Herbert Howells - A Hymn to St Cecilia

[muzicman406]

We are singing this song in our choir this semester. This chorus just gave me a new meaning to the song.

[gatorshowman]

Wonderful wonderful wonderful!

The tempo is fantastic as well.

I sang this as a boy at school and it gave me a tear in my eye, just as I have a tear in my eye now.

Beatiful

[BVale]

@gatorshowman I'm glad to hear that even a boy can love the music of Howells. I think I would have but didn't know about him then. I once asked a head chorister of St. Paul's Cathedral, London how many Howells Mags and Nuncs the choir sang. His reply: "About four thousand, and we hate them!" (He liked Mozart much better). He's probably an acquired taste, but I definitely acquired it around age 20. It took only a few minutes, and he has been one of my favorite composers ever since.

[AnttuKS]

Thank you! But why is this piece so unforgettable? I don´t see it (yes I´m singing here myself). But then again, I´m not English ;)

[choirboyfromhell1]

Very nice, also very unforgettable for myself as well. Your sops sound very secure on the descant high notes. Good job.

[sarahjane5590]

This is one of the two pieces that I don't think I could ever forget

[AnttuKS]

Well, this statement creates more questions :) How so? And which is the other one?

[sarahjane5590]

Experiences singing it me thinks - the other is 'And I saw a new hevan' -Edgar Bainton

[FR665XN]

I love that piece! I know loads of choral music, and each one is a different wonderful feeling, although sometimes the worlds are linked, but that one always comes back to me.