury Cathedral but had to quit in 1917 for health reasons.
• 1917-1980He became a teacher at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
• 1936-1962 he was director of music at St Paul's Girls' School in Hammersmith.
• 1950 he was appointed King Edward VII Professor of Music at London University.
• 1941-45 deputised for Robin Orr as organist of St. John's College in Cambridge
• Died in London, England on February 23, 1983

Howells was not considered famous after his early years, but after his death his works were rediscovered for their depth and range. He uses Gregorian chant as influence. His early music has romantic tendencies with chromaticisms. His later style is quartal/quintal, almost late-romantic: pleasant, and easy to listen to. He uses new harmonic language, but it is not so strange as Messaien's. His most famous sonata is the second. He is known for "creating an ecclesiastical style for the 20th c." (Oxford Music).

For details, see the Wikipedia article on Herbert Howells.

List of Organ Works

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

Background and General Perspectives on Performing Howells Organ Works

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Registration and Organs

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Fingering and Pedaling

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Articulation and Phrasing

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Ornamentation

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Tempo and Meter

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Scores and Editions

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Recordings

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Free Online

• Herbert Howells - Paean (Six Pieces for Organ), performed by Tim Ringer
• Herbert Howells: Rhapsody No. 3 (in C# minor), performed by James Kennerley, Organist and Music Director at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, New York City
• Howells Psalm Prelude Set 1, No.2, [1]
• Herbert Howells: Organ Sonata No. 2 (1933) 1st movement, performed by Robert Costin on the organ of Dunedin Town Hall

Pay to Listen

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Other Resources

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Notes

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