Favourite Howells' Canticles

[Y Mab Afradlon]

One of my favourite Chorister scribbles is on the Dec 7 copy of a provincial choir where one of the Dec 7's inscribed on the inner sleeve of the Dallas Canticles. "WHO SHOT JR? HERBERT HOWELLS SHOULD BE SHOT FOR WRITING THIS" He probably now is a critic for one of the leading London broadsheets.

[Vox Humana]

He probably now is a critic for one of the leading London broadsheets.

Or perhaps a composer with a very ascetic, post-Joubert style.

[EdgeleyRob]

I don't know all of these, but the ones I've heard so far, I rather like but being a Howells's fan, I would like them all, I suspect! :)

Yes BBM I think you would,I do.

[Pulcinella]

The Howells Westminster canticles are getting another outing in Choral Evensong on Wednesday 30 December (and repeated the following Sunday): from St Gabriel's Church, Pimlico, London, with the Rodolfus Choir. Also featured are his Sing Lullaby and Long, Long Ago.

[Vox Humana]

The Howells Westminster canticles are getting another outing in Choral Evensong on Wednesday 30 December (and repeated the following Sunday): from St Gabriel's Church, Pimlico, London, with the Rodolfus Choir. Also featured are his Sing Lullaby and Long, Long Ago.

It's great to see "Long, long ago" becoming better known at long last. It's a lovely piece - at least it is when sung with the tender yearning suggested by the text (as on the Rudolfus Choir's CD of Howells); most performances on the net are way too unsympathetic for me.

[AscribeUntoTheLad]

I've a soft spot for the little-known Carlisle Service. Howells at his understated finest in my opinion.

[ardcarp]

It's great to see "Long, long ago" becoming better known

I love the way NCO sing it (and A Spotless Rose and Sing Lullaby) on their Nativitas CD.. They also do the Poulenc 'Christmas' motets beautifully too.

[Pulcinella]

I've a soft spot for the little-known Carlisle Service. Howells at his understated finest in my opinion.

So little known that it does not seem to appear to feature in the Priory set of complete canticles (or is it a communion service?). Does it just go by the name of the key instead?

[ardcarp]

the little-known Carlisle Service

I don't know it either. Could it be something Howells wrote for a Diocesan event? Got any more details AscribeUnto, etc?

[Vox Humana]

I've a soft spot for the little-known Carlisle Service. Howells at his understated finest in my opinion.

This isn't in any of the worklists. Is it perhaps related to the (very amusing) Derby Service?

I love the way NCO sing it (and A Spotless Rose and Sing Lullaby) on their Nativitas CD.. They also do the Poulenc 'Christmas' motets beautifully too.

<polite cough> Actually it's on their "Ceremony of Carols" CD. "Nativitas" contains the "usual" three carol-anthems.

[quiretenor]

I too would be very interested to see this. (I don't actually believe it exists, but I hope to be proven wrong!) I am disappointed to read above that the Dallas set got a bad reaction. I think it is very fine, but if one doesn't appreciate his late writing...

[ardcarp]

<polite cough> Actually it's on their "Ceremony of Carols" CD. "Nativitas" contains the "usual" three carol-anthems.

Sorry! I was confusing it with Here is the Little Door ...track 22 on Nativitas. As you say, it's on their CoC disc.

Listening to it right now.