Alan Rees (composer) explained

Honorific Prefix:Abbot
Alan Rees
Honorific Suffix:OSB ARCO ARCM
Birth Date:1 February 1941
Birth Place:Morriston, near Swansea
Death Place:Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire
Alma Mater:University College Cardiff
Occupation:Roman Catholic monk, organist, composer
Abbot of Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire
Term:1986–1993
Predecessor:Jerome Hodkinson
Successor:Mark Jabalé
Boards:Society of Saint Gregory

Abbot Alan William Rees, O.S.B. (1 February 1941 – 2 October 2005)[1] was a Welsh Roman Catholic monk, organist, and composer of choral and organ music. From 1986 to 1993, Rees was abbot of Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire.

Biography

Rees was born in Morriston, near Swansea, to Hilda and John Rees. He attended both an Anglican church with his mother, and a Welsh baptist church with his father. He attended Dynefor Grammar School, and later studied music and education at University College Cardiff.

Rees began a musical career as organist and director of the choir at Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral, where he worked from 1963 until 1968. He then began a novitiate at Belmont Abbey, became a monk four years later, and was ordained two years later. He directed the music there, and taught at the school. He became abbot of the abbey in 1986, a position he held until he resigned in 1993 due to the pressures of the role and his mental health.[2] He was the ninth person to hold the position.[3]

Rees died suddenly after a fall in 2005. The coroner recorded a death of suicide, as he likely jumped from a landing.[4] Rees had suffered from depression for much of his life, and attempted suicide the year before.

Selected compositions

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018-07-06. Abbot Alan Rees: Obituaries from The Times and Daily Telegraph. 2021-08-15. www.belmontabbey.org.uk. en.
  2. Web site: 11 October 2005. Abbot Alan Rees. 2021-08-15. www.telegraph.co.uk.
  3. Web site: Stonham. Paul. 21 March 2016. Fr Paul shares a reflection on Alan Rees OSB. 2021-08-15. The St Barnabas Society. en-US.
  4. Web site: Former BelmontAbbot killed himself. 2021-08-15. Hereford Times. 6 March 2006 . en.
  5. English Church Music 1968 - Page 63 " as in the English Masses by Guy Weitz (Chapman), Francis Duffy (John S. Burns) and Alan Rees (Chapman)."