Sir David Willcocks, 1919-2015

[terratogen]

Still more sad news, via a tweet from King's Choir's official account:

King's College Choir @ChoirOfKingsCam 20 minutes ago
It is with great sadness that we learned this morning of the death of Sir David Willcocks. We will publish more soon.

What a legacy he leaves. Who is there that sings--from school or community chorus to cathedral choir--that hasn't been affected by his work? May he rest in peace.

[ardcarp]

He was surely one of the greatest influences in the world of choral music. He has inspired many generations of musicians. Many of us owe him a huge debt. I find it difficult to find words adequate to express all that I want to. At this moment I can only think of the In Paradisum from his legendary recording of Faure's Requiem from Kings. Thank you for everything.

[Hornspieler]

A great musician and a lovely man. I first met him when he was the newly appointed organist and choir master at Salisbury Cathedral.

One of my first memories of him was at a party at a friends house, when, having had a couple, he sat cross-legged under their Bechstein grand piano, facing outwards, crossed his hands and played some of the Moonlight Sonata on the keyboard above his head!

Kings College, Cambridge and the Royal College of Music will be forever in his debt.

RIP Sir David.

Hornspieler

[DracoM]

[Keraulophone]

A legendary musician and a great Cornishman. R.I.P.

[Mary Chambers]

I find it very hard to take in, but I suppose it must be true. As has been said, his influence was enormous.

[terratogen]

On a note of sheer stupidity: admins, I've just noticed that I omitted the first 'C' in the great man's name in this thread title. Is anyone able to correct it?

Mea culpa.

[pastoralguy]

Very sad news.

[Richard Tarleton]

I remember a mighty Mahler 8 in the Albert Hall in about 1972.....

[ardcarp]

On a note of sheer stupidity: admins, I've just noticed that I omitted the first 'C' in the great man's name in this thread title. Is anyone able to correct it?

Done.

BTW, they played In Paradisum (the famous recording) on In Tune this pm.

[Nick Armstrong]

A great soul gone.

I had the honour to play in a concert under his direction once, in the orchestra for "In Windsor Forest". There was a great moment in rehearsal which summed up his humane musicianship and humour. The chorus sang a particular passage for the first time. He stopped them and, beaming, said: "Sopranos, I loved your way with that last phrase! Now...[even broader smile] shall we try it Vaughan Williams's way?"... Laughter all round and a correct rendition of the passage second time through

[ardcarp]

Mrs Ardcarp's last concert under his baton was when he was in his mid-80s, directing, I think, Rutter's Gloria amongst other things. She said his energy and total control of big forces was undiminished.

[Petrushka]

There can hardly be a chorister of the past 50 years who isn't indebted to Sir David. His Carols for Choirs was my own introduction to his name in around 1965 and his wonderful carol descants were a joy to sing, brilliant tunes in their own right.

Let's hope that King's do as many of them as possible this coming Christmas Eve.

RIP Sir David Willcocks.

[Barbirollians]

I think probably every child who has sung a carol since the 1960s has sung his arrangements - frankly I dislike any others they are so much part of Christmas -always came across as a lovely man when interviewed . A great age and a splendid life well lived.

I recall owning a cheap compilation CD The World of Kings and almost wearing it out when I first owned a player

[Keraulophone]

I recall owning a cheap compilation CD The World of Kings and almost wearing it out when I first owned a player

You didn't fall for the "Pure, Perfect Sound Forever" claim by Philips/Sony for the new CD format in 1982 then?