Herbert Howells’ Complete Morning & Evening Canticles, Vol. 1 presents the radiant heart of 20th‑century English sacred music. Drawing on Howells’ deeply lyrical Anglican tradition, this volume showcases Magnificat and Nunc dimittis settings written for specific cathedrals and chapels, where soaring melodic lines, modal inflections, and sumptuous harmonies illuminate the liturgy. Performed by the Collegiate Singers—an ensemble long associated with Howells and noted for premiering two of his works—this recording captures the cathedral-like sheen and clarity often reserved for men’s and boys’ choirs. With pure, bright upper voices and impressive dynamic range, the choir navigates Howells’ unexpected turns and glowing cadences with both grace and power. Praised for its clear acoustics and refined sound, this disc forms the first installment in Priory Records’ enlightened project to document all 20 Magnificat and Nunc dimittis settings, offering an essential listening experience for collectors of choral and liturgical repertoire.

• Artist: Herbert Howells
• Format: Audio CD
• Release Type: Album
• Genre: Classical, Choral, Sacred, Liturgical
• Label: Priory Records

• Edition: Standard
• Audio: Clear acoustics; recorded at Marlborough College Chapel
• Noted by BBC Music Magazine (2000): Performance ****, Sound ****

• Media: Audio CD
• Packaging: Jewel case

Herbert Howells (1892–1983) was a seminal English composer whose legacy is anchored in Anglican church music and choral writing of unparalleled color and emotional depth. A student of Charles Villiers Stanford and a contemporary of Vaughan Williams, Howells developed a distinctive harmonic language marked by luminous modality, finely wrought counterpoint, and an unmistakable sense of English lyricism. His cathedral and collegiate services—including settings for St Paul’s, Gloucester, and the Collegium Regale—redefined the sound of 20th‑century British sacred repertoire, while works such as Hymnus Paradisi reveal his profound expressivity and spiritual intensity. Howells’ influence endures in the standard repertory of choirs around the world, where his Magnificat and Nunc dimittis settings remain touchstones of craftsmanship, atmosphere, and devotional resonance.