Main content

Sir David Willcocks

Sue Lawley's castaway is choirmaster Sir David Willcocks.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is 'England's choir master', Sir David Willcocks. For some 38 years he trained the Bach Choir - the most popular amateur choir in Britain. His retirement in 1998 he describes as ""like the end of an affair"". As the Director of Music at Kings College Cambridge, he tranformed small boys with dirty knees into an angelic choir. His gift is a mix of natural talent and experience. At the age of eight he joined the choir school at Westminster Abbey, where he was conducted by Elgar. Later, he worked closely with Vaughan Williams whose humility and humour he remembers, produced some masterful performances.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Oh Sacred Head by Johann Sebastian Bach
Book: Book on astronomy
Luxury: King's College Chapel

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 22 May 1998 09:00
成人快手 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Antony Gormley

Next

John Harle

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • George Frideric Handel

    Zadok the Priest

    • The World of King鈥檚.
    • Decca.

  • Boris Ord

    Adam lay i-bounden (from Ceremony of Carols)

    • A Festival of Lessons & Carols from King鈥檚.
    • EMI Classics.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Dies irae (from War Requiem)

    • War Requiem.
    • Decca.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

    • English String Music.
    • EMI.

  • Gregorio Allegri

    Miserere

    Performer: Roy Goodman. Choir: Choir of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Conductor: Sir David Willcocks.
    • The World of King鈥檚.
    • Decca.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Johann Sebastian Bach

      St Matthew Passion - O Haupt voll Blut

      • St Matthew Passion.
      • ASV.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Serenade No. 13 in G major 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik' - 4th movement

    Orchestra: The Hanover Band. Conductor: Roy Goodman.
    • Mozart.
    • Nimbus.

  • Jonathan Willcocks

    The Holly and the Ivy

    • The Bach Choir Family Carols.
    • Chandos.

  • Book Choice

    • Book on astronomy

  • Luxury Choice

    • King鈥檚 College Chapel

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Sir David Willcocks

Broadcasts

  • Sun 17 May 1998 11:15
    成人快手 Radio 4
  • Fri 22 May 1998 09:00
    成人快手 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast