Dr. Arthur Wills OBE - Composer and Organist
arthur.wills26@btinternet.com
Biography and Key Works Critical Reception Contact Information
Catalogue of Works Publishers Recordings Musical Tracks

 

New works from the pen of Arthur Wills
Full with Wills: A Memoir  Pen Press
Anthem - Remembrance: "the world of light" Fagus Music

 

Biography and Key Works
  • Dr. ARTHUR WILLS  was Director of Music at Ely Cathedral from 1958 to 1990, and also held a Professorship at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1964 until 1992. He has toured extensively as a recitalist in Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, and has broadcast, appeared on TV and made many recordings, both as a soloist and with the Ely Choir.
  • His secular music includes seven song cycles, and an opera, "Winston and Julia", based on the Orwell novel.
  • He has composed prolifically for the organ, and his ensemble works include a Concerto with Strings and Timpani, a Concerto for Guitar and Organ, and a Symphonic Suite: "The Fenlands" for Brass Band and Organ.
  • His Choral Concerto, "The Gods of Music" for Organ, Chorus and Brass with Percussion Ensemble was commissioned for the Biannual Keyboard Festival of the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia in 1992.
  • His book, "ORGAN", appeared in the Menuhin Music Guide Series in 1984, with a second edition in 1993 and a third reprint in 1997.
  • The Ely Choir has recorded a CD of his choral and organ music from 1955 to 1990 on HERALD HAVPCD 197.
  • In May 1999 Hyperion Reecords reissued two recordings from the early 80's on one CD - his Symphonic Suite: "The Fenlands" for Organ and Brass Band, including also music by Elgar and Walton, together with Dr. Wills' transcription of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" for solo Organ (CDH55003).
  • His recording entitled "Full Stops" first issued in 1978, which includes his Variations on "Amazing Grace" was issued on CD 84305 in 1995 by Meridian.
  • In celebration of Dr. Wills' 75th birthday in 2001, Jeremy Filsell recorded for Guild a CD of his organ music on the organ of Tonbridge School Chapel, Dr. Wills being heard as narrator in his Variations on a Theme of Henry Purcell - "Wondrous Machine" (Guild GMCD 7225).
  • Novello have recently published his transcription for organ of three movements from Holst's PLANETS Suite - Mars, Venus and Jupiter, and these have now been recorded by Joseph Nolan at the organ of Ripon Cathedral on Herald (HAVPCD 274).
  • Robert Crowley studied with Dr. Wills at the RAM and has recorded a second CD, "Icons" of Dr. Wills' organ music on the recently rebuilt organ of Ely Cathedral for Lammas  (LAMM168D).  Lammas is headed by Lance Andrews who was a chorister at Ely Cathedral in the early 1950's when Dr. Wills was Assistant Organist.
  • Arthur Wills was appointed OBE in 1990.
  • Arthur Wills' memoirs, "Full with Wills" was published by Pen Press in the spring of 2007.
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Critical Reception

"A top world-class organist." (Durham, UK)
"An organ recital of supreme artistry."
(Stoke-on-Trent, UK)

"Wills plays with profound skill."
(Norfolk Va. USA)
"Certainly amongst the elite of English Organists." 
(Gramophone Magazine)


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Recordings

The Praises  
of the
Trinity

HERALD
HAVPCD 197

 


Other recordings:

Full Stops - Meridian CDE 84305
(Widor - Albinoni - Wagner - Purcell - Blow - Wills - Lemmens)

Music for Organ and Brass - Hyperion CDH 55003
works by Wills include The Fenlands and transcription for organ of
Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition
(Elgar - Walton - Wills)

Arthur Wills has recreated The Vikings from The Fenlands suite for Brass ensemble.  Score and parts are available from Fagus-Music.com.


Look out for dazzling performances by Jeremy Filsell on a Guild CD of organ
music by Arthur Wills on the organ of Tonbridge School Chapel. The repertoire includes works from the Sixties to the Nineties, including the Variations on a theme of Purcell entitled 
"Wondrous Machine!"  

The CD fittingly marks the 75th birthday of Arthur Wills 
and is available now on 
Guild GMCD 7225
.



Sounds of Arthur Wills

Robert Crowley plays the organ of Ely Cathedral

Icons
Lullaby for a Royal Prince
Trio Sonata
Symphony Bhagavad Gita
Homage to Howells
Diptyque

Lammas Recordings 
LAMM 168D

 

Full of Wills!

Music by Arthur Wills
performed by the Boys of Ely Cathedral Choir

Te Deum Laudamus
Ave verum corpus
Ely
There is no rose
Sing a new song
Evening Canticles
Caedmon

Guild GMCD 7315

 


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Musical Tracks


Listen to an excerpt from a recording of 
March - City of Ely

by Arthur Wills
 
as a
streamed RealAudio file.
To download the RealAudio player, click on the icon below:

A transcription for solo organ of three of the movements from The Fenlands - (1) The Vikings (2) Oliver Cromwell (3) March: City of Ely is published by Fagus-Music.com

"The Vikings" movement, scored for Brass ensemble, Percussion and Organ is available for purchase direct from the composer.

Sound file to follow


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Catalogue of Works
Click here to view a complete catalogue of works by Arthur Wills.

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Publishers

The Music of Arthur Wills is published by:

Selected works available from the composer:

Carol - On Christmas Day
Bhudda-Song
The Vikings from The Fenlands Suite for Brass Ensemble
The Shining Sea - Cantata for Tenor Solo, SATB, 
Strings, Percussion, Piano and Organ or Piano and Organ only


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Contact Information and Links

For further information contact:

Dr. Arthur Wills
Paradise House
26 New Barns Road
ELY
Cambs. CB7 4PN
UK

 

Telephone and Fax: 01353 662084
International: +44 (0) 353 662084
Mobile Phone: 07713386801

E-mail: arthur.wills26@btinternet.com

 

Arthur Wills is a Member of the
Incorporated Society of Musicians.

 

Fine Wine Arch is the website of Arthur's son, Colin Wills. Colin has more than twenty years' experience in the wine trade and tutors tastings for fun and education, as well as presenting wine courses at various levels and providing wine consultancy services for Hotels, Restaurants and retailers.


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