The composer
Born in Lydney, Gloucestershire, in 1892, Howells studied in his teens with the organist and composer Herbert Brewer at Gloucester Cathedral, where he struck up a close friendship with fellow composer Ivor Gurney. Prevented by poor health from serving in World War I, he continued his studies at the Royal College of Music, where he would remain on the staff for most of his life. During the Second World War, he served as organist at St John’s College, Cambridge, and the latter part of his life saw him devote his time increasingly to writing organ and choral music.
Building a Library is broadcast on Radio 3 at 9.30am each Saturday as part of Record Review. A highlights podcast is available on BBC Sounds.
The work
How different might Herbert Howells’s career have been had it not been for the antics of music critic Robert Lorenz at the first performance of the composer’s Second Piano Concerto? Commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society and conducted by Malcolm Sargent with the notable Bach pianist Harold Samuel
