Obituary - David Willcocks - Choirmaster

The Telegraph (UK) ^

[tellw]

Choirmaster who redefined the sound of British choral music and once played the piano under heavy shell fire in Normandy

Sir David Willcocks, who has died aged 95, was the most influential choirmaster of his generation, spending 17 years as director of music at King’s College, Cambridge, and 38 years in charge of the Bach Choir. He was a man of immense courage in both musical and military fields, earning an immediate MC during his war service in Normandy.

Throughout his long career Willcocks was at the centre of British choral music, moulding voices and raising standards. He injected it with a sense of purpose and redefined its sound while building up a strong base of support through his connections with choral societies across the country. Every note he conducted had to be articulated with precision and every phrase expressed with clarity; the result was an intense beauty of sound. Everything was meticulously rehearsed, including a choir’s entrance and exit from the stage.

[tellw]

Western Civilization thanks you, Sir David.

[EveningStar]

ping

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[chajin]

I had the privilege of meeting him once, in 1983 at Montreat. We were part of a short (group) discussion on whether Bach’s B Minor Mass should be played at the A=c.400 that it would have been in his day. I remember Willcock’s answer clearly: “It wouldn’t do to perform Bach’s Bb minor Mass.”

The world is less without him.

[cornelis]

The Bach Choir has an extensive recorded output to which it regularly adds new titles, and is also in demand for film scores. In recent years, it has featured on some of the biggest film releases, such as Kingdom of Heaven, Prometheus, Robin Hood, The Chronicles of Narnia, Shrek the Third, and Jack the Giant Slayer.

Ha!

[cornelis]

I reckon he ran the choir until 1989.

[cornelis]

1998

[cornelis]

Outside the world of classical music, Willcocks conducted his London Bach Choir for the studio recording of You Can't Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones in 1968.[15]

There's Western Civ for ya!

[Czech_Occidentalist]

Fauré's Requiem, directed by David Willcocks

[cornelis]

Fauré's Requiem

is a masterpiece. I've been listening to our choir's recording, only organ accompanying organ. No orchestration. Ethereal.

[Dr. Thorne]

Willcocks will remain in constant performance if only for his iconic choral arrangements of Christmas carols. Everyone hears them every Christmas if only at the mall.

[tellw]

I agree. The Willcocks arrangement of O Come all Ye Faithful is so great. It has that fun descant on verse 3. But the real Willcocks magic is on the grand unision verse 4....At a midnight mass when the voices sing with the blasting diminished chord of the organ: “WORD OF THE FATHER.....NOW IN FLESH APPEARING....O come let us adore Him.” *That* is when you know Christmas has arrived.

[onedoug]

We’re going to be doing this very soon in choir.

Thanks, CO.

RIP David Willcocks

[USARightSide]

I gratefully discovered his music about 1958, I believe.
LOVE ‘Once In Royal David’s City.’ Sung as a processional. It begins with a lone voice. A boy soprano.
I was young and had never heard that carol before.
Chills me every time.