Howells , Herbert Norman , 1892-1983 , composer

Herbert Norman Howells, born Lydney, Gloucestershire, 17 Oct 1892; educated Lydney Grammar School and Gloucester Cathedral, where he was a pupil of Sir Herbert Brewer, Gloucester Cathedral; won Open Scholarship in Composition, Royal College of Music, 1912; studied there under Sir Charles Stanford, Sir Walter Parratt, Sir Hubert Parry, Charles Wood, and Sir Walford Davies, 1912-1917; succeeded to the Grove Scholarship, 1915, and became Bruce Scholar, 1916; his first work performed in London was the Mass produced by Sir Richard Terry at Westminster Cathedral, 1912; sub-organist, Salisbury Cathedral, until illness forced retirement, 1917; convalesced and acted as assistant to Sir Richard Terry in editing manuscripts of Tudor church music, and composed much of his own music, 1917-1920; appointed lecturer (later Professor of Composition), Royal College of Music; the death of his son Michael in 1935, acted as an influence on many of his later compositions; Director of Music, St Paul's Girls' School, Brook Green, 1936-1962; organist of St John's College, Cambridge, 1941-1945; appointed King Edward Professor of Music, University of London, 1950 (Emeritus 1962); President of the Royal College of Organists (1958-1959), Incorporated Society of Musicians (1952) and Plainsong and Mediaeval Music Society. Hon MusD Cambridge, 1961; Hon DMus RCM 1982; Hon. FRSCM, 1963; Hon Fellow: St John's College, Cambridge, 1962; Queen's College, Oxford, 1977; Master, Worshipful Company of Musicians, 1959 (first John Collard Fellow; elected to John Collard Life Fellowship, 1959); died London, 23 Feb 1983. Selected compositions: Sir Patrick Spens; Sine Nomine Procession; Puck's Minuet; Piano Concerto; Elegy for Strings; Concerto for Strings; Lady Audrey's Suite; Phantasy Quartet; Piano Quartet; Rhapsodic Quintet; First and Third Sonatas for violin and pianoforte; Lambert's Clavichord; In Green Ways, five songs for Soprano and Orchestra; Peacock Pie song-cycle; Sonata for Organ; Hymnus Paradisi; Missa Sabrinensis; Pageantry; A Kent Yeoman's Wooing Song; Four Organ Rhapsodies; Six Psalm Preludes; Music for a Prince (for HRH Prince Charles); Introit (composed for Coronation Service, 1953); Inheritance (commissioned by The Arts Council of Great Britain for A Garland for the Queen, 1953); An English Mass, 1955; Howell's Clavichord (20 pieces); Missa Aedis Christi; Missa, Collegium Regale; Three Figures; Sequence for St Michael; Coventry Antiphon; Stabat Mater; The Coventry Mass.