NEWSLETTER NO.25 : 09/08
HERBERT HOWELLS SOCIETY
PRESIDENT : SIR DAVID WILLCOCKSCBE MC
VICE-PRESIDENTS
Revd Dr Paul Andrews Dr Harry Bramma James O’Donnell Dr Stephen Cleobury
Richard Hickox CBE Dr David Hill Hilary Macnamara Michael Gough Matthews
Patrick Russill Dr John Scott LVO Howard Shelley Paul Spicer
HONORARY PATRONS
Dr John Birch Lady Bliss Dr Denys Darlow Dr Donald Hunt OBE Richard Lloyd
Dr Roy Massey MBE Richard Popplewell LVO Dr Christopher RobinsonCVO CBE
Edwin Roxburgh Dr.Richard Seal Angus Watson
OVERSEAS
Professor Peter Godfrey, New Zealand Dr. Gerre Hancock, USA Dr. H June Nixon, Australia
Dr. Barry Smith, South Africa Professor Hugh McLean, Canada
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
Chairman: Dr Martin Neary LVO.
Secretary: Andrew Millinger, 32 Barleycroft Road, WelwynGarden City,
Herts AL8 6JU
Tel : 01707 335315 E mail :
Treasurer: Robert Ascott, 17 Staveley Court, 9 Staveley Road, Eastbourne, BN 20 7 JS
Tel 01323 728892 E mail :
Membership Secretary :
Ros Saunders, 7 TempleWest Mews, West Square, London SE 11 4 TJ
Tel : 020 7820 8376
E mail :
North American Membership Secretary:
Bruce Neswick 869 Peachtree Street NE # 804, Atlanta, GA, USA30319 – 1261
Tel : [office] (1) 404 365 1051
Fax : [office] (1) 404 237 3503
E mail : [home] [work]
Committee Members : Andrew Lumsden DrJohn RutterCBE
Legal Adviser : Graham Field Honorary Auditor : Paul Houston
[1] VICE-PRESIDENTS, HONORARY PATRONS, CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE
Our President, Sir David Willcocks,has been honoured with a biography published at the end of August by Oxford University Press, and entitled A Life in Music. This has been written by Bill Owen, an American musician, and the book was formally launched at the annual meeting of the ABCD (Association of British Choral Directors) in Lincoln over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Our committee member, John Rutter, not only appears in the book many times, but he has put together a CD which accompanies the book. This consists of a number of interviews with Sir David describing his life from his time as a chorister in Westminster Abbey to his time at the Royal College of Music and beyond. In the interviews, Sir David mentions Herbert Howells on several occasions and tells of his great liking for his music from early days as a chorister. The CD includes several Howells excerpts, including the Collegium Regale Mag & Nunc recorded in King’s College in the 1960s, the Psalm Prelude Set 1 No. 1 (played by Sir David, in one of the very rare organ commercial recordings he made) and the first movement of “Hymnus Paradisi” in the recording made with the Bach Choir, Philharmonia Orchestra in the presence of the composer. The book can be obtained direct from OUP or via good book shops. Price £ 19.99; ISBN 0-19-336063-2
The Secretary assisted not only with research into some of the photographs used in the book but also in providing some of the recorded material for the CD.
We are delighted that Sir David is planning to be at this year’s meeting in St John’sCollege
Dr Vernon Handley:We learned a short while ago of the sad death of Vernon (Tod) Handley (one of our Vice-Presidents) at the age of 77. He was a tireless champion of British music, not least that of Howells, and conducted the two CDs made for Hyperion with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir nearly twenty years ago. These included “Hymnus Paradisi”, the Three Dances for violin and orchestra, the English Mass and the second Piano Concerto.
He was well known for his conducting of Vaughan Williams, Arnold Bax and Granville Bantock, to mention just three of the many British composers whose work he championed.
