Herbert Howells
Born: October 17, 1892; Lydney, Gloucestershire, England
Died: February 24, 1983; Oxford, England
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Herbert Howells decided at a young age that he wanted to compose music and then sought out musical training. His most important teacher was the cathedral organist at Gloucester, Herbert Brewer, and he became Brewer's assistant. At the age of 20, he entered and won an open scholarship competition at the Royal College of Music.
His main teachers were Charles Wood in counterpoint and Charles Villiers Stanford in composition. He is said to
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There are 338 recordings available.
Select a specific Work or Most Popular Work below.
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Works
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A Grace (1)
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A Grace for 10 Downing Street (1)
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A Hymn for St Cecilia (8)
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A Kent Yeoman's Wooing Song (1)
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A maid peerless (1)
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A Near Minuet for Clarinet and Piano (2)
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All my hope on God is founded (15)
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An English Mass (1)
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Anthems (4) for Chorus: no 1, O pray for the peace of Jerusalem (5)
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Anthems (4) for Chorus: no 3, Like as the hart desireth (23)
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Antiphon (3)
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Before me, careless lying (1)
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Behold, O God our defender (6)
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Benedictus (2)
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By the waters of Babylon (2)
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Carol-Anthems (3) for Chorus (2)
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Carol-Anthems (3) for Chorus: no 1, Here is the little door (17)
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Carol-Anthems (3) for Chorus: no 2, A spotless rose (54)
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Carol-Anthems (3) for Chorus: no 3, Sing lullaby (20)
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Chichester Service: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (3)
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Chosen Tune, Op. 28 no 3 (1)
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Come my soul (2)
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Come sing and dance (6)
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Concerto for Piano no 1 in C major, Op. 4 (1)
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Concerto for Piano no 2 in C minor, Op. 39 (2)
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Concerto for Strings (3)
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Coventry Antiphon (4)
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Cradle Song for Violin and Piano, Op. 9 no 1 (1)
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Credo (1)
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Dalby's Fancy (2)
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Dalby's Toccata (2)
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Dances (3) for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 7 (2)
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Dances (3) for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 7: no 2 (1)
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Elegy for Viola, String Quartet and String Orchestra (3)
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Epilogue (2)
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Even such is time (1)
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Evening Canticles for St. John's College, Cambridge (Collegium Sancti Johannis Cantabrigiense) (1)
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Evening Service in E flat major (1)
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Evening Service in G major: Magnificat (3)
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Evening Service in G major: Nunc dimittis (2)
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Exultate Deo (1)
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Fantasia for Cello and Orchestra (2)
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Fantasy Minuet, Op. 27 (1)
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Fantasy String Quartet, Op. 25 (1)
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Flood (1)
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Flourish for a Bidding (3)
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Fret not thyself because of the ungodly (1)
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Full Moon (2)
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Gadabout (1)
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Gavotte (2)
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Gavotte for voice & piano (1)
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Gloucester Service (2)
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Gloucester Service: Magnificat (6)
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Gloucester Service: Nunc dimittis (5)
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God be in my head (1)
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Goddess of the Night (1)
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Grace for a Fresh Egg (1)
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Haec dies (2)
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Here is the little door (5)
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Holy spirit, ever dwelling (2)
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House of the Mind (3)
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Howells' Clavichord (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 1: no 1, Goff's Fireside (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 1: no 10, Dyson's Delight (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 1: no 2, Patrick's Siciliano (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 1: no 3, Jacob's Brawl (2)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 1: no 4, Dart's Sarabande (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 1: no 5, Arnold's Antic (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 1: no 6, Andrews' Air (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 1: no 7, Boult's Brangill (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 1: no 8, Rubbra's Soliloquy (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 1: no 9, Newman's Flight (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 2: no 1, E. B.'s Fanfarando (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 2: no 10, Walton's Toye (2)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 2: no 2, Ralph's Pavane (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 2: no 3, Ralph's Galliard (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 2: no 4, Finzi's Rest (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 2: no 5, Berkeley's Hunt (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 2: no 6, Malcolm's Vision (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 2: no 7, Bliss's Ballet (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 2: no 8, Julian's Dream (1)
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Howells' Clavichord, Book 2: no 9, Jacques's Mask (1)
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Hymnus Paradisi (5)
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Hymnus Paradisi: Requiem aeternam (1)
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In Green Ways, Op 43 (1)
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In youth is pleasure (1)
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Inheritance (1)
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Intrada for Organ (1)
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Jubilate Deo (3)
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King David (7)
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King of Glory (2)
