Richard Lloyd, organist, master of choristers and director of the Three Choirs Festival – obituary
For his final festival in 1973 Lloyd started the week with Mendelssohn’s Elijah and bowed out with Elgar’s The Apostles
Richard Lloyd on the cover of an LP, playing the Hereford Cathedral organ
Richard Lloyd, who has