The Christmas Music of William Lloyd Webber
You may know the name Lloyd Webber from William Lloyd Webber's famous sons, but William was quite an accomplished composer and organist in his own right. Born in 1914, William was an organist and composer and part of the "modern classical music movement." He instructed pupils at the Royal College of Music until his death in 1982.
I will not focus too much on his biography as Wikipedia page does a good job at that. One can also find an article in The Guardian written by Julian Lloyd Webber about this father. There is also biography at the website www.williamlloydwebber.com/biography/
According to the British Music Collection website: "Yet his music has remained virtually undiscovered until recently when works that have lain unpublished and unperformed for many years have gradually come to light." Julian Lloyd Webber states that his father hid his music to avoid criticism.
Interview with Julian Lloyd Webber
The works listed are not chronological. Name of works are below the videos. If no video exists, I put "No Video" above the title to the piece. I followed the Christmas works by a list of sacred works. A list of Lloyd Webber's work can be found at the websites above. This list below is neither complete, nor exhaustive, and we are happy to receive any communication regarding other Christmas works of Lloyd Webber.
Jesus, Dear Jesus - A Christmas Carol
Chorus and Orchestra/Ensemble
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Six Interludes on Christmas Carols (complete)
Six Interludes on Christmas Carols No. 1 'The Holly and the Ivy'
6 Interludes on Christmas Carols No. 2: Whence is this goodly fragrance?
6 Interludes on Christmas Carols: No. 4, Good King Wenceslas
Interludes on Christmas Carols No. 5: The Coventry Carol
Six Interludes on Christmas Carols No 6: 'Coventry Carol'
Six Interludes on Christmas Carols No 6: 'God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen'
Editor's Note: We ran into various sources stating "God Rest" was No. 6 and other saying "Coventry Carol" was No. 6.
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Benedictus for violin and organ (1942), BMIC NO SCORE. fp:6.2.1994 L.Chilingirian (vn), K.Beniston, London.
No Video
"A lowly Thing for Jesus"
"The Manger Bright" (Choir and Piano) No. 2 of Two Carol Songs For Children, publisher unknown
Two Carol-Songs for Children, text: Madeline Chase. 1.A lowly Thing for Jesus, 2.The Manger Bright
"Shepherd of Bethlehem" (Choir) text: Albert F.Bayly. Novello & Co
No video
"Song of Bethlehem" (Choir, Organ, Piano, Soprano, Tenor), text: Alfred F.Bayly.
Christmas Cantata
No Video
"Badinage de Noel" (Piano) BMIC NO SCORE. Date published 1987
Performers: John Lill
Recording format id
Record company ASV
No Video
Contents
PART I
Blessed is he that cometh
Come, thou long expected Jesus
Hark the glad sound
PART II
Of the Father's love begotten
My heart for very joy doth leap
Once in royal Devid's city
PART III
O come, let us worship home
Behold, there came wise men
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning
As with gladness men of old
1 Noel Nouvelet
4 God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
5 The Coventry carol
6 Good King Wencelas
Songs without words: Six Pieces for Organ
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Winter-themed
"After Snowfall" (Choir and Piano), Publisher
Curwen/ Elkin
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Possibly Christmas oriented:
"Song of Mary" (Choir) text: Harley MS. 'Jesu, my sweet Son, most dear'. William Elkin Music Services
No Video
"If Christ Was born Where I Dwell" (Piano), text: Albert F.Bayly. William Elkin Music Services.
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Other sacred music:
Missa Sanctae Mariae Magdalenae for choir and organ (1979)
Available from Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
Missa Princeps Pacis (The Prince of Peace), mass for chorus and organ (1962). See William Lloyd Webber Centenary Collection.
Agnus Dei
Kyrie
Movements in Missa Princeps Pacis
The Saviour, A Meditation upon the Death of Christ for chorus and organ, Part 3
SATB, Solosit: Bass, Tenor.
The Saviour, A Meditation upon the Death of Christ for chorus and organ
The Divine Compassion, Sacred Cantata for tenor, baritone, chorus and organ
No video
St. Francis of Assisi, Oratorio for soprano, tenor, baritone, chorus, string orchestra and harp (1948)
No video
Born a King, a Christmas cantata for soloists, chorus and organ
No video
O Lord, Spread Thy Wings O'er Me, Anthem for soprano (or treble voice), chorus and accompaniment
No video
Spirit of God, Anthem for chorus and organ
Dominus Firmamentum Meum, Anthem for chorus and organ
No video
Lo, God Is Here, Anthem for chorus and organ
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7 Anthems: No. 1, Sing the Life
7 Anthems: No. 2, A Hymn of Thanksgiving(Choir and Organ) 'Thanks be to thee, O Lord and heavenly Father'
Publisher: Novello & Co. text: Lois B.Price.
