Herbert Howells Sheet Music

About Herbert Howells

Herbert Howells (1892-1983) was a distinguished English composer, organist, and teacher, celebrated for his significant contributions to 20th-century British music. His primary musical style is characterized by its rich, atmospheric, and often mystical qualities, deeply rooted in the Anglican church music tradition. Howells' lyrical and harmonically rich compositions, which frequently incorporate modal and chromatic elements, played a crucial role in defining the musical voice of the Anglican Church in the latter half of the 20th century, bridging traditional English forms with a deeply personal and innovative approach.

  • At age 23, Howells was diagnosed with Graves' disease and given only six months to live, but he remarkably survived after undergoing pioneering radium treatment.
  • The tragic death of his nine-year-old son, Michael, from polio in 1935 profoundly impacted his compositional output, leading to the creation of his masterpiece Hymnus Paradisi and influencing the emotional depth of many subsequent works.
  • He studied composition under Sir Charles Villiers Stanford at the Royal College of Music, who famously referred to Howells as his "son in music," and later returned to teach at the RCM for nearly six decades, shaping generations of British composers.
  • Howells is particularly renowned for his extensive collection of over twenty settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for Anglican Evensong, many of which were specifically composed for and dedicated to various English cathedrals and collegiate chapels.

Howells' sheet music offers a deeply rewarding experience for musicians across various skill levels and instrumental specializations, particularly for choral ensembles and organists. His sacred choral works, including numerous anthems and settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, range from medium skill level for smaller choirs to more complex arrangements for larger, divisi SATB choirs, making them suitable for church and concert performances. Organists will find a significant repertoire of voluntaries and larger works that showcase his masterful command of the instrument. His piano and chamber works, while perhaps less widely known than his choral output, provide expressive and technically engaging material, often suitable for early advanced to diploma-level players seeking to explore British music of the early 20th century. Performing Howells' music is gratifying due to its rich harmonic language, soaring melodies, and profound emotional and spiritual insight, offering both performers and listeners an atmospheric and moving musical journey.

Search all Herbert Howells