J. GERRARD WILLIAMS

John Gerrard Williams (1888-1947) was born in London, England, and began a career as an architect, devoting his spare time to music, joining choral societies and orchestras. He had no other training when he began composing in 1911, becoming a fruitful composer and arranger. Most works are smaller forms and intimate in nature– lyrical songs considered his best works. Williams composed an orchestral ballet, a rhapsody, a suite and assorted smaller pieces. His string quartets reflect French influence, especially that of Debussy and his piano music has been compared to Ravel’s. His choral music also was mainly smaller forms such as part-songs. He also wrote hundreds of instrumental arrangements of folk-songs, folk dance tunes, popular melodies, J.S. Bach and more.

All are mixed chorus; some contain divisi.

SET	TITLE	VOICING	TEXT	LISTEN
Old English Lyrics No.1	When Laura Smiles		Thomas Campion	LISTEN X Stop audio before closing
Old English Lyrics No.2	Sweet Kate		Robert Jones	LISTEN X Stop audio before closing
Old English Lyrics No.3	Fair, sweet, cruel		Thomas Ford	LISTEN X Stop audio before closing
	Diaphenia		Francis Pilkington	LISTEN X Stop audio before closing
	The three ravens		“Melismata”	LISTEN X Stop audio before closing
	Three sleeps		F. Wyville Home	LISTEN X Stop audio before closing