Healy Willan plainsong
  • davido
    Posts: 958
    This dissertation was a new find for me: https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/70942/3/HamlinThesiscombined.pdf

    Doubtless many forum members are familiar with it.
    Footnote 20 on page 48 is enough to make one weep...
    Thanked by 6M. Jackson Osborn CHGiffen sdtalley3 marymezzo ServiamScores ScottKChicago
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,424
    You are right about that footnote. It is heartwarming that at that time there really were some Romans who weren't afraid to (indeed wished to) take advantage of Anglican experience and scholarship. Too too bad and sad that they didn't prevail! (And Willan was most certainly right about the non-sacral English.)
    Thanked by 2marymezzo ScottKChicago
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,912
    Yes he was. What an incredible "footnote".
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,912
    And here's an interesting postscript to this thesis: an interview on Youtube referenced by CCW a while back. https://www.ccwatershed.org/2018/09/13/healey-willan-chant/
    Thanked by 1ScottKChicago
  • davido
    Posts: 958
    Yes, I’ve seen that interview - he is someone I would have liked to study with. I wish there were more such interviews out there
  • aldine
    Posts: 32
    .
  • Joseph Michael
    Posts: 258
    I have a copy of Willan's plainsong Psalter. Several pages at the beginning are devoted to the art of singing Psalm tones. Of special interest is the addendum, which has few texts written out, such as the Introit to the Requiem Mass (in English.)
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,478
    I see this was first printed in 1963, a second edition in 1973, and a reprint in 2001. The reprint is available in libraries, mostly in Canada and the US.
    There was also a shorter
    Title Accompaniments to the Canadian Psalter, Plainsong Edition
    Author Healey Willan
    Publisher Gregorian Association (Canada), 1963
    Length 32 pages
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • Erkenwald
    Posts: 16
    Willan’s work is now out of copyright. His book of introits and graduals is here:

    http://www.gregorianbooks.com/gregorian/pdf/www.musicasacra.com/books/introits_and_graduals_willan.pdf

    This documentary is also fun to watch:

    https://www.nfb.ca/film/man_of_music/

    [See below for information on the copyright status of the book.--admin]
    Thanked by 5M. Jackson Osborn m_r_taylor CHGiffen tandrews ServiamScores
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,424
    Many thanks, Chrysogonus, for the Willan documentary. It really makes one weep reflecting on the faith (truly Catholic but for the Petrine supremacy) that the Anglican communion turned it's back on. Our hearts are joyful that HF Benedict made a place for us in the Catholic fold, namely, the Ordinariates of England, the US and Canada, and Australia. In time there may be even more.

    It is equally sad that the voices of those Catholics who wanted to profit from the Anglican experience fell on callously dead ears.
    Thanked by 4a_f_hawkins Drake CHGiffen Jehan_Boutte
  • Joseph Michael
    Posts: 258

    The book is still available from Concordia. It should be remembered that this music was written for the Lutheran liturgy. Willan never used these settings at SMM. However, they are Willan--which always sounds a little bit like Byrd, Vaughan Williams, etc.

    Not sure if it is or is not still under copyright.

    https://www.cph.org/p-21548-The-Introits-and-Graduals-for-the-Church-Year.aspx

  • Joseph Michael
    Posts: 258
    These settings work well with a cantor and organ.
  • SalieriSalieri
    Posts: 3,177
    Willan never used these settings at SMM. However, they are Willan--which always sounds a little bit like Byrd, Vaughan Williams, etc.

    And they follow Willan's practice at SMM : SATB unaccompanied; Unison Chant with Organ accompaniment. There's a video somewhere on YouTube of Willan directing the Choir and Chancel Schola in an alternatim Magnificat (I think) at SMM--it follows this practice.
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,220
    [Note: I don't believe that the collection of Healey Willan's Introits and Graduals is out of copyright yet. We previously had that file on a CMAA web site, and took it down when we were informed that it's protected. Following this chart of copyright rules, it seems that any new work published in 1967 has 95 years of protection; that is, until 2062.--admin]
  • Joseph Michael
    Posts: 258
    The Willan settings of the Magnifcat, Nunc, etc were published by Oxford. Yes, the SMM choir sang choral settings mixed with chant for canticles and what not but never with the Propers of the Mass.
  • Jeffrey Quick
    Posts: 2,092
    Most Willan after 1924 is copyright in the US; all Willan will be copyright in Europe until 2038. However, all of Willan is PD in Canada (for now) and other countries with 50-after-death copyright.
    Thanked by 1Andrew_Malton
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