Howells: Choral Works

On this CD:

1. Behold, O God Our Defender for chorus
Composed by Herbert Howells
Performed by Andrew Lumsden

2. Carol-Anthems (3) for chorus
Composed by Herbert Howells
Performed by Andrew Lumsden, James Oxley

3. Te Deum ("For the Church of St. Mary, Redcliffe, Bristol")
Composed by Herbert Howells
Performed by Sophie Daneman, Carys-Anne Lane, Andrew Lumsden, Andrew Wickens

4. The Scribe
Composed by Herbert Howells
Performed by Andrew Lumsden

5. Thee Will I Love for chorus
Composed by Herbert Howells
Performed by Andrew Lumsden

6. Blessed Are the Dead
Composed by Herbert Howells
Performed by Andrew Lumsden

7. Even Such Is Time
Composed by Herbert Howells
Performed by Andrew Lumsden

8. Inheritance (for A Garland for the Queen)
Composed by Herbert Howells
Performed by Andrew Lumsden

9. Haec Dies
Composed by Herbert Howells
Performed by Andrew Lumsden

10. God Is Gone Up
Composed by Herbert Howells
Performed by Andrew Lumsden

Tracks:

Allegro Brillante-Animato - London Symphony Orchestra
Allegro E Vivace - London Symphony Orchestra
Tranquillo, Quasi Andante - Moray Welsh
Lento Calmato, Assai Teneramente - Moray Welsh
Tranquillo, Non Troppo Lento - London Symphony Orchestra
Allegro Moderato, Sempre Ritmico - London Symphony Orchestra

Tracks:

I. Overture. Bublum - London Symphony Orchestra
II. Lament. Bartholomew - London Symphony Orchestra
III. Scherzo. Blissy - London Symphony Orchestra
IV. 'Mazurka' Alias 'Minuet'. Bunny - London Symphony Orchestra
V. March. Benjee - London Symphony Orchestra
I. Giocoso Molto - Lydia Mordkovitch
II. Quasi Lento, Quieto - Lydia Mordkovitch
III. Molto Allegro - Lydia Mordkovitch
I. Under The Greenwood Tree - Yvonne Kenny
II. The Goat Paths - Yvonne Kenny
III. Merry Margaret - Yvonne Kenny
IV. Wanderer's Night Song - Yvonne Kenny
V. On The Merry First Of May - Yvonne Kenny

Customer Reviews:

2 For 1 CD is Ultimate bargan........2006-04-13

This is a 2 CD set that combines Howell's previously released Chandos Orchestral Works Volume 1 and 2.
Which makes this an Ultimate Bargain.
Because this is the most Glorious and Beautiful English orchestral and String music this side of Vaughan-Williams.
The recording is Spectacular as is expected from Chandos.
I won't go into detail about the compositions or performance here. Instead go to the listings for the single CD editions where other reviewers have been more eloquent than I could ever be.
I do know what i hear though. This music is mostly Pastoral, Rapturous and Beautiful.
If you LOVE Vaughan-Williams, you will wonder why you've never given Howells a shot. Better late than never...Go Now and get this CD...

Average customer rating:

Intriguing, listenable, original music!

Howells & Stevens: Choral Works

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000AOK
Release Date: 1992-10-28

Tracks:

Mass In The Dorian Mode: Kyrie
Mass In The Dorian Mode: Gloria In Excelsis
Mass In The Dorian Mode: Credo
Mass In The Dorian Mode: Sanctus
Mass In The Dorian Mode: Benedictus
Mass In The Dorian Mode: Osanna
Mass In The Dorian Mode: Agnus Dei I
Mass In The Dorian Mode: Agnus Dei II
Salve Regina
O salutaris Hostia
Sweetest Of Sweets
Come, My Soul
Antiphon
Nunc dimittis
Regina caeli
Mass For Double Choir: Kyrie eleison
Mass For Double Choir: Gloria
Mass For Double Choir: Sanctus
Mass For Double Choir: Benedictus
Mass For Double Choir: Agnus Dei

Customer Reviews:

Intriguing, listenable, original music!.......2003-08-31

The early Howells works and the Stevens Mass for Double Choir are fresh, original pieces that deserve a much wider hearing than they receive. Howells' "Mass in the Dorian Mode" is very striking in its use of modal and polyphonic writing. Nunc Dimmitis, another piece on the CD, echos without copying Vaughn Williams' "Mass in G Minor." The Finzi Singers handle this complex music very well. Though once or twice the CD sounds a little bright, overall, it is beautifully recorded.

