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Herbert Howells
Composer, organist, teacher, writer, and broadcaster, Herbert Howells (1892-1983) was the leading church music composer of the century and the man who revolutionized it. His cantile settings and anthems, and decades of teaching have ensured him a massive influence which is still growing. Many of his choral works are considered masterpieces, while his ecclesiastical music, "quite possibly sung daily in Britain, " is hailed by musicians the world over.
205 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1999
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August 6, 2011The music of Herbert Howells has a quality about it that is indefinable, it is not to everyone's taste, but it is undoubtedly sublime, and captures an essence of Englishness that few others have managed except, perhaps, Vaughan Williams.
The life of a man who had such unique talents to express in music, in different formats - organ, choral, chamber, orchestral - such fine emotions, would be bound to fascinate anyone interested in his music. Paul Spicer's book is in the form of a traditional biography, and is generally well-written, and in a logical and chronological order. It covers all of the main landmarks in Howells' long career, starting in the Gloucestershire town of Lydney, and ending up in Barnes where he spent most of his adult life, and the constancy of his beloved Royal College of Music and St. Paul's Girl's School (in which he succeeded Holst as Director of Music).
The heartache of losing his only son, Michael, to polio at a young age, and the seemingly constant influence this tragic event had on his life is delicately covered, as is his serial infidelity, revealed through his daughter, the well-known actress Ursula Howells. That Paul Spicer was one of Howells' students helps of course, to build a very personal portrait.
The irony that Howells escaped being sent to the trenches of World War One because of his life-threatening Thyroid problem (Graves disease) because he was not thought to have long to live, but then lived such a wonderfully long and fruitful life, is not overlooked. On a very personal level, I have much for which to be thankful to Howells, apart from the wealth of wonderful music which is his legacy, but he literally pioneered the radioactive treatment for Graves disease. My personal thanks are due because, some 80 years after Howells was the guinea pig for that novel treatment (which itself may have killed him), I have myself undergone the same treatment - a treatment that is now quite safe and routine.
Reading Spicer's book is like a roll-call of distinguished musicians from the greater part of the 20th Century, from Elgar, Parry and Stanford, right down to Sir David Willcocks, Thalben-Ball, Birch and Rutter who have rubbed shoulders with the great man in one way or another. Likewise, all of the great works are covered, from the works written when a pupil organist at Gloucester, to the major works like Hymnus Paradisi and the (in my view) greatest of all, Collegium Regale settings, right to one of the very last pieces he wrote - an Organ Partita for his former student on becoming Prime Minister, Edward Heath!
There are a few curious typographical errors, such as mis-spelling Luxemburg (sic.), but this is otherwise a must read for any devotee of Howells. It is hardly encyclopaedic - that would be impossible in a book of 200 pages dealing with a life spanning 1892 to 1983, but is certainly a good introduction to the life of this great musician.
The life of a man who had such unique talents to express in music, in different formats - organ, choral, chamber, orchestral - such fine emotions, would be bound to fascinate anyone interested in his music. Paul Spicer's book is in the form of a traditional biography, and is generally well-written, and in a logical and chronological order. It covers all of the main landmarks in Howells' long career, starting in the Gloucestershire town of Lydney, and ending up in Barnes where he spent most of his adult life, and the constancy of his beloved Royal College of Music and St. Paul's Girl's School (in which he succeeded Holst as Director of Music).
The heartache of losing his only son, Michael, to polio at a young age, and the seemingly constant influence this tragic event had on his life is delicately covered, as is his serial infidelity, revealed through his daughter, the well-known actress Ursula Howells. That Paul Spicer was one of Howells' students helps of course, to build a very personal portrait.
The irony that Howells escaped being sent to the trenches of World War One because of his life-threatening Thyroid problem (Graves disease) because he was not thought to have long to live, but then lived such a wonderfully long and fruitful life, is not overlooked. On a very personal level, I have much for which to be thankful to Howells, apart from the wealth of wonderful music which is his legacy, but he literally pioneered the radioactive treatment for Graves disease. My personal thanks are due because, some 80 years after Howells was the guinea pig for that novel treatment (which itself may have killed him), I have myself undergone the same treatment - a treatment that is now quite safe and routine.
Reading Spicer's book is like a roll-call of distinguished musicians from the greater part of the 20th Century, from Elgar, Parry and Stanford, right down to Sir David Willcocks, Thalben-Ball, Birch and Rutter who have rubbed shoulders with the great man in one way or another. Likewise, all of the great works are covered, from the works written when a pupil organist at Gloucester, to the major works like Hymnus Paradisi and the (in my view) greatest of all, Collegium Regale settings, right to one of the very last pieces he wrote - an Organ Partita for his former student on becoming Prime Minister, Edward Heath!
There are a few curious typographical errors, such as mis-spelling Luxemburg (sic.), but this is otherwise a must read for any devotee of Howells. It is hardly encyclopaedic - that would be impossible in a book of 200 pages dealing with a life spanning 1892 to 1983, but is certainly a good introduction to the life of this great musician.
February 3, 2011
This began as work - as part of research for a film project - but is now much more. It is one of my prized books because, beyond loving the early compositions of Howells and weaving these into a the screenplay for my novel Moon Daisy, Paul Spicer has given me such insight into the man and his extraordinary life.
The caveat is that I needed this book when I found it. To come to it cold may not work anything as well unless you first explore his music. I understand and appreciate the greatness of his church compositions, but I refer specifically to Howells compositions for piano and strings.
The caveat is that I needed this book when I found it. To come to it cold may not work anything as well unless you first explore his music. I understand and appreciate the greatness of his church compositions, but I refer specifically to Howells compositions for piano and strings.
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