Michael Howard (musician)

Michael Howard
Born	14 September 1922(1922-09-14) Paddington, London, England, UK
Died	4 January 2002(2002-01-04) (aged 79) Groombridge, East Sussex, England, UK
Nationality	United Kingdom
Other names	Michael Stockwin Howard
Known for	Choral conductor, organist and composer

Michael Stockwin Howard (14 September 1922 – 4 January 2002) was an English choral conductor, organist and composer. He was an important part of the Early Music movement in the middle of the last century, in particular as a celebrated interpreter of 16th century polyphony^[1] In his later years he made notable recordings of the late French Romantic school of organ composers, particularly César Franck, on the Cavaille Coll organ at St. Michael's Abbey in Farnborough.

He studied Organ (with G.D. Cunningham) and Composition (with William Alwyn) at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He also studied privately with Marcel Dupre and Ralph Downes.^{[citation needed]}

In 1944 he founded The Renaissance Singers with whom he gave numerous concerts and made many recordings and broadcasts for the next twenty years. He was organist of Tewkesbury Abbey (1943-1944), Christ Church, Woburn Square in London (1945-1950), Ely Cathedral (1953-1958), St. Marylebone Parish Church in London (1971-1979) and at St. Michael's Abbey in Farnborough (1984-1986). In the 1960s he formed and conducted the sixteen-voice group Cantores in Ecclesia.

Cultural offices
Preceded by Sidney Campbell	Organist and Master of the Choristers of Ely Cathedral 1953-1958	Succeeded by Arthur Wills

References

1. ^ Humphreys, Maggie; Evans, Robert (1997). Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland. London: Mansell Publishing. pp. 171. ISBN 0-7201-2330-5. 

External links

• Information about the premiere recordings of Michael Howard's Seven Songs for Countertenor
• Information about restored and reissued recordings made by Michael Howard conducting The Choir of Ely Cathedral and The Renaissance Singers
• Link to a recording made at Farnborough Abbey by Michael Howard
• Link to a recording made at Farnborough Abbey by Michael Howard
• Link to a recording made at Farnborough Abbey by Michael Howard
• Link to a BBC Classics reissue of Music for Westminster Abbey (Purcell) by Michael Howard and Cantores in Ecclesia
• Link to reissues by L'Oiseau Lyre of recordings of Byrd made by Michael Howard and Cantores in Ecclesia

Persondata
Name	Howard, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	14 September 1922
Place of birth	Paddington, London, England, UK
Date of death	4 January 2002
Place of death	Groombridge, East Sussex, England, UK