My choir did the whole Requiem. It always reminds me of the distinction someone made between regular geniuses and magicians first made of the physicist Richard Feynman: "there are the regular geniuses, and you can see how they do it; you think 'Maybe if I'd worked hard enough, I could have done that'. Then there are the magicians, and you have no idea how they do it." Up till about 1:14 you're thinking 'Oh yes, lovely." But then from 1:14 till about 2:00 you're just thinking, 'How the HELL did he do that??"
This Howells has the most otherworldly chords. So mystical. Did this with the Virginia chorale a few years back. The story was that he had a child who died at the age of eleven. He wrote this requiem but didn't publish it for 38 years. Fact checkers welcome.
Sadly it was his little boy Michael who died aged 9. Howells was encouraged to start writing music again by daughter Ursula. It was not the Requiem but Hymnus Paradisi which was the result of this writing back in 1935. It was indeed kept secret until Howells showed it to the organist of Gloucester Cathedral Herbert Sumsion. He, in turn, showed it to RVW and it RVW who persuaded Howells to let it be performed at The Three Choirs Festival in 1950. It is the hymn tune 'Michael' that is dedicated to his son.
I was a member of the Oberlin College Choir in 1986 when we performed the whole Requiem in what I believe was the first American performance. Though Howells did incorporate some of its music into his Hymnus Paradisi (with orchestra), the a cappella Requiem, written in response to the death of his son Michael, was deeply personal to him and he would not allow it to be published until after his death in 1983 (about 45 years after it was written). I would love to sing it again, but it takes an exceptionally talented, hard-working group of singers to do it well. I love this performance.
Thank you very much! We will bear that in mind - it's one of our favourites. You may know this already, but we have a CD available here: www.amazon.co.uk/Drop-down-heavens-antiphons-saxophone/dp/B01LXU5LWN
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Still the best thing on the Internet by a mile.
Thank you, this comment means a lot!
My choir did the whole Requiem. It always reminds me of the distinction someone made between regular geniuses and magicians first made of the physicist Richard Feynman: "there are the regular geniuses, and you can see how they do it; you think 'Maybe if I'd worked hard enough, I could have done that'. Then there are the magicians, and you have no idea how they do it." Up till about 1:14 you're thinking 'Oh yes, lovely." But then from 1:14 till about 2:00 you're just thinking, 'How the HELL did he do that??"
Nicely put, Gus! And thanks for watching.
ohhh yes this part is one of the most mesmerizing choral sequence I've ever heard !
A perfect rendition. Hauntingly beautiful.
That's so kind , thank you!
Such stunning music, performed magically - love love love
Love your comment Patricia, thanks so much!
This Howells has the most otherworldly chords. So mystical. Did this with the Virginia chorale a few years back.
The story was that he had a child who died at the age of eleven. He wrote this requiem but didn't publish it for 38 years.
Fact checkers welcome.
Sadly it was his little boy Michael who died aged 9. Howells was encouraged to start writing music again by daughter Ursula. It was not the Requiem but Hymnus Paradisi which was the result of this writing back in 1935. It was indeed kept secret until Howells showed it to the organist of Gloucester Cathedral Herbert Sumsion. He, in turn, showed it to RVW and it RVW who persuaded Howells to let it be performed at The Three Choirs Festival in 1950. It is the hymn tune 'Michael' that is dedicated to his son.
I was a member of the Oberlin College Choir in 1986 when we performed the whole Requiem in what I believe was the first American performance. Though Howells did incorporate some of its music into his Hymnus Paradisi (with orchestra), the a cappella Requiem, written in response to the death of his son Michael, was deeply personal to him and he would not allow it to be published until after his death in 1983 (about 45 years after it was written). I would love to sing it again, but it takes an exceptionally talented, hard-working group of singers to do it well. I love this performance.
So beautiful! So many chills!
Thanks so much for your comment!
Hi Jacob! Thanks for your comment. We performed the whole requiem a few times in 2015. Maybe one day we'll have the chance to record it!
Your artistry is spectacular! Thank you so much for the Howells recordings you have contributed to RUclips!
That's so kind of you Roger, thank you!
Just absolutely stunning! One of the best performances I've ever heard of this. Please come to Edinburgh!
+Steve Richer thank you very much, we're thrilled you like it. We hope to perform in Edinburgh one day - any pointers as to where to sing?
+Siglo de Oro in terms of incredible acoustic, I would recommend St Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile for sure! :)
+Steve Richer thanks! Noted!
danke für die Sendung
Bitte!
Extraordinary
lush sound. I'd love to hear you sing the complete Requiem. Bravi tutti!
Thanks so much Monika, that's very kind of you! We hope we'll get to perform the whole piece again soon.
Wonderful performance!
Thank you!
Absolutely stunning performance! I'll totally buy copies (some for my friends) if you record it :)
Thank you very much! We will bear that in mind - it's one of our favourites. You may know this already, but we have a CD available here: www.amazon.co.uk/Drop-down-heavens-antiphons-saxophone/dp/B01LXU5LWN
You can buy a recent recording of this by Reading Phoenix Choir for a mere 99p on Amazon or from other similar outlets.
I wonder if Eric Whitacre got some inspiration from Howells. I've noticed some similarities between this and some of Eric's work.
Very interesting!
Have you done the whole work? Would be lovely to hear the complete requiem.
Beautiful ... what was the venue?
Paul Hadfield thank you! St James Sussex Gardens
Where could I find the sheet music for this arrangement?
Here: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/requiem-sheet-music/8150589
the alto does not sound particularily nice
Could you have done any better?