Herbert Howells' Mass in the Dorian Mode: A Guide for Analysis and Preparation

Abstract

English composer Herbert Howells (1892-1983) was introduced to the Tudor music of both Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585) and William Byrd (1538-1623) by Richard Runciman Terry (1865-1938). Howells was so well versed in Tudor music that he worked as a member of the Carnegie Trust’s Tudor Church Music Scheme. Herbert Howells’ music can be traced back to Mass in the Dorian Mode (1912) because it is the first composition he wrote after being introduced to Tudor music. Therefore, knowing the musical characteristics of Mass in the Dorian Mode provides insight into the composer’s later musical phases. This study will provide general Tudor musical styles informing the reason he chose the Dorian mode for this Mass. I will clarify the structure of each movement for the conductor by using Herford analysis. Also, I will compare Tudor musical styles with Howells’ use of these style features. Finally, this document will guide performance considerations from a conductor’s point of view.