Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

October 17, 1892 in Lydney, Gloucestershire, England

Death

:

February 24, 1983 in Oxford, England

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Keyboard

 

Herbert Howells was a British composer of classical music who was born on October 17, 1892, in Lydney, Gloucestershire, England. He was the youngest of six children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a choirmaster and organist, and his mother was a singer. Howells showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. Howells received his early education at the Lydney Grammar School, where he was a chorister in the school choir. He later attended the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition with Charles Villiers Stanford and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Howells was a gifted student and won several prizes for his compositions while at the Royal College of Music. In 1915, Howells was appointed as the organist and choirmaster at St. John's Church in Kensington, London. He held this position for over a decade and gained a reputation as a skilled organist and choral conductor. During this time, he also continued to compose music and his works began to gain recognition. One of Howells' early works, the Piano Quartet in A minor, was premiered in 1916 and received critical acclaim. This led to commissions for other works, including the Rhapsodic Quintet for clarinet and strings, which was premiered in 1919. Howells' music was characterized by its lush harmonies, lyrical melodies, and emotional depth. In 1920, Howells married Dorothy Dawe, a fellow musician and former student of his. The couple had two children, Michael and Ursula. Howells' family life was marked by tragedy, however, as his son Michael died of polio in 1935 at the age of nine. This event had a profound impact on Howells and influenced much of his later music. During the 1920s and 1930s, Howells continued to compose music and his works were performed by leading orchestras and ensembles. He also taught composition at the Royal College of Music and was a mentor to many young composers, including Benjamin Britten and William Walton. One of Howells' most famous works, the Hymnus Paradisi, was composed in the aftermath of his son's death. The work is a requiem for Michael and features a large choir, orchestra, and soloists. The Hymnus Paradisi was not performed publicly until 1950, as Howells was too grief-stricken to allow it to be performed earlier. The work was a critical and popular success and is now considered one of Howells' masterpieces. During World War II, Howells served as an air raid warden in London and continued to compose music. He also wrote music for films and radio broadcasts. After the war, he returned to teaching at the Royal College of Music and continued to compose music until his death. Howells' later works were marked by a more austere style, reflecting his grief and the changing musical tastes of the time. His music was less frequently performed, but he continued to be respected as a composer and teacher. Howells died on February 23, 1983, at the age of 90. In addition to the Hymnus Paradisi, Howells' other notable works include the Gloucester Service, a setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for choir and organ; the Requiem, a setting of the Latin Mass for the Dead; and the Concerto for String Orchestra. Howells also wrote music for solo piano, chamber ensembles, and orchestras. Howells' music is characterized by its emotional depth, lush harmonies, and lyrical melodies. His works often reflect his personal experiences and emotions, such as the grief he felt after his son's death.

More....