7 Anthems: No. 3, O Love, I Give Myself to Thee
7 Anthems: No. 4, O for a Closer Walk with God
text:William Cooper. Novello & Co
7 Anthems: No. 7, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Anthem for soprano, alto, chorus and organ
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Aria: No. 11, Prelude on "Winchester New". See Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
Aria: No. 12, Vesper Hymn
Aria
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No Video
"Come, Praise Your Lord And Saviour" (Choir) text: Bishop W.W. How.. Hymn-anthem. Publisher Novello & Co. Mass. In D minor
Communion Service (Choir and Organ) -
Mass. In D minor
Publisher
Novello & Co
Communion Service (Choir and Organ)
Mass. In E minor
Publisher
Novello & Co
The Divine Compassion (Cantata) (Baritone, Choir, Organ, Tenor), text: Rev. Albert F. Bayly.
See Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
Most Glorious Lord of Lyfe
"God is Good" (Choir) text: E. Mildred Nevill. Publisher
Novello & Co
The Good Samaritan (Bass, Choir, Organ) - Cantata - Publisher, Novello & Co
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" (Choir and Organ) (text:Charles Wesley) rom: The Good Samaritan
Publisher: Novello & Co
Magnificat and Nunc Dumitus (Choir and Organ) Canticles in E minor. Publisher: Novello & Co
No Video
Maundy Thursday Book (Choir)
If I your Lord and Master; 2.This is what will mark you; 3. The Lord Jesus;4.Parting my garments.
Details unknown. See: https://britishmusiccollection.org.uk/score/maundy-thursday-book
Two Hymns: All Saints Margaret Street 1939 (William Lloyd Webber)
No Video
"O Holy Spirit, Lord Of Grace" (Choir and Organ) text:Charles Coffin. Anthem. Publisher
Novello & Co
No video
"O lovely day" (Choir and Piano) text: Anne Liddell.. Part-song for Easter: 'O lovely day when Jesus..'
Publisher: Ashdown/Elkin
"O Thou That Art The Light Eternal" (Choir and Organ) text:Erasmus. Anthem
Publisher Ascherberg/IMP
"Praise God, For He Is Kind" (Choir and Organ) text: Bible:Ps.136. Harvest anthem. Publisher unknown or unknown of published.
"Sing of Heavens" (Choir and Organ). text: Bible: Isaiah. Harvest anthem. Publisher: Novello & Co
No. 1, There Is a Green Hill Far Away
No. 2, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
No. 3, Ride On, Ride On in Majesty
No. 4, O Come and Mourn with Me Awhile
No. 5, O Sacred Head Sore Wounded
No. 6, Praise to the Holiest in the Height
Six Interludes On Passion Hymns (six videos above) Horsley; Rockingham See Kevin Mayhew Ltd. ; Winchester New See Kevin Mayhew Ltd.; St Cross. See Kevin Mayhew Ltd. ; Passion Chorale; Gerontius See Kevin Mayhew Ltd.. Publisher: Novello & Co
No Video
Six Motets (Choir and Organ) Latin text:
Fontes et omnia;
Dominus firmamentum meum;
Domine in virtute
tua;
Venite, exsultemus;
Tollite hostias;
Confitemini Domino
(Fountains and all things; The Lord is my firmament; O Lord, in thy power; Come, let us rejoice; Bring sacrifices; Confess unto the Lord.) Anthems. Publisher unknown or unknown if published.
No Video
"Unite To Praise Thy Maker's Name" (Choir and Organ), text:Bryan Rees, after Psalm 103. Hymn-anthem
Publisher: Novello & Co
"St. Cross written for the Passiontide/ Good Friday words. Prelude" by William Lloyd Webber. See Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
Two Pieces from Prayer and Praise (two pieces above) William Lloyd Webber Larghetto and Aria
"Vesper Hymn." Organ. Published: 1995.Bound in: Aria. Publisher: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. See Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
No Video
"All Thy Works Praise Thee" (Choir and Organ) Anthem. BMIC No score.
Recordings
Performers
LCM/J.Chapman
Recording format id
4
Record company
LCM
No video
The Lord is my Shepherd (Choir and Organ) BMIC NO SCORE. Anthem.
Recordings
Performers
LCM, J.Melling (org), /J.Chapman
Recording format id
4
Record company
LCM
No video
"Prelude on Gerontius" (Organ) Kevin Mayhew Ltd. Pub: 1995.Bound in: Aria. Also See Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
Kevin Mayhew Ltd. See Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
No Video
The Church With Joy Acclaims Her Lord (SATB) , Novello & Co Ltd,
No Video
O Lord Spread Thy Wings O'er Me (SAT) SATB. Available for the world excluding the USA and Australia. Unavailable for performance. Link.
Lo, God is Here (Organ SATB)Available for the world excluding the USA and Australia Unavailable for performance. Chorus and Orchestra/Ensemble
"Recessional" See Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
"Introit" See Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
Six Sketches for Organ "Postlude"
Four Bibulous Songs ; Solo Voices and 1-6 players; Baritone/pf
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Sources:
"William Lloyd Webber" The British Music Collection, at https://britishmusiccollection.org.uk/content/about-british-music-collection. Accessed Dec. 25-26, 2025.
Biography
www.williamlloydwebber.com/biography/ . Accessed Dec. 25-26, 2025. Accessed some time before.
Works:
www.williamlloydwebber.com/biography/ . Accessed Dec. 25-26, 2025. Accessed some time before.
Disclaimer: We do not know the owner of the photograph in the heading of this post. We will comply with any take down notice.
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