Herbert Norman Howells CH, CBE (1892–1983) was an English composer, organis… Read Full Bio ↴Herbert Norman Howells CH, CBE (1892–1983) was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.
Howells was born pn the 17th October 1892 in Lydney, Gloucestershire, and was the youngest of six children. His father was an amateur organist, and Herbert 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. A September 1910 concert in Gloucester Cathedral included the premiere of a mysterious new work by the yet little-known Ralph Vaughan Williams. Howells not only made the composer's personal acquaintance that evening, but (as he often recounted) the piece, the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, profoundly moved him. 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. Friends then arranged for a grant from the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, under which Howells would assist Richard Runciman Terry in editing the voluminous Latin Tudor repertoire that he and his choir were reviving at Westminster Cathedral. Although they were envisioning an undemanding sinecure, Howells took great interest in this work, absorbing the English Renaissance style which he loved and would evoke in his own compositions, and continued it until joining the faculty of the Royal College of Music in 1920. During World War II, he served as acting organist of St John's College, Cambridge.
He died on the 23rd February 1983.
Howells was born pn the 17th October 1892 in Lydney, Gloucestershire, and was the youngest of six children. His father was an amateur organist, and Herbert 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. A September 1910 concert in Gloucester Cathedral included the premiere of a mysterious new work by the yet little-known Ralph Vaughan Williams. Howells not only made the composer's personal acquaintance that evening, but (as he often recounted) the piece, the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, profoundly moved him. 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. Friends then arranged for a grant from the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, under which Howells would assist Richard Runciman Terry in editing the voluminous Latin Tudor repertoire that he and his choir were reviving at Westminster Cathedral. Although they were envisioning an undemanding sinecure, Howells took great interest in this work, absorbing the English Renaissance style which he loved and would evoke in his own compositions, and continued it until joining the faculty of the Royal College of Music in 1920. During World War II, he served as acting organist of St John's College, Cambridge.
He died on the 23rd February 1983.
Hymnus Paridisi: I
Herbert Howells Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Herbert Howells:
Sing Lullaby Sing lullaby While snow doth gently fall Sing lullaby to Jes…
Take him earth for cherishing Take him, earth, for cherishing, To thy tender breast receiv…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
@joesoy9185
Everything about this video is first class: the orchestra, chorus, soloists, but also the audio and video (camera work). Congratulations to all taking part!
@josephdanny6956
@Phillip Ephraim Yea, have been using Flixzone for months myself :D
@paulienjansen4238
4@@phillipephraim1828 m
@bobcoc8158
A wonderful performance of one of the greatest English choral pieces. Bravo to the soloists, the choir, the orchestra and Brabbins who shapes it with such loving care.
@nellahashimoto1342
Oh my! Beautiful. Love it. Everyone excellent. May God bless one and all. Thank you. This meant a lot to me.
@charlestyser8176
God Bless you Sir Herbert,you are with Michael and all your loved ones.We remember for ever!
@MCRENNES
Sooo beautiful I‘m looking forward to singing this in February with my choir!!!!!! What a wonderful piece of heaven
@ottograce
An astounding performance, loving and inspiring. It is certainly the best available on video. Thank you to all involved.
@georgesmelki1
0:50 - Preludio (for orchestra)
5:00 - Requiem aeternam
15:00 - The Lord is my shepherd (a setting of Psalm 23)
22:20 - Sanctus. I will lift up mine eyes (which juxtaposes the Sanctus from the Ordinary of the Mass with Psalm 121)
32:10 - I heard a voice from heaven (from the Burial Service)
36:55 - Holy is the true light (from the Salisbury Diurnal, translation by G. H. Palmer)
@aryehfinklestein9041
Superb! thankyou for posting. The soloists are excellent, and the conductor as outstanding here as he was at the Proms.