William Southcombe Lloyd Webber (11 March 1914 – 29 October 1982) was an English

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

, who achieved some fame as a part of the modern classical music movement whilst commercially facing mixed opportunities. Besides his long and prestigious career, composing works ranging from choral pieces to instrumental items and more, he is known for being the father of both fellow composer

Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948), is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 21 musicals, ...

and virtuoso

cellist The cello ( ; plural ''celli'' or ''cellos'') or violoncello ( ; ) is a bowed (sometimes plucked and occasionally hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually tuned in perfect fifths: from low to high, C2, G2, D3 ...

Julian Lloyd Webber Julian Lloyd Webber (born 14 April 1951) is a British solo cellist, conductor and broadcaster, a former principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the founder of the In Harmony music education programme. Early years and education Julian ...

. He also notably served as a teacher, instructing pupils on

music theory Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory". The first is the "rudiments", that are needed to understand music notation (ke ...

at the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music is a music school, conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the Undergraduate education, undergraduate to the Doctorate, doctoral level in a ...

for many years until his death in 1982.

Childhood

Webber was born in London. The son of William Charles Henry Webber, a self-employed

plumber A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable (drinking) water, and for sewage and drainage in plumbing systems.

, he was fortunate that his father was a keen organ '

buff Buff or BUFF may refer to: People * Buff (surname), a list of people * Buff (nickname), a list of people * Johnny Buff, ring name of American world champion boxer John Lisky (1888–1955) * Buff Bagwell, a ring name of American professional ...

' who spent what little money he had travelling to hear various organs in and around the capital. Often he would take his son with him and, before long, young William started to play the organ himself and developed a keen interest that bordered on the obsessional. By the age of 14, William Lloyd Webber had already become a well-known organ recitalist, giving frequent performances at many churches and cathedrals throughout Great Britain. He won an organ scholarship to the

Mercers' School The Mercers' School was an independent school in the City of London, England, with a history going back at least to 1542, and perhaps much further. It was operated by the Worshipful Company of Mercers and was closed in 1959. History After the diss ...

, later winning a further scholarship to study at the

, where he studied with

Ralph Vaughan Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams, (; 12 October 1872– 26 August 1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over ...

and gained his FRCO diploma at nineteen. Because there was already another student at the college with the name William Webber, William continued to use his second middle name 'Lloyd' from then on as part of his last name.

Prolific years

Lloyd Webber's earliest known composition is the "remarkably assured" ''Fantasy Trio'' in B minor for violin, cello and piano of 1936 (which didn't receive its premiere until 1995). In 1938, he was appointed organist and head of the choir school at

All Saints, Margaret Street All Saints, Margaret Street, is a Grade I listed Anglo-Catholic church in London. The church was designed by the architect William Butterfield and built between 1850 and 1859. It has been hailed as Butterfield's masterpiece and a pioneering buil ...

, in the

Marylebone Marylebone (usually , also , ) is a district in the West End of London, in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street, Europe's busiest shopping street, forms its southern boundary. An Civil parish#Ancient parishes, ancient parish and latterly a ...

district of London. He later became musical director at

Westminster Central Hall The Methodist Central Hall (also known as Central Hall Westminster) is a multi-purpose venue in the City of Westminster, London, serving primarily as a Methodist church and a conference centre. The building, which is a tourist attraction, also ho ...

, London, the headquarters of the

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

church in the United Kingdom. His first compositions developed in the 1930s. In 1942 he married the

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

and

violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

ist Jean Hermione Johnstone (1921–1993). The marriage, which lasted until his death, produced two sons: composer

Andrew Andrew is the English form of a given name common in many countries. In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in List of countries where English is an official language, English-speaking countries. "Andrew" is freq ...

(born 1948) and

Julian (born 1951). From 1945 until the 1960s, Webber composed vocal and instrumental music, choral and organ works, chamber music and orchestral works. Compositions from this period include the oratorio ''St. Francis of Assisi'' (1948), the orchestral tone-poem ''

Aurora An aurora (plural: auroras or aurorae), also commonly known as the polar lights, is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of bri ...

