Hymnus Paradisi

"Hymnus Paradisi" is a choral work by Herbert Howells for soprano and tenor soloists, mixed chorus, and orchestra. The work was inspired in part by the death of his son Michael in 1935. Howells wrote the work from 1936 to 1938, but then retained the music privately, without public performance. Ralph Vaughan Williams convinced Howells to allow the work to be performed publicly at the Three Choirs Festival. The work received its successful premiere at the Festival in 1950. [cite journal | url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0027-4666(195009)91%3A1291%3C352%3A'P%3E2.0.CO%3B2-H | title="Hymnus Paradisi" | journal=The Musical Times | volume=91 | issue=1291 | pages=352–353 | date=September 1950 | accessdate=2008-02-22 | doi=10.2307/935574] [Wilfrid Mellers, "CD Reviews: Herbert Howells" (July 1995). "The Musical Times", 136 (1829): pp. 384-385.] The score was published in 1951. [cite journal | url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0027-4224(195107)32%3A3%3C288%3AHPFSAT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-X | last="I.K." (full name not given) | first=| title=Reviews of Music: "Hymnus Paradisi" | journal=Music & Letters | volume=32 | issue=3 | pages=288–289 | date=July 1951 | accessdate=2008-02-22| month=Jul| year=1951]

Howells had begun composition with his setting of the poem "Hymnus circa exsequies defuncti" of Prudentius. [cite journal | url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0027-4224(195207)33%3A3%3C193%3AH'P%3E2.0.CO%3B2-7 | last=Jacques | first=Reginald | title=Howells's "Hymnus Paradisi" | journal=Music & Letters | volume=33 | issue=2 | pages=193–197 | date=July 1952 | accessdate=2008-02-22] The piece consists of six movements:
#Preludio (for orchestra)
#Requiem aeternam
#The Lord is my shepherd (a setting of Psalm 23)
#Sanctus. I will lift up mine eyes (which juxtaposes the Sanctus from the Ordinary of the Mass with Psalm 121)
#I heard a voice from heaven (from the Burial Service)
#Holy is the true light (from the Salisbury Diurnal, translation by G.H. Palmer)

Hugh Ottaway and Christopher Palmer have commented on the stylistic affinity of "Hymnus Paradisi" with the music of Frederick Delius. [cite journal | url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0027-4666(196710)108%3A1496%3C897%3AHHATER%3E2.0.CO%3B2-I | last=Ottaway | first=Hugh | title=Herbert Howells and the English Revival | journal=The Musical Times | volume=108 | issue=1496 | pages=897–899 | date=October 1967 | accessdate=2008-04-09 | month=Oct | year=1967 | doi=10.2307/953063] [cite journal | url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0027-4666(197210)113%3A1556%3C967%3AHHA8AR%3E2.0.CO%3B2-L | last=Palmer | first=Christopher | title=Herbert Howells at 80: A Retrospect | journal=The Musical Times | volume=113 | issue=1556 | pages=967–970 | date=October 1972 | accessdate=2008-04-09 | month=Oct | year=1972 | doi=10.2307/955239]

Recordings

* EMI CDM 7 63372-2 (CD reissue): Heather Harper, Robert Tear; Bach Choir; King's College Choir; New Philharmonia Orchestra; Sir David Willcocks, conductor [Hugh Ottaway, "Record Reviews: "Hymnus Paradisi" (May 1971). "The Musical Times", 112 (1539): pp. 451-452.]
* Hyperion CDA66569: Julie Kennard, John Mark Ainsley; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; Vernon Handley, conductor [Guy Rickards, "Record Review" (December 1992). "Tempo" (New Ser.), 183: pp. 57-59.]

References