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King's Herald (3)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41 (1)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 1, Lambert's Fireside (2)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 10, Sir Hugh's Galliard (2)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 11, H.H. His Fancy (1)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 12, Sir Richard's Toye (1)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 2, Fellowes's Delight (1)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 3, Hughes's Ballet (2)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 4, Wortham's Grounde (1)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 5, Sargent's Fantastic Sprite (1)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 6, Foss's Dump (1)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 7, My Lord Sandwich's Dreame (1)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 8, Samuel's Air (1)
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Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: no 9, De la Mare's Pavane (3)
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Let God arise, anthem for chorus & organ (1)
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Long, long ago (9)
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Lost Love (1)
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Luchinushka, Op. 28 no 4 (1)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "Collegium Magdalenae Oxoniense" (1)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "Collegium Regale" (3)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "Collegium Regale": Magnificat (10)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "Collegium Regale": Nunc dimittis (5)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "Collegium Sancti Johannis Cantabrigiense" (3)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "Dallas Canticles" (2)
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Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis "Gloucester" (2)
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Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis "Gloucester": Magnificat (1)
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Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis "Gloucester": Nunc Dimittis (1)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "Hereford" (2)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "New College, Oxford" (2)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "New College, Oxford": Magnificat (2)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "New College, Oxford": Nunc dimittis (2)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "Sarum" (1)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "St Augustine's" (1)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "St Paul's" (9)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "St Paul's": Magnificat (2)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "St Paul's": Nunc dimittis (1)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "St. Peter in Westminster" (3)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "Winchester" (2)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "Worcester" (2)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis "York" (1)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis for Men's Voices and Organ (2)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in B minor (1)
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Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in G major (2)
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Mass in the Dorian Mode (1)
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Master Tallis's Testament (9)
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Merry-Eye (1)
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Miniatures for Organ: no 1, Tempo di Gavotta (1)
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Miniatures for Organ: no 15, Quasi lento (1)
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Miniatures for Organ: no 25, Tempo di Menuetto (1)
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Miniatures for Organ: no 4, Allegro (1)
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Missa aedis Christi (2)
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Missa sabrinensis (1)
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Motets (3): no 1, God is gone up (1)
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Mrs. MacQueen (1)
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Music for a Prince (1)
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My eyes for beauty pine (2)
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Nunc dimittis (2)
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Nunc dimittis for unaccompanied choir (3)
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O holy city, seen of John (2)
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O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, for chorus (5)
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O, my deir hert, young Jesus sweit (1)
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Office of Holy Communion "Collegium Regale" (2)
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One thing have I desired (3)
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Organ Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 2 (1)
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Pageantry (1)
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Paradise Rondel (2)
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Partita for Organ (1)
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Pastoral Rhapsody (2)
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Pastorale, Op. 28 no 2 (1)
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Penguinski (1)
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Pieces (3) for Organ (1)
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Pieces (3) for Piano, Op. 14 (1)
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Pieces (3), Op.14 (1)
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Pieces (6) for Organ (3)
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Pieces (6) for Organ: no 1, Preludio "Sine Nomine" (2)
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Pieces (6) for Organ: no 2, Saraband (for the morning of Easter) (2)
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Pieces (6) for Organ: no 3, Master Tallis's Testament (5)
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Pieces (6) for Organ: no 5, Saraband in modo elegiaco (2)
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Pieces (6) for Organ: no 6, Paean (4)
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Preces and Responses no 1 (1)
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Preces and Responses no 2 (1)
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Prelude for Harp (1)
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Prelude for Organ "De Profundis" (1)
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Procession (3)
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Psalm 121 (4)
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Psalm 122 (2)
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Psalm 142 (1)
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Psalm-Preludes (3) for Organ, Set 1, Op. 32 (4)
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Psalm-Preludes (3) for Organ, Set 1, Op. 32: no 1, Psalm 34 - Verse 6 (13)
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Psalm-Preludes (3) for Organ, Set 1, Op. 32: no 2, Psalm 37 - Verse 11 (2)
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Psalm-Preludes (3) for Organ, Set 1, Op. 32: no 3, Psalm 23 - Verse 4 (2)
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Psalm-Preludes (3) for Organ, Set 2 (3)
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Psalm-Preludes (3) for Organ, Set 2: no 1, De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine (6)
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Psalm-Preludes (3) for Organ, Set 2: no 2, Yea the darkness is no darkness (2)
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Psalm-Preludes (3) for Organ, Set 2: no 3, Sing unto Him a new song (4)
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Quartet for Piano and Strings in A minor, Op. 21 (3)
