Howells: Cello Concerto, An English Mass Guy Johnston, Stephen Cleobury, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Britten Sinfonia & Christopher Seaman

• Herbert Howells (1892 - 1983): Te Deum and Jubilate "Collegium Regale":
• 1 Te Deum and Jubilate "Collegium Regale": Te Deum 08:52
• An English Mass:
• 2 An English Mass: I. Kyrie 05:42
• 3 An English Mass: II. Credo 08:40
• 4 An English Mass: III. Sursum corda 00:58
• 5 An English Mass: IV. Sanctus 02:50
• 6 An English Mass: V. Benedictus 04:12
• 7 An English Mass: VI. Agnus Dei 03:34
• 8 An English Mass: VII. Gloria 09:09
• Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis "Collegium Regale":
• 9 Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis "Collegium Regale": Magnificat 04:57
• Cello Concerto:
• 10 Cello Concerto: I. Fantasia. Tranquillo - Assai andante 17:08
• 11 Cello Concerto: II. Threnody. Lento calmato - Assai teneramente 09:19
• 12 Cello Concerto: III. Finale. Allegro vigoroso 08:32
• Six Pieces for Organ:
• 13 Six Pieces for Organ: VI. Paean 06:14
• 14 Six Pieces for Organ: III. Master Tallis's Testament 06:43
• Three Rhapsodies, Op. 17:
• 15 Three Rhapsodies, Op. 17: No. 3 in C-Sharp Minor 06:39
• Total Runtime 01:43:29

Info for Howells: Cello Concerto, An English Mass

A double-album set of orchestral, choral and organ music by one of the most distinguished English composers of the 20th century. Herbert Howells’ An English Mass is presented by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge with the Britten Sinfonia, recorded in the sublime acoustic of King’s College Chapel. Alongside the work is the magnificent orchestrated Te Deum from the Collegium Regale service, and a premiere recording of the Magnificat from the same service, orchestrated by John Rutter. For both these recordings, the Choir and orchestra are joined additionally by the King’s College mixed voice choir, King’s Voices.

Howells’ completed Cello Concerto is performed by former King’s chorister Guy Johnston, one of the UK’s best solo cellists, with the Britten Sinfonia directed by Christopher Seaman. Also recorded in King’s College Chapel, the surround-sound recording presents this glorious, but lesser-known work in a way never before heard, but in an environment perfectly suited to Howells’ music. Stephen Cleobury rounds off the second part of the album with three of Howells’ best-known organ works, performed on the recently-restored Harrison & Harrison organ, also presented here in surround-sound.

Accompanying the album are specially-written essays by two of the foremost experts on the composer. Paul Spicer explores how the thrilling Te Deum came about as the result of a bet between Howells and the Dean of King’s, and the subsequent canticle settings for cathedrals and foundations across the land for which Howells became so well-known. An English Mass, in contrast, is one of Howells’ darkest religious works, with an agonising and troubled presentation of much of the Mass, and Spicer’s essay considers Howells’ state of mind and some of the possible reasons for this. Jonathan Clinch’s essay describes the fascinating journey of completing Howells’ Cello Concerto, giving a remarkable insight into the mind of the composer and the history of the work itself.

Guy Johnston, cello
Stephen Cleobury, organ
Britten Sinfonia
King's College Choir Cambridge
King's Voices
Christopher Seaman, conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for Howells: Cello Concerto, An English Mass