Local navigation

Richard Lloyd

Biography

Richard Lloyd was born near Stockport, Cheshire in 1933. He was a chorister of Lichfield Cathedral (1942-47) and was educated at Rugby School (1947-51) where he held a music scholarship. He studied at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he was an organ scholar (1952-55). He took the Music Tripos and holds the Cambridge degree of MA as well as the FRCO diploma. From 1957 to 1966 he was assistant organist of Salisbury Cathedral. In 1966 he was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers of Hereford Cathedral. He conducted his first Hereford Three Choirs Festival in 1967 as well as in 1970 and 1973. In 1974 he moved to Durham on his appointment as Organist and Master of the Choristers of Durham Cathedral. In 1985 he became the deputy headmaster of Salisbury Cathedral School. Ill health brought about his early retirement in 1988. He resides in Leominster, Herefordshire. Since retiring he has divided his time between examining and composing. Richard Lloyd has composed more than 500 pieces. In 2010 he received a Fellowship (FRSCM) of the Royal School of Church Music.

St Joseph's Carol

This piece, an arrangement of a traditional Flemish carol, offers a rare opportunity for Joseph and not his wife or son to become the dominant figure in the nativity scene. The words have been translated by another English composer whose Christmas music is beloved: Elizabeth Poston.
More like this: Herbert Howells - A Spotless Rose
The soothing quality of a baritone solo is employed in Howell's carol as in Lloyd's. Howells depicts the beauty of the Spotless Rose borne by the infant Jesus through rising choral parts that mimic the bloom of the flower.
More Carols