Average customer rating:

A definite classic

A Choral Showcase

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Magnificats | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001HMN
Release Date: 1993-09-11

Tracks:

Coelos Ascendit Hodie
I Waited For The Lord (From 'The Hymm Praise')
Faire Is The Heaven
Antiphon
Toccata
I Love The Lord
The Wilderness
Cantabile
The Lord Is My Shepherd
Nunc Dimittis (Collegium Regale)

Customer Reviews:

A definite classic.......2000-05-29

It was under Martin Neary that the Choir of Winchester Cathedral first made a name for itself, through records such as this one. This is THE sound of boys voices that has made the English choral tradition so highly prized both here and abroad, albeit singing more than just the old familiar Christmas Carols frequently associated with English cathedral music. I bought the disc for Jonathan Harvey's "I Love the Lord," which I was fortunate enough to sing in Guildford Cathedral over Holy Week, with the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir under Dr Neary's direction. He believes it to be the finest anthem written in the latter half of the 20th century, and indeed on this recording it is sung by the choir for which it was written. It is not an easy piece, either to listen to or to sing, but whatever you think from listening to it here, it is unquestionably the greatest example of the performance standards wrought by Dr Neary.

Lest you think this is just a compilation of "Winchester Commissions," the disc also features some exquisite classical favourites, including Mendelssohn's "I waited for the Lord," Stanford's brief motet "Caelos ascendit hodie" and the incomparable setting of "Faire is the Heaven" by William Harris (quite possibly his finest work). In addition, James Lancelot breaks up the programme twice with his fluent renditions of organ music by Dubois and Franck, all sounding magnificent in the cathedral's famed acoustics.

This is by no means a perfect recording: first of all, a varied programme is commendable but never always to everyone's taste (so eclectic music lovers will get the most out of this CD). Secondly, the booklet notes are practically non-existent - the two organ works are given short commentaries and the anthem texts are supplied but you are left without programme notes describing them. Thirdly, as it was originally released as an LP it comes in at under 60 minutes running time, although the performances still make it worthwhile for what you pay. Fourthly, it is an AAD re-master, and as such it shows its age (I think this is indicative of the initial apathy from most record companies towards the newly-introduced digital audio tape, now used by all companies!).

Tracks:

Behold, O God Our Defender
Three Carol-Anthems: Here Is The Little Door
Three Carol-Anthems: Sing Lullaby
Three Carol-Anthems: A Spotless Rose
Te Deum: For The Church Of St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
The Scribe
Thee Will I love
Blessed Are The Dead
Even Such Is Time
Inheritance
Haec Dies
God Is Gone Up

Customer Reviews:

Less than stellar, but worth a look for Howells devotees.......2001-08-20

Whilst I have often had nothing but praise for the Finzi Singers in past reviews here, I must admit that this disc has me somewhat disappointed. Paul Spicer was once a student of Herbert Howells, so one would expect his choir to be somewhat more on top of the music than they are here. Several of the unaccompanied tracks on this disc go noticeably flat, which makes for an uneven sequence if listening to the whole programme in one go. Ensemble also seems to be a bit of a problem in one or two instances - the closing cadence of "Here is the little door" being a case in point. Certainly, I can think of better recordings of the "Three Carol Anthems" than this, as indeed I can think of better recordings by the Finzi Singers.
However, lest that puts all but the most ardent of Howells devotees off, I must add that the disc still has much to commend it. It's only a little over an hour of playing time, but the producers have filled that hour with many rare works, including a number of world premiere recordings and (in the case of "Blessed are the dead") one item that had never even been performed before. Indeed, of the programme only the first items will be familiar to lovers of cathedral music: "Behold, O God our defender" was written as an introit for the Coronation in 1953 and remains one of Howells' most quintessential anthems. Also quintessential are the aforementioned "Three Carol Anthems" - "Here is the little door," "Sing Lullaby" and "A Spotless Rose," all of which are repeatedly and deservedly referred to as gems, being wonderfully evocative of their texts and prime examples of Howells' unique musical language as it was newly evolving in the early part of the last century.
The other works represent the composer equally well, but also show him treading into less frequently-heard territories of his output, and for that matter into less familiar geographical surroundings. For instance, the spine-chilling "Te Deum" for choir and organ presented here was not written for a cathedral or collegiate choir (as were so many of Howells' more familiar canticle settings) but for a parish church - St. Mary's, Radcliffe, near Bristol. As explained in the liner notes, this church had special associations for Howells, who was sometimes taken there by his father. The unfinished motet "Blessed are the dead" (heard here in a completion by Patrick Russill, who has edited much of Howells' early music for publication in recent years) was begun in tribute to the death of the elder Howells; it contains some tender moments but is sadly let down by poor tuning. Equally tender and emotional, but much better performed, is the semi-secular partsong "The Scribe," written as a tribute to the 80 year old Vaughan Williams, a musical role-model and friend to Howells from the beginning of the latter's compositional career. Howells' contribution to the Coronation has already been mentioned; also on the disc is "Inheritance," his contribution to "A Garland for the Queen" which was premiered alongside similar works by Tippet, Bliss, Finzi and others on the day before the Coronation. There are numerous settings of "God is gone up" in existence; Howells' is, I suspect, the least frequently performed in comparison with those by Finzi and William Croft, so it is good to have it in this collection. Finally, "Haec Dies" is worth a mention as it complements an earlier Finzi Singers recording of Howells' music, which included all the other works written by the young composer for the fledgling Choir of Westminster Cathedral.
All in all, a fine programme that is worth exploring if you're prepared to overlook some (admittedly unusual) blights in the performance.

