Psalm-Prelude Set 1 No. 1

This video was recorded to mark the 130th anniversary of Herbert Howells' birth in October 1892. A pivotal figure in Anglican Church music, he should be considered an equal to the likes of Vaughan-Williams, Bridge, Holst, Delius, Gurney and Holst, a unique voice in the Second English Renaissance.

The first set of three Psalm-Preludes was composed between 1915-1916 and, rather than setting a melody in the manner of a chorale-prelude, meditates upon the verse of a psalm. In the case of this piece, Howells meditates upon verse six of Psalm 34. Like many of Howells' works, it follows an arch-like form with a big crescendo in the central section leading to a pianissimo conclusion.

There can be no better organ than an English cathedral organ to replicate the sound-world of Howells and that of Salisbury Cathedral, sampled by Milan Digital Audio, is surely a perfect match.