#herbert howells

[18thcenturythirsttrap]

I haven't posted anything musical on here for a few days, so please have this organ piece by Herbert Howells (1892 - 1983). Master Tallis's Testament (though composed in 1940) was published as one of Howells' Six Pieces for Organ in 1953. The piece nods both to Thomas Tallis (c.1505 - 1585), one of the founding fathers of the English choral tradition, and to Ralph Vaughan-Williams (1872-1958), whose Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1910) was inspirational to Howells (for more about the Fantasia itself, see here).

Be warned: while this piece starts quietly, it gets INCREDIBLY LOUD towards the end, so do mind your volume setting!

[amusingmorley]

Here’s a piece of choral music that I think would be performed at Thomas Lawrence’s funeral (and there wouldn’t be a dry eye in the house):

Take him, earth, for cherishing by English composer Herbert Howells. (Written for the 1st anniversary of the death of JFK).

Take him, earth, for cherishing,

to thy tender breast receive him.

Body of a man I bring thee,

noble even in its ruin.

Once was this a spirit’s dwelling,

by the breath of God created.

High the heart that here was beating,

Christ the prince of all its living.

Guard him well, the dead I give thee,

not unmindful of his creature

shall he ask it: he who made it

symbol of his mystery.

Comes the hour God hath appointed

to fulfil the hope of men,

then must thou, in very fashion,

what I give, return again.

Not though ancient time decaying

wear away these bones to sand,

ashes that a man might measure

in the hollow of his hand: Not though wandering winds and idle,

drifting through the empty sky,

scatter dust was nerve and sinew,

is it given to man to die.

Once again the shining road

leads to ample Paradise;

open are the woods again,

that the serpent lost for men

Take, O take him, mighty leader,

take again thy servant’s soul.

Grave his name, and pour the fragrant

balm upon the icy stone.

[lesser-known-composers]

Herbert Howells (1892-1983) - String Quartet No. 3 "In Gloucestershire": I. With Easy and Flexible Movement ·

Dante Quartet

[verdiprati]

Sarah Connolly and Joseph Middleton perform Herbert Howells’ “Goddess of Night”:

Calm with the calm of all old earth has taken To her peaceful breast And will not waken, Pale with passion of Life that never dies; You sit there watching us, Watching us with with clear bright eyes.

[clarinetplayingpenguin]

happy friday, since it’s less than 5 days until my final undergrad recital please enjoy me playing an excerpt from the second movement of the Herbert Howells clarinet sonata (also please forgive the poor audio quality and the lack of a piano)

[lnqdty]

lumsen//howells: the winchester service (hyperion, rec. 2010)

[justanotherpiccplayer]

I recorded another thing of me singing because it was fun the last time, this one is the first bit of Howells Dallas Magnificat, maybe I should get that app and record SSA stuffs, pls say if you'd want that I'd quite like to do some Britten :)

[lesser-known-composers]

Herbert Howells - Fantasy String Quartet Op. 25 Young Virtuosi Festival de la Vallee du Cougain Eglise de Saint Couat