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous modern choral music

Howells: Choral Works

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000FMR3ZI
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Tracks:

Te Deum
Even Such Is Time
The Summer Is Coming
Nunc Dimittis
The House Of The Mind
Two Madrigals
Two Madrigals
Salve Regina
Mass In Dorian Mode
Mass In Dorian Mode
Mass In Dorian Mode
Mass In Dorian Mode
Mass In Dorian Mode
Mass In Dorian Mode
Mass In Dorian Mode
Mass In Dorian Mode
God Is Gone Up

Tracks:

Three Carol-Anthems
Three Carol-Anthems
Three Carol-Anthems
Sweetest Of Sweets
Haec Dies
Regina Coeli
Long, Long Ago
A Sequence For St Michael
Antiphon
Requiem
Requiem
Requiem
Requiem
Requiem
Requiem
Take Him, Earth, For Cherishing
Thee Will I Love

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous modern choral music.......2006-09-19

This very reasonably priced two disc compilation first caught my eye with its beautiful cover art (carried onto the notes and even the discs themselves). Being familiar with the well-known "Long, Long Ago" and "Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing" I was eager for more of Howells' choral music. I picked up the set and have been utterly delighted with it.

The set seems designed to supplement recordings of Howells' larger choral masterpieces, and it covers most of his career. Earlier pieces, such as the "Nunc Dimittis" and "Haec Dies," are influenced by Renaissance polyphony, itself undergoing rediscovery as Howells began composing. Later works here display the full flowering of modern harmony, often in very lush accounts.

The Finzi Singers are simply marvelous. Entrances and intonation are always dead on, and the singers manage the marked chromatic and dynamic modulations flawlessly. The pieces here were recorded through the 1990's, usually in moderately resonant spaces, and with transparent engineering.

Most of these works are for unaccompanied choir, while a few have organ acccompaniment. Notes are useful without being pedantic, and the entire package is very well done. Urgently recommended to anyone who loves modern choral music, indeed to those who love choral music generally.

Average customer rating:

Herbert Howells 'Orchestral Works: volume 1'

Howells: Orchestral Works Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Howells: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2

ASIN: B000000AXY
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Amazon.com

Chandos is quite good at putting out discs like this: 20th-century British romanticism at its best. Herbert Howells is of the generation of Bliss, Bax, Walton and Arnold, and his music takes a middle course, relying on distinct melodies in familiar constructs. These short works fairly jump out at the listener. "King's Herald" is from 1937, originally a work for brass band--catch this brilliant version for full orchestra. Also a stand out on this release is the Fantasia for Cello and Orchestra (of 1937), a private, yet intimate piece for his son, Michael, who died of polio. Excellent series. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Herbert Howells 'Orchestral Works: volume 1'.......2000-02-21

