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Collection Description
Collection name
Herbert Howells (1949-77)
Unique identifier
249
Description
A collection of programmes for performances given at the Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall, London between 1949 and 1977, held loosely within Box G of the papers of the English composer Herbert Howells (1892–1983).
The collection includes programmes booklets for 7 orchestral performances given between 1949 and 1959, for which Howells provided historical and analytical notes, including musical examples, and programme books for three performances given at the Royal Albert Hall in 1961, 1956 and 1977 which included music by Howells.
In addition to these items (see below), the collection also includes the brochure for the Gloucester Musical Festival of 21-27 August 1971 (Three Choirs Festival no. 244) which begins with a Tribute to Arthur Bliss, written by Howells.
1. Programme notes
With the exception of that on 3 March 1952 (given by the London Symphony Orchestra), all of these concerts were given by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult (1949 and 1951) and Sir Malcolm Sargent (1952–59). In addition to the programme notes, these documents include photographs of the principal performances and lists of the orchestral ensemble.
- Royal Albert Hall
12 October 1949: BBC Symphony Concert with W. Backhaus (piano).
20 May 1951: Festival of Britain concert with the BBC Women's Chorus (2 copies).
21 November 1951: BBC Women's Chorus and Moiseiwitsch (piano).
3 March 1952: Henry Wood Birthday Promenade Concert given under the auspices of the Henry Wood Concert Society with John Heddle Nash (vocal) and Szigeti (violin).
- Royal Festival Hall
15 October 1952: Solomon (piano).
12 October 1955: BBC Symphony Concert with Clifford Curzon (piano) (two copies).
13 May 1959: Elgar-Delius-Holst Anniversary Concert given with the BBC Women's Chorus and Moiseiwitsch (piano) (two copies).
2. Concerts including music by Howells
All of these concerts featured the London Symphony Orchestra and those in 1951 and 1956 involved the Royal Choral Society, conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent (season nos. 81 and 85). All programmes include words and brief historical notes.
1 December 1951: including Howells, Hymnus Paradisi and Honegger, King David, given by Isobel Baillie, Valetta Iacopi and William Herbert (vocal).
17 March 1956: including Elgar, Enigma Variations and Howells, Missa Sabrinensis (first London performance), with Elsie Morison, Marjorie Thomas, William Herbert, Gordon Clinton (vocal).
14 July 1977: Royal Silver Jubilee Celebration Concert given under the auspices of the National Federation of Music Societies, including Howells, Te Deum (Collegium Regale), given by Robert Tear (tenor) and Richard Popplewell (organ), conducted by Sir David Willcocks (with brief biographical notes and photographs).
Date range
1949 - 1977
Associated People and Organisations
Wood, Henry -
Willcocks, David -
Three Choirs Festival -
Thomas, Marjorie -
Tear, Robert -
Szigeti, Joseph -
Cutner, Solomon Solomon 1902 - 1988
Sargent, Malcolm -
Royal Choral Society -
Popplewell, Richard -
National Federation of Music Societies -
Nash, Heddle -
Morison, Elsie -
Moiseiwitsch, Benno -
London Symphony Orchestra -
Iacopi, Valetta -
Howells, Herbert -
Honegger, Arthur -
Herbert, William -
Henry Wood Concert Society -
Gloucester Musical Festival -
Festival of Britain -
Elgar, Edward -
Curzon, Clifford -
Clinton, Gordon -
Boult, Adrian -
Bliss, Arthur -
BBC Women's Chorus -
BBC Symphony Orchestra -
BBC Symphony Concerts -
Baillie, Isobel -
Backhaus, Albert -
Associated Places
Royal Albert Hall
Royal Festival Hall
Associated Times
20th century - late 1971-1999
20th century - mid 1931-1970
Associated Content
Photographs
Analytical Notes
Musical Examples
Word books
First performances
List of orchestral players
Programme notes
List of chorus members
Star Item(s)
Strength(s)
Further details
Viewing the Collection
Loans of performance sets to individual societies or persons; binding; reprographics; photocopying; microform printing
Visiting information
Location details
Royal College Of Music, Library
London SW7 2BS Open Map
DOMUS
Website
http://www.rcm.ac.uk/library/
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Telephone
Fax
Building Information
Collections Overview
Founded in 1883, the RCM Library primarily supports the performance, study and research of RCM members. It is also open to the public for reference and research. It contains some 300,000 items, including significant collections of early printed and manuscript material from the 16th to 19th centuries, given to the College upon its foundation, specifically the Libraries of the Sacred Harmonic Society and of the Concerts of Ancient Music. Donations since have included autographs of composers of international renown, amongst them Beethoven, Chopin, Haydn, Mozart and Schubert, as well as manuscripts and archives of major British composers. Although a British bias is apparent, the collection also has significant German and Italian manuscripts and early printed holdings. Later acquisitions of printed music include large quantities of out-of-print material, and sizeable collections of performance sets. Audio-visual holdings and the RCM's own sound archive's are also extensive.
Display Overview
Star Objects
For details of other collections held at the same location: See the location record
Additional Collection Information
Accrual Status
closed
Legal Status
Custodial History
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Management Information (Type)
Collection Owner(s)
Collection Creator(s)
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