I was fortunate to sing under Tod for a number of years in my teenage years in the Proteus Choir based in Guildford, and learned a lot from him. He will be much missed in the world of music.
[2] THE SOCIETY’S AGM AND ANNUAL HOWELLS EVENSONG : SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER IN ST JOMH’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
The Society’s Annual General Meeting and Howells Evensong are being held this year in St John’sCollege, Cambridgeon Saturday 18th October (as previously announced). (NB only members are eligible to vote at the AGM, although guests are welcome to attend all of the events). The outline programme is as follows :
- Members to assemble in the Master’s Lodge from around 14.45. This is in Bridge Street on the left as you go towards MagdaleneBridge.
- Talk by Paul Spicer at 15.00entitled “Herbert Howells : the Neglected Songsmith” (for details see below)
- Tea / biscuits at approximately 16.00 in the Master’s Lodge
- AGM in the Master’s Lodge at 16.30 to be chaired by Martin Neary
- Members free to visit King’s College Chapel for Evensong at 17.30 (details below); sit in the Ante Chapel in order to leave in time for :-
- Evensong in St John’s College Chapel at 18.30; please try to be in the Chapel by 18.20.
- Evensong will be followed by a dinner in the Wordsworth Room to be preceded by a Champagne Reception immediately after the service at about 19.30.
[a] Paul Spicer talk : “Herbert Howells : the neglected Songsmith”
We are delighted that Paul Spicer, probably the most authoritative speaker on Howells in the world (and a former pupil) has kindly agreed to give a talk on Howells as a composer of songs. He has chosen as the music to be illustrated A Garland for De la Mare. (This is now published by Novello/ Music Sales and members attending might like to purchase their own copies before the event).
During the talk, Andrew Nethsingha has chosen a soprano, tenor and baritone to sing various songs from the cycle, to illustrate points made by Paul. The singers will be accompanied by Dr Christopher Robinson, who as most of you will know was Organist of St John’s College for a number of years, following a distinguished career at Worcester Cathedral and St George’s Chapel Windsor. We are delighted that he is able to join us for the occasion.
The songs planned for performance are :
Wanderers (soprano)The Lady Caroline (tenor)
Before Dawn (soprano)The Three Cherry Trees (tenor)
The Old House (tenor)Andy Battle (baritone)
King David (baritone)
[b] Tea will be served at approximately16.00, during which members and guests can talk to the speaker and performers about the songs.
[c] The AGM will commence at approximately 16.30 and a separate notice is included with the Newsletter setting out the Agenda, etc.
[d]Evensong in King’s College Chapel at 17.30. We are delighted that our Vice-President, Dr. Stephen Cleobury has arranged for music by Howells to be included in the service as follows:
Voluntary : Master Tallis’ Testament
Mag & Nunc : Gloucester Service
Anthem : The Spirit of the Lord : Edward Elgar
Voluntary : Paean
It is recommended that those wishing to attend Evensong in King’s should remain in the Ante Chapel as the service will finish just too late to enable you to get back to St John’s in time for the service there. (Anyone sitting in the Inner Chapel will be unable to exit until the end of the service.)
[e] Evensong in St John’sCollege Chapel at 18.30. The College Organist, Andrew Nethsingha, has planned music as follows :
Introit : Holy is the True Light (William Harris)
Mag & Nunc : Collegium Sancti Johannis Cantabrigiense (written for St John’sCollege in 1957)
Anthem : A Sequence for St Michael (written for the 450th anniversary of the founding of St John’sCollege in 1961.)
Hymn: All my hope on God is founded
Voluntary : Rhapsody No. 3 in C# minor
[f] Reception and Dinner in St John’s. We are most grateful to the Master and Fellows of St John’s College for permission to hold a celebratory Dinner in the College to commemorate 25 years since the death of the composer. This will follow immediately after Evensong and be held (subject to final numbers) in the Wordsworth Room.