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Quartet for Strings "In Gloucestershire" (2)
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Quartet for Strings "In Gloucestershire": 2nd movement, Fairly quick, but always rhythmical (2)
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Quartet for Strings "Phantasy" (2)
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Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, Op. 31 "Rhapsodic Quintet" (4)
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Regina caeli (4)
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Requiem (14)
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Requiem: Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd) (1)
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Requiem: Requiem aeternam (1)
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Rhapsodies (3) for Organ, Op. 17 (2)
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Rhapsodies (3) for Organ, Op. 17: no 1 in D flat major (6)
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Rhapsodies (3) for Organ, Op. 17: no 2 in E flat major (1)
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Rhapsodies (3) for Organ, Op. 17: no 3 in C sharp minor (8)
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Rhapsody for Organ in D flat Major, Op. 15 no 1 (1)
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Rhapsody for Organ no 4 in C major (2)
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Rhapsody in C sharp minor "I love all beauteous things" (5)
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Salve Regina (11)
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Saraband for the Morning of Easter (1)
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Saraband in Modo Elegiaco (1)
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Sequence for St Michael (6)
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Serenade for Strings (1)
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Short Pieces (6) for Organ (1)
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Siciliano for a High Ceremony (5)
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Sine nomine, Op. 37 (1)
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Slow Airs (2) for Organ (2)
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Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (2)
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Sonata for Oboe and Piano (5)
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Sonata for Organ (2)
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Sonata for Violin and Piano no 1 in E major, Op. 18 (2)
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Sonata for Violin and Piano no 2 in E flat major, Op. 26 (1)
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Sonata for Violin and Piano no 3 in E minor, Op. 38 (2)
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Sonatina for Piano (1)
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Songs (4), Op. 22 (1)
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Songs (4), Op. 22: The Widow Bird (1)
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Spirit of Pageantry (1)
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St Louis comes to Clifton (2)
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Stabat mater (1)
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Suite "The B's", Op 13 (1)
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Suite for Strings (1)
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Sweetest of sweets (3)
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Take him, earth, for cherishing (14)
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Te Deum and Jubilate "Collegium Regale" (9)
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Te Deum and Jubilate "Collegium Regale": Te Deum (4)
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Te Deum laudamus (5)
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The Chosen Tune (1)
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The fear of the Lord (2)
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The little boy lost (1)
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The Scribe (2)
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The Shadows (1)
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The summer is coming (2)
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The Worcester Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (1)
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Thee will I love (5)
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Threnody for Cello and Orchestra (2)
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Tryste Noel (1)
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Voluntary for Organ : Psalm-Prelude in D minor (1)
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Voluntary for organ: Psalm Prelude in D (1)
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Walking in the Snow (1)
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We have heard with our ears, anthem for chorus & organ (1)
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When the Dew is Falling (1)
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When there is peace (1)
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Where wast thou? (1)
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Windsor Service: Benedictus (1)
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Windsor Service: Te Deum (2)
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Work(s) (1)
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| More Featured Herbert Howells CDs & DVDs: |
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Biography |
by Joseph Stevenson
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Herbert Howells decided at a young age that he wanted to compose music and then sought out musical training. His most important teacher was the cathedral organist at Gloucester, Herbert Brewer, and he became Brewer's assistant. At the age of 20, he entered and won an open scholarship competition at the Royal College of Music.
His main teachers were Charles Wood in counterpoint and Charles Villiers Stanford in composition. He is said to have been Stanford's favorite pupil and Stanford conducted Howells' Piano concerto No. 1 at a Queen's Hall concert in 1913. Meanwhile, Howells' Mass in Dorian Mode was sung in Westminster Cathedral. In 1916, his piano quintet became the first work to be published under the Carnegie Trust.
He obtained a position as a sub-organist at Salisbury Cathedral, but had to give it up because of ill health, which had already kept him out of military service during World War I. He was not expected to live, but did recover and in 1920 was able to resume his career. He started teaching composition at the Royal College of Music in 1920.
His compositional style quickly emerged: it is in the tradition of modal, folk-based music that is sometimes called "English pastoralist," continuing the trends of Elgar and Ralph Vaughan Williams. His imagination was often stimulated by particular places and by people he knew. This holds true even for his large body of church music, which was not inspired by religious sentiments ("I am not a religious man any more than Ralph was," he once said). It is probable that he wrote so much church music simply because he liked choral writing and his style is rich and melodic.
Although he wrote a substantial amount of fine instrumental and orchestral music, his choral and other vocal music is considered the work most likely to keep his memory alive. His masterwork is usually considered to be the Hymnus paradisi, a quasi-requiem he wrote out of the grief suffered when he lost his nine-year-old son in 1938. It is a visionary work, with the kind of deep but quiet feeling that is also associated with Frederick Delius.
He received other teaching appoinments as well. After Holst's death in 1934, Howells was chosen to succeed him as director of music at St. Paul's School and in 1954, he was named King Edward VII Professor of Music at the University of London. He was made Commander of the British Empire in 1953 by Queen Elizabeth II. He retired from his St. Paul's position and the University of London post in 1964, but retained his professorship at the Royal College of Music and held classes there almost right up to his death at the age of 90. |
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