Howells became an official apprentice at Gloucester Cathedral at the same time as Ivor Gurney, a poet and composer, and Ivor Novello, a composer and actor.
Recording & Production
Every track on this album, which spans over 60 years of Herbert Howells' compositional style, is a world premiere recording.
Composition History
The Summer Idyls were written by Howells between April and May 1911 and were part of his portfolio for an open scholarship to the Royal College of Music.
Composer Biography
Herbert Howells' earliest musical education came from his sister at an old upright piano in his family home in Lydney, Gloucestershire.
Compositional Technique
Howells' 'clavichord style' fused Renaissance elements with a 20th-century approach to dissonance and piano expression, though he always played these works on the piano.
Interpretation
Pianist Matthew Schellhorn had to overcome challenges with Howells' 'spidery and often ambiguous handwriting' in the manuscripts, sometimes using his experience with French repertoire to interpret unclear moments.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Howells claimed he could never write music without a specific person or place in mind, and his most personal gifts were often piano pieces.
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