Once again Chandos provide us with an hours great music that was not recorded formerly (save one work of four minutes) and yet is totally beautiful, original and exciting. The Kings Herald is from the suite 'Pageantry' and shows more versatility than its Brass Band roots with exciting brass fanfares set against full orchestra and organ. A sense of expectation and optimism underlines the work and one's feeling for the CD as a whole. However, Howells comes into his own with the orchestral poems 'Paradise Rondel' and 'Pastoral Rhapsody' which he paints in a rich pastoral vein. During most of his creative life, Howells felt somewhat in the shadow of Vaughan Williams and allowed the Pastoral Rhapsody to be forgotten because 'he may have felt it may have been imitative of VW's 'Pastoral Symphony''. While it is certainly the case that certain features of the work share something with the atmosphere of part of VW's symphony, Howells' work is totally original in its totality and deserves to be heard on its own merits. The modal chords, woodwind arabesques and general English Folksong source of inspiration are formed into a structure that Howells creates as his own and provides the listener with a new perspective on what was sometimes called perjoratively the 'cowpat school'. As Holst uses this material differently from VW and Percy Grainger, so Howells has his own voice which is as individual as the two other more popular masters. One feels that if he had possessed greater self confidence and exhibited less self criticism we would be hearing these works far more frequently than we do today. The two cello and orchestra works are elegaic and reveal a sense of loss and tragedy in the way that Frank Bridge did in his 'Oration' with the same forces. Howells is never as violent as Bridge and keeps his emotions and tonality intact, thus in its way being far more English in its reserve given the profundity of emotion being portrayed. The BBC should take on the role of playing and publicising these works which deserve a much greater audience than is the case at present. Chandos have done their bit. Howells is a unique voice in English music and no assessment of the works of this period should miss him out.

Average customer rating:

Magical English choral music
Magical English choral music

Choral Works by Howells & Bax

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000AR6
Release Date: 1994-07-26

Tracks:

This Worldes Joie
Two Madrigals: 1. In Youth Is Pleasure
Two Madrigals: 2. Before Me, Careless Lying
Bater Ora Filium
Long, Long Ago
Five Greek Folk Songs: 1. Miracle Of Saint Basil
Five Greek Folk Songs: 2. The Bridesmaid's Song
Five Greek Folk Songs: 3. In Far-Off Malta
Five Greek Folk Songs: 4. The Happy Tramp
Five Greek Folk Songs: 5. A Pilgrim's Chant
The Summer Is Coming
I Sing Of A Maiden That Is Makeless
Take Him, Earth For Cherishing

Customer Reviews:

Magical English choral music.......2000-03-31

When you play this record of splendid choral music through you have to regret the fact that Chandos did not use this fresh voiced ensemble (or another group of this calibre) on the Bax CD : 'Enchanted Summer', 'Walsinghame' and 'Fatherland'. Maybe they thought that you needed more than 20 singers to overcome the orchestral tutti. Anyway, this group perform magnificently with these fiendishly difficult works that really put them through their paces. Although both composers here are 'sensitive souls' and contemporaries, they were totally different in terms of sources of inspiration and musical teleology. Bax was not into devotional work as such but his 'Mater Ora Filium', a setting of a mediaeval carol is inspiring both musically and emotionally. This notoriously difficult work is tackled with aplomb with the polyphonic writing emerging as a supreme example of English choral music. This is about as good as this genre gets. Bax's 'This Worldes Joie', a setting of a early fourteenth century poem is a lament with the winter bringing a realisation to the poet of the ultimate death of everything, even the world's joy. Bax is brilliant in the way he portrays the wintery world weary reflective soul, which he would tackle again three years hence in a more personified form, in his setting of Sir Walter Raleigh's 'Walsinghame'. The Howells writing dovetails beautifully with the Bax and the idea to inerweave the composers was an inspired one. It seems a seamless collection which shows Howells adoration of the Tudor choral tradition of Tallis, Taverner et al. The 'Two Madrigals' are an explicit form of this worship but 'Take him, Earth for Cherishing' is among this composer's best works and the Finzi Singers directed by Paul Spicer reveal how much beauty lies within Howells' choral writing with their fresh sound. 'Long, long ago searches for harmonic peace and at one time a discordant cadence is pursued until we arrive at the place we wanted but with certain tonal mysterious questions unanswered. Bax's 'Five Greek Songs' and 'I sing of a Maiden that is makeless' are both equally fine and show that he was as assured in this medium as his CD companion. The second of these pieces has harmonies that recall Delius in his 'Appalachia' and 'Sea Drift'.

Magical English choral music.......2000-03-31