'' (1948), and the six ''Country Impressions'' (1960), each movement for a solo woodwind instrument and piano.Robert Matthew-Walker. Notes to ''British Chamber Music'', SOMM CD 0653 (2022)
/ref> There are also sonatinas for viola and flute, numerous songs, organ pieces and choral works. But Webber's roots were firmly embedded in the romanticism of such composers as Sergei Rachmaninov,

Jean Sibelius Jean Sibelius ( ; ; born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius; 8 December 186520 September 1957) was a Finnish composer of the late Romantic and 20th-century classical music, early-modern periods. He is widely regarded as his country's greatest com ...

and

César Franck César-Auguste Jean-Guillaume Hubert Franck (; 10 December 1822 – 8 November 1890) was a French Romantic composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher born in modern-day Belgium. He was born in Liège (which at the time of his birth was p ...

, and he became increasingly convinced that his own music was 'out of step' with the prevailing climate of the time. Rather than compromise his style, he turned to the academic side of British musical life. He taught at the Royal College of Music, directed the choir of Westminster Central Hall, and in 1964 was appointed Director of the London College of Music, a post which he held until his death in 1982.

Selected works

Orchestra

* ''Lento'' in E major for string orchestra (1939) * ''Waltz'' in E minor for orchestra (1939) * ''

'', Tone Poem for orchestra (1948) * ''Three Spring Miniatures'' for small orchestra (1952); orchestration of original piano work :# Gossamer (A Little Waltz) :# Willow Song (A lament) :# Tree Tops (A Toccatina) * ''Serenade for Strings'' for string orchestra :: I. Barcarolle (1951) :: II. Romance (1980) :: III. Elegy (1960) * ''Invocation'' for harp, timpani and string orchestra (1957)

Brass band

* ''Little Suite'' for brass :: I. Prelude :: II. Adagio :: III. Festival March

Chamber music

* ''Three Pieces'' for cello and piano :# ''In the Half-Light'' (1951) :# ''Air Varié'' (adapted from ''Tantum Ergo'' by

) :# ''Slumber Song'' * ''Fantasy Trio'' in B minor for violin, cello and piano (1936) * Sonatina for flute and piano (1941) * ''Benedictus'' for violin and organ (1942) * ''Nocturne'' for cello and piano or harp (1948); from the oratorio ''St. Francis of Assisi'' * Sonatina for viola and piano (1951) * ''Air and Variations'' for clarinet and piano (1952) * Suite in B for trumpet and piano (1952) * ''Country Impressions'' (1960) :# ''Mulberry Cottage'' for flute and piano (1960) :# ''On Frensham Pond'', Aquarelle for clarinet and piano (1960) * ''A Lyric Suite'' for cello and piano (1964) * ''Summer Pastures'' for horn and piano * ''The Gardens at Eastwell'', A Late Summer Impression for violin and piano or harp (1982)

Choral

* ''

Missa Sanctae Mariae Magdalenae The ' (Mass of St. Mary Magdalene) is a mass composed by English composer William Lloyd Webber in 1979 for choir and organ. Lloyd Webber, who was the father of the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, was the organis ...

'' for choir and organ (1979) * ''

Missa Princeps Pacis The ' (Mass ''Prince of Peace'') is a mass composed by William Lloyd Webber in 1962 for a four-part choir and organ. Lloyd Webber, who was the father of the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, was the organist and ...

'' (The Prince of Peace),

mass Mass is an intrinsic property of a body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the quantity of matter in a physical body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physics. It was found that different atoms and different elementar ...

for chorus and organ (1962) * ', A Meditation upon the Death of Christ for chorus and organ * ''The Divine Compassion'', Sacred Cantata for tenor, baritone, chorus and organ * ''St. Francis of Assisi'', Oratorio for soprano, tenor, baritone, chorus, string orchestra and harp (1948) * ''Born a King'', a

Christmas cantata A Christmas cantata or Nativity cantata is a cantata, music for voice or voices in several movements, for Christmas. The importance of the feast inspired many composers to write cantatas for the occasion, some designed to be performed in church ser ...

for soloists, chorus and organ * ''Songs of Spring'', Cantata for female chorus and piano * ''O Lord, Spread Thy Wings O'er Me'', Anthem for soprano (or treble voice), chorus and accompaniment * ''Spirit of God'', Anthem for chorus and organ * ''Dominus Firmamentum Meum'', Anthem for chorus and organ * ''Lo! My Shepherd Is Divine'', Anthem for soprano, alto, chorus and organ * ''Lo, God Is Here'', Anthem for chorus and organ * ''Seven Anthems'' :# ''Sing the Life'', Easter Carol for chorus and accompaniment :# ''A Hymn of Thanksgiving'' for unison voices and organ :# ''O Love, I Give Myself to Thee'' for female chorus and organ :# ''O for a Closer Walk with God'' for chorus and organ :# ''Then Come, All Ye People'', Carol for chorus and accompaniment :# ''The Lord Is My Shepherd'' for chorus and organ :# ''Love Divine, All Loves Excelling'' for chorus and organ (1964); from ''The Good Samaritan'' * ''Tantum Ergo'', Anthem for bass solo, chorus and organ * ''Jesus, Dear Jesus'', Carol for boy treble, children's choir and organ * ''The Stable Where the Oxen Stood'' * ''Most Glorious Lord of Lyfe'', Anthem Suitable for Easter for chorus; words by

Edmund Spenser Edmund Spenser (; 1552/1553 – 13 January 1599) was an English poet best known for ''The Faerie Queene'', an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognized as one of the premier craftsmen of ...

* ''Meeting Place'', a Meditation upon the Birth of Christ for baritone, chorus and piano or organ (1964) * ''Jamie Brown'', a Happy Story in Song for two-part chorus and piano (published 1962) * Magnificat and Nunc Dimmitis in E minor Partsongs * ''April'' for female chorus and piano * ''Corinna's Lute'' for female chorus and piano * ''Sun-Gold'' for female chorus and piano; words by May Sarson * ''Moon Silver'' for female chorus and piano * ''Lament'' for female chorus and piano * ''I heard a Rush of Wings'' for female (or children's) chorus and piano * ''The Moon'' for unaccompanied chorus * ''A Magic Morn'' for female chorus and piano * ''The Heather Hills'' for female chorus and piano

Vocal

* ''The Call of the Morning'' (1950); words by

George Darley George Darley (1795–1846) was an Irish poet, novelist, literary critic, and author of mathematical texts. Friends with such literary luminaries as Charles Lamb, Thomas Carlyle, and John Clare, he was considered by some to be on a level with Te ...

* ''Love, Like a Drop of Dew'' (1950); words by

W. H. Davies William Henry Davies (3 July 1871 – 26 September 1940) was a Welsh poet and writer, who spent much of his life as a tramp or hobo in the United Kingdom and the United States, yet became one of the most popular poets of his time. His themes inc ...

* ''I Looked Out into the Morning'' (1951); words by James Thomson (B.V.) * ''Over the Bridge'' (1951); words by James Thomson (B.V.) * ''How Do I Love Thee?'' * ''The Forest of Wild Thyme'' (1951) * ''The Pretty Washer-Maiden''; words by

William Ernest Henley William Ernest Henley (23 August 184911 July 1903) was an English poet, writer, critic and editor. Though he wrote several books of poetry, Henley is remembered most often for his 1875 poem "Invictus". A fixture in London literary circles, the o ...

* ''To the Wicklow Hills'' (1954); words by R.G. Leigh * ''A Rent for Love'' (1982); words by Irvonwy Morgan * ''So Lovely the Rose''; words by Joseph Murrells * ''Eutopia''; words by

Francis Turner Palgrave Francis Turner Palgrave (; 28 September 1824 – 24 October 1897) was a British critic, anthologist and poet. Life He was born at Great Yarmouth, the eldest son of Sir Francis Palgrave, the (born Jewish) historian to his wife Elizabeth, daught ...

* ''The Cottage of Dreams'' * ''Lullaby'' * ''Spring Is the Time for Love'' * ''Three Arias'' for tenor and organ :# ''And I Saw a New Heaven'' :# ''The King of Love'' (from ''The Saviour'') :# ''Thou Art the King'' (from ''The Divine Compassion'')

Piano

* ''Three Spring Miniatures'' (1952); also orchestrated :# Gossamer (A Little Waltz) :# Willow Song (A lament) :# Tree Tops (A Toccatina) * ''Italian Idyll'', 3 Piano Duets (1954) :# Mattinata :# Siesta :# Napolitana * ''Six Pieces'' :# A Song for the Morning (1957); composed under the pseudonym Clive Chapel :# Scherzo in G minor :# Arabesque :# Romantic Evening :# Explanation; composed under the pseudonym Clive Chapel :# Song without Words * ''Three Pieces'' :# Presto for Perseus :# Autumn Elf :# Badinage de Noël * ''Scenes from Childhood'' :# Cake Walk :# Sentimental Waltz :# Air :# Scherzo :# Evening Hymn :# China Doll * ''A Short Tone-Study'' * ''River Song'' for piano 4-hands * ''Danse Macabre'' for 2 pianos

Organ

* ''Chorale, Cantilena and Finale'' * ''Three Recital Pieces'' (1952) :# Prelude :# Barcarolle :# Nuptial March * ''Aria'', 13 Pieces :# Prelude on St Cross :# Choral March :# Communion :# Solemn Procession :# Prelude on Passion Chorale :# Prelude on Rockingham :# Festal March :# Prelude on Gerontius :# Aria :# Verset :# Prelude on Winchester New :# Vesper Hymn :# Meditation on Stracathro * ''Reflections'', 7 Pieces :# Prelude :# Slumber Song :# Summer Pastures :# Romance :# Intermezzo :# Christ in the Tomb (from ''The Divine Compassion'') :# Postlude * ''Eight Varied Pieces'' :# Arietta in A major :# Minuet :# Recessional :# Andantino alla Cantilena :# Introit :# Dedication March :# Pastorale :# Epilogue * ''Songs without Words'', 6 Pieces :# Noel Nouvelet :# Song without Words :# Trumpet Minuet :# God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen :# The Coventry Carol :# Good King Wenceslas * ''Five Portraits'' for home organs * ''Elegy'' * ''Six Interludes on Christmas Carols'' :# Interlude on 'The Holly and the Ivy' :# Interlude on 'Whence is this goodly fragrance?' :# Interlude on 'Noël nouvelet' :# Interlude on 'Good King Wenceslas' :# Interlude on 'Coventry Carol' :# Interlude on 'God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen' * Rhapsody on "Helmsley" * ''Four Epilogues'' (for Frederick Geoghegan) (1953) :# I. Allegro moderato :# II. Risoluto :# III. (Resurgam) Andante elegiaco :# IV. Maestoso, ma con anima * ''Suite in B-flat Major for Organ" (To Frank Netherwood) (1951) :# I. Prelude :# II. Fugal Allegro :# III. Minuet :# IV. Choral Song

Discography

* Music of William Lloyd Webber, ( ASV Digital, CD DCA 961, 1996) * Organ Works of William Lloyd Webber, (Priory, PRCD 616, 1998) * William Lloyd Webber piano music, chamber music and songs, (Hyperion, CDA67008, 1998) * Sacred Choral Music of William Lloyd Webber, (Priory PRCD677, 1999) * ''Invocation'', (Chandos CHAN 9595, 1998)

References

External links

William Lloyd Webber's biography

William Lloyd Webber's Facebook page
* and by William Lloyd Webber played by his son,

* by the

London Philharmonic Orchestra The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is one of five permanent symphony orchestras based in London. It was founded by the conductors Sir Thomas Beecham and Malcolm Sargent in 1932 as a rival to the existing London Symphony and BBC Symphony ...

conducted by

Lorin Maazel Lorin Varencove Maazel (, March 6, 1930 – July 13, 2014) was an American conductor, violinist and composer. He began conducting at the age of eight and by 1953 had decided to pursue a career in music. He had established a reputation in th ...

Guardian article
written by

about his father, 16 April 2004
William Lloyd Webber: An Impressionistic View
by John France
Review of William Lloyd Webber Centenary Concert
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lloyd Webber, William English classical organists British male organists English classical composers 20th-century classical composers Composers for piano Sacred music composers Child classical musicians Musicians from London Fellows of the Royal College of Organists Academics of the Royal College of Music Alumni of the Royal College of Music Commanders of the Order of the British Empire People educated at Mercers' School English Anglicans 1914 births 1982 deaths 20th-century English composers English male classical composers Lloyd Webber family 20th-century organists 20th-century British male musicians Male classical organists