Herbert Howells: Hymnus Paradisi/An English Mass

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Howells was one of English music's great "might have beens." He established himself early on in the '20s and '30s, but the death of his only son dealt him a personal blow from which he never fully recovered. The Hymnus Paradisi is Howell's memorial tribute to his child, and it was years before his friends could persuade him to permit the work to be performed. As might well be imagined, it's a masterpiece of the first rank, and a deeply moving experience. Its success encouraged him to continue writing, and he completed several other extraordinary choral works, but posterity was denied the large body of music that he surely could have written. As you can hear for yourself, it was our loss. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Hymnus Paradisi: Preludio (Lento, molto espressivo)
Hymnus Paradisi: Requiem aeternam (Lento, teneramente)
Hymnus Paradisi: The Lord Is My Shepherd (Quasi lento, non troppo rubato)
Hymnus Paradisi: Sanctus: I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes (Allegro volante)
Hymnus Paradisi: I Heard A Voice From Heaven (Lento, assai tranquillo)
Hymnus Paradisi: Holy Is The True Light (Con moto, ma assai sostenuto)
An English Mass: Kyrie eleison (Lento, appenato)
An English Mass: Credo (Vivo, deciso)
An English Mass: Sursum corda (Poco lento)
An English Mass: Sanctus (Moderato, espressivo)
An English Mass: Benedictus (Lento, piacevole)
An English Mass: Agnus Dei (Adagio doloroso)
An English Mass: Gloria (Allegro vivo)

Amazon.com

Howells was one of English music's great "might have beens." He established himself early on in the '20s and '30s, but the death of his only son dealt him a personal blow from which he never fully recovered. The Hymnus Paradisi is Howell's memorial tribute to his child, and it was years before his friends could persuade him to permit the work to be performed. As might well be imagined, it's a masterpiece of the first rank, and a deeply moving experience. Its success encouraged him to continue writing, and he completed several other extraordinary choral works, but posterity was denied the large body of music that he surely could have written. As you can hear for yourself, it was our loss. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Glorious performances of a neglected masterpiece.......2001-03-09

"Hymnus Paradisi" was written after the death of Howells's only son from polio in the late 1930s. In 1950, Howells showed it to Ralph Vaughan Williams, who insisted that it be made public; thankfully, Howells assented.

Handley's forces handle this work admirably, capturing all the emotions, and its wide dynamic ranges with seemingly effortless ease, ranging from the touching simplicity of the end of 'I heard a voice from heaven', to the radiant 'Sanctus/I will lift up mine eyes," to the tour de force in the final movement, 'Holy is the True Light.' Kennard and Ainsley are in fine form, although Ainsley occasionally gets lost in the tutti fortissimo passages.

"An English Mass" is an excellent companion, requiring essentially the same forces (with soloists from the choir); it is a much simpler work than his massive "Missa Sabrinensis", but it succeeds equally well on an emotional level.

This is certainly my favorite recording of "Hymnus Paradisi", and I recommend it highly.

Track Listings: