Herbert Howells (1892-1983) was one of the greatest 20th century composers of choral music and his work is now sung and loved by choirs all over the world. While he is perhaps most well-known for his sacred works, particularly his many settings of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis sung at evensong in the Anglican church, he also wrote a small quantity of no less fine secular settings. This recording presents a varied selection of well-known and less well-known pieces from both sides of his output, written for a variety of purposes; some commissioned, some occasional pieces and other composed simply for the love of what Howells called ’the immemorial sound of Enlgish voices’ to which one might add, voices singing settings of finely wrought English words.
The Rudolfus Choir is made up of singers aged from 16 to 25 who have been chosen from past and present members of the Eton Choral Courese for prospective choral scholars. Many members of the Choir and choral scholars; some are at Music College, and most hope to make a career in music.
"From the very opening of this disc - a mixture of sacred and secular choral works - the Rodolfus Choir, under the astute directorship of Ralph Allwood, capture Howells’s idiom perfectly, and their understanding of this music is reflected in the high quality of their performances... an excellent disc of exquisite and radiant singing" Em Marshall - Musicweb-international.com - July 2011
Performance ***** Recording *****
"...this disc has quality stamped all over it."
Terry Blain