The champagne reception (hosted by the college) will precede a three course dinner with white and red wines, soft drinks and coffee. The menu will be along the lines of : a starter, a main course based on guinea fowl, and a pudding. There will be a vegetarian option for those who advise the Secretary by the end of September. The charge for dinner (to include champagne, the meal and wine to accompany the meal, together with coffee) will be £ 30.00 per head. We are sorry that increasing costs for both food and wine have necessitated an increase on the £ 25.00 we quoted this time last year. However, we should emphasise that this is a special rate generously offered by the college and represents very good value.
We are delighted that our President, Sir David Willcocks, and Lady Willcocks, are planning to be with us, together with Vice-President Dr Stephen Cleobury and his wife, Emma. Members of the Herbert Howells Trust Committee will also be attending . There will be a couple of speeches from our President, our Chairman, Dr Martin Neary, and the Chairman of the Howells Trust, Professor Peter Johnstone.
We already have quite a large number of people “signed up” but can accommodate more members and their guests attending.
You should fill in the appropriate part of the reply form attached to this Newsletter(even if you indicated last year that you wished to attend), together with a cheque for £ 30.00 per person and return it to the Secretary no later than the end of September.
The dinner is expected to end just after 22.00. This should enable members who need to catch a train back to London to book a taxi to call at the Porters’ Lodge in sufficient time to reach the Railway Station, which is probably about a ten to fifteen minute drive from the college.
Important information for members
Rather like Oxford, Cambridge is a difficult City in which to find parking. There are several “Park and Ride” sites (e.g. Cowley Road or Madingley Road), but these will not be served by buses after about 20.00, so members using these will need to arrange a taxi to get to the site if they are staying for the dinner. (These remain open for people to collect their cars late in the evening).
Other parking options include :
Park Street Multi Storey Car Park : this is very close to St John’s College ( probably easiest to enter via Jesus Lane having gone along the Backs, [Queen’s Road A1134] and Northampton St Chesterton Lane and the Chesterton Road [A1303] round the one-way system and then via Victoria Avenue across the river and through Jesus Green turning right into Jesus Lane at the roundabout . The pricing is divided into day time (07.30 – 17.00) at the following rates : Up to 3 hours : £ 4.80; up to 4 hours £8.00
And the Saturday rate after 17.00 is £ 0.50 per hour.
West Road (off Queen’s Road, and near to the entrance to the University Library) : 4 hours max. up to 17.00 (after which parking is free). Charge is £ 1.20 per hour
Queen’s Road(the “Backs”): max. 2 hours only, up to 17.00, after which parking is free. Charge is £ 1.50 per hour.
Taxis : in Cambridge (unlike in London) you cannot “hail” a cab on the street; it must be pre-booked. The following is a selection of Cambridge-based taxi firms with their tel. no.s :
Panther Taxis : (01223) 715715 ; Abba Taxis : 245245 ; South Cambridge Taxis : 834858
CamTax : 242424.
Trains : trains from London go from King’s Cross (the faster line) and Liverpool Street. The most convenient times are likely to be :
KX dep : Cambridge arr.Liverpool St dep : Cambridge arr.
11.1512.02 11.5813.21
11.4512.31 etc 12.2813.40
and every 30 minutes up to :
13.1514.01(probably the latest to ensure you arrive at the college in time for the talk)
Last trains from Cambridge are:
To KX : dep. 22.28arr. 23.47 ; dep. 23.06arr. 01.00 (need to change once)
To Liverpool St : dep. 22.32 arr. 23.43 ; dep. 22.51 arr. 00.13
The cheapest Standard Class return fare appears to be £ 14.00, but there may be restrictions on trains, and the price may depend on when the ticket is purchased.
Booking your places for these events
Those wishing to attend the talk, AGM, tea, Evensong and the Reception & Dinner, or only some of these, are requested to fill in the reply form at the end of the Newsletter so that the necessary arrangements can be made.
[3] THE SOCIETY’S AGM INWESTMINSTER ABBEY : SATURDAY 27th OCTOBER 2007
TheCollegiate Singers had the privilege of singing the services over the weekend in the absence of the Abbey Choir who were on a visit to Australia.Music for the Evensong on Saturday 27th October included the rarely heard Sarum Service Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, and the extended anthem Sequence for St Michael- which again is rarely heard, being one of his more difficult anthems. The voluntaries, played by the Abbey’s Assistant Organist Ashley Grote, were Master Tallis’ Testament and the Rhapsody in C# minor. It is hoped that members enjoyed the opportunity to hear some rarely performed Howells.
The service was followed by a reception in the Jerusalem Chamber, and we were joined by members of the Chapter and the Organist, Ashley Grote. We were most grateful to the Dean & Chapter for use of this beautiful room in which to hold the AGM and Reception.
[4] THE HOWELLS TRUST
This time last year, we were anticipating that the Trust would be fully “up and running” shortly after the Newsletter went out. In fact, for a variety of reasons to do with setting up bank accounts and satisfying the Charity Commissioners about a number of issues, this did not happen until February this year. Since that time, there has been a considerable amount of discussion between the Society and the College, and the Trust can now be said to be fully operational.
A joint meeting was held in February between the officers of the Society and the Herbert Howells Trust Committee, which has been set up by the College to manage the Trust and make recommendations to the College Council (which has the final say on all matters to do with the Trust). The committee is chaired by Professor Peter Johnstone and involves amongst others the Organist (Andrew Nethsingha), the Dean of Chapel, and Dr Christopher Robinson. The Secretary of the committee is Caroline Marks. We are delighted to announce that our chairman, Dr Martin Neary has been invited to join the committee, thereby formalising the links between the Society and the Trust.
In the initial phase of setting up the Trust, and apart from assisting the Trust with collecting the outstanding royalties and other items due to it, the Society has been involved in a variety of issues with the committee; these include :
- Assistance with setting out the principles and policies to be adopted in dealing with requests for financial help with recordings, publications and performances
- Helping drafting “forms” to be used in administering applications and grants
- Passing on requests to the Trust committee from various individuals, choirs and performers for support
- Advising both applicants and the committee in respect of applications
The Society has been actively involved in a number of projects which are coming to fruition this year, including a recording of Howells’choral music by the choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, under their Director, Judy Martin, and a new CD recorded in the USA by Beth Newdome and Brent Runnells of the three violin sonatas (for more information on both please see section on recordings below).
One of the first grants made by the Trust was the annual one to be made to the Royal College of Music Library (as provided for under Ursula Howells’ will). The first grant to cover the slightly more than two years since her death enabled the RCM to purchase at auction the original manuscript of Lady Audrey’s Suite for string quartet. This had for a long time been missing, the piece having been written in December 1915.
The Trust has also offered financial support to a student at OxfordUniversity studying Howells who needs to do a certain amount of travelling in furtherance of his project. It is also supporting the concert in the Royal Festival Hall in November when Sir Patrick Spens will be given its first London performance.
On all such requests, the Society advises the Trust Committee before they make their decisions.
Other issues have involved granting permission to record unpublished works (the second violin sonata falls into this category) and dealing with applications to publish previously unpublished works (“Even such is time” is one such item, and we hope this will be in print before too long)
The Society has been involved in providing information and advice about various complications associated with copyright law; this includes “reversionary” rights of pieces composed and published between 1911 and 1957 in certain territories. We are fortunate in having on the committee John Rutter whose knowledge of this area has been of great value both to the Society as well as the Trust.
The Secretary is currently involved with a review of all the itemsfalling within the reversionary rights law to see whether the current publishing arrangements are still suitable. He is also involved in reviewing the list of pieces which have never been published, with a view to seeing if publication is possible. In this, he is working with Novello / Music Sales, Howells’ principal publisher.