Choir of King's College, Cambridge - Collegium Regale Te Deum & Jubilate by Herbert Howells

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge and organ scholar Peter Barley, conducted by Stephen Cleobury, Organist and Director of Music, perform the Te Deum and Jubilate (1944) from the famous Collegium Regale Service written for King's College, Cambridge by English composer Herbert Howells (1892-1983).
The performance was recorded in March 1989 in the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge.
Pictured is the interior of King's College Chapel, Cambridge.

[@jonb6417]

The last couple of phrases in the Te Deum are some of the most magnificent in the entire English choral repertoire, in my opinion. We used to find the timing tough to get perfect though!

[@robjohnfairbank]

This is a fantastic piece of music. I sang it as a choirboy in the late 1970s. I have since sung it as an Alto and a bass. It is a most moving piece of music and a joy to either sing or listen to. I never tire of hearing it.

[@choirboyfromhell1]

His most glorious masterpiece.

[@mymanjosquin]

a truly glorious chapel. i got to visit one summer years ago. unfortunately, the choir was on vacation. such incredibly clear acoustics.

[@ambientforeverinc]

When a song is inspired by The Father, it will change lives, and develop true peace and Joy within a true child of God

[@richardharrold9736]

Howells was a convinced atheist, ironically.

[@jonb4020]

@@richardharrold9736 So we are told, though one could argue that this would not prevent God from inspiring his music... 🙂

[@richardharrold9736]

@@jonb4020 I would argue that for divine inspiration to occur, the creator's mind must be open and receptive to divinity. Howells was not. He utterly rejected superstition. His inspiration came from buildings, acoustics, sounds - and, above all, from within himself, and his lived experiences, good and bad.

[@choirboyfromhell1]

And I love that party horn at the end of the Jubilate!

[@roberthargrave573]

beautiful music magnificent organ playing

[@adienromarirez2309]

It's just really beautiful...I want to sing this piece one day; if not, then I hope I'll be the one to play the accompaniment. The French Horn at the end was just right.

[@boltonbrowne7413]

Very close, but not quite! That sound at the end is actually the solo 8' Tuba. The french horn is also on the solo, but much quieter (and also under expression).

[@mikepen3477]

The use of the solo Tuba at the end was a masterstroke by Howells and is surely one of the most thrilling devices used in any sacred choral work.

[@DCLayclerk]

Very fond memories of singing the Te Deum at St Paul’s K Street in Washington, with thuribles a-swingin’. 😊

[@choirboyfromhell1]

@pjdonagh You're probably correct, but the Te Deum hits me particularly hard right about 7:20; "Have I trusted". I talked at length with a organ scholar friend currently in a good cathedral job in upstate New York who was telling me about the choirmaster rehearsing before their recent trip to Hereford. He had gotten to this point in the work when he burst into tears and had to stop.

[@martinwright4125]

adore the Jubilate. so beautiful and so exciting---particularly at the Gloria and onward. i always think of the old Hercules movies, as the key continues.

[@philipprosser2725]

Wonderful piece, and amazing because so much of it is in Unison,

[@Josecastillo1956]

God is my shepherd and shelter until the end times.

[@Bigbearbeau]

@originaltommy it is said that even as a small boy the book of common prayer could move HH to tears...

[@keithsy75]

@choirboyfromhell1 Your friend reached the apex of his career at that point. If I were conducting such a work of this magnitude, I would cry, also. Dr. Judy Hancock knows how to make the organ talk at 4:00 "...opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers."

[@pjdonagh]

@choirboyfromhell1 I agree..... that is, until I hear something else by him and then I change my mind....he really is one of those composers whose works impress as they are heard and are absorbed. This will be my favourite until I listen to the Requiem or Take Him Earth For Cherishing or the St John's service...etc....or most of all sing a hymn to the Tune Michael!!! I'm sure you get the point!!

[@DCLayclerk]

pjdonagh I can’t possibly make it through “Take Him, Earth...” anymore. There are few works of music that move me as that one does. It is unparalleled.

[@barrieclyne7518]

Herbert Howells - Eb major is not an easy key in which to start but it is truly perfect to capture his version of Te Deum - Always a gem when sung so well as in this version don't you think?

[@PianoandKeysStudio]

@iyequertu54 For me also. Even tho I am a pianist, I first came across the Te Deum from a programme about the college I studied at - they faded in the last few minutes during the closing credits... Need I say I now have much of Howells music on either a CD or iTunes as a result :-) Magnificent work.

[@choirboyfromhell1]

@choirboyfromhell1 Yes, I'm currently whining at my cathedral choirmaster to perform the Preces and Responses this at one of the evensongs this upcoming spring. Incredibly difficult and worth every minute of it to practice to perfection.

[@anthonya13]

GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@1610Monteverdi]

We record the orchestral version in January 2019.

[@choirboyfromhell1]

@originaltommy Absolutely!

[@toniapemberton2452]

Herbert Howells mag and nunc

[@toniapemberton2452]

Herbert Howells mag and nunc

[@ashleydickinson8943]

My favourite setting of Te Deum - aside from that of Willy Walton.

[@andrewbermudez2565]

8:43 Jubilate

[@mikepen3477]

It's a shame the choir is slightly flat on the top note at 7:58

[@simongleaden2864]

"Everlarsting"? No, it should be everlasting - short "a" sound, as in "whom thou *hast* redeemed with thy precious blood"

[@annabull1278]

The Trinity College performance is better.

[@richardharrold9736]

Nah, there's no replacing the Kings choir or organ (as was pre 2018, anyway!)...

[@jonb4020]

🤣

[@ianstafford2218]

Daniel Hyde has transformed Kings, taken them to a new level. I can't wait for them to record this piece.

[@jonb4020]

@@ianstafford2218 Really? I was in a similar choir when Sir David Willcocks was in charge of KCC, and can hardly imagine them being better than they were then, at least most of the time.