Herbert Howells - Hymnus Paradisi
for Soloists, Choir, and Chamber Orchestra

Herbert Howells (1892-1983) composed his Hymnus Paradisi in the 1936-1938, in memory of his son Michael who had died at the age of nine. It was first performed in Gloucester at the Three Choirs Festival in 1950, and is scored for a large orchestra alongside choir and soloists. This arrangement was made in 2018 for performances with a small orchestra. The strings, harp and timpani parts are mostly as the original, while the organ takes the main brass and wind sustained writing. It is designed for around 20-30 players, and allows performances in smaller venues with modest-sized choirs.

Instrumentation: soprano and tenor soloists, choir, harp, organ, timpani, strings (minimum 5,4,3,3,2)

Available to hire from Novello

Listen to a performance of the arrangement here, with Yale Schola Cantorum, conducted by David Hill, starting at 53:00