Select Genre

Classical Music

Jazz and Blues

Nostalgia

Contemporary Instrumental

World Music

AudioBooks

Relaxation Music

Essentials

New Releases

Featured Label

Recently Added

Critics' Picks

Composers

Artists

Exclusive Samplers

Highlights

Audiophile Albums

Listening Guides

Lifestyle Compilations

200 Naxos Essentials

Featured Series

Most Downloaded

New Labels

Podcasts

Search Options

Music Browser

Advanced Search

Subscribe to our
Newsletter

Your feedback, please.
Please feel free to send your comments or suggestions to our Customer Service.

Classiscsonline Home » Composers » H » Howells, Herbert

Herbert Howells (1892 - 1983)

Herbert Howells started his musical career as a cathedral organist. He succeeded Gustav Holst as director of music at St Paul's Girls' School in London and taught composition for many years at the Royal College of Music. A pupil of Stanford and Charles Wood at the Royal College, he wrote music within the prevailing English tradition, showing some affinity with Vaughan Williams in his choral music.

Orchestral Music

The orchestral music of Howells includes two Piano Concertos, a Pastoral Rhapsody and, in 1949, Music for a Prince. The Concerto for Strings of 1939 was followed by a Suite, also for string orchestra.

Chamber Music

Howells wrote an interesting Phantasy Quartet and a later String Quartet 'In Gloucestershire'. Among other compositions for instrumental ensemble are a Rhapsody Quintet for clarinet and string quartet, sonatas for oboe and for clarinet and piano, and three Violin Sonatas.

Organ Music

As an organist by training, Howells added significantly to the repertoire of English organ music, notably in two Organ Sonatas, four organ Rhapsodies and sets of Psalm Preludes.

Vocal and Choral Music

Hymnus Paradisi written in 1938, a Requiem for the composer's son, was first performed at the Three Choirs Festival in the West of England in 1950, when it won considerable success. It was followed by the Missa sabrinensis and a setting of the Stabat mater. Howells also contributed to the repertoire of church music for the Church of England, with anthems and motets well suited to resonant cathedral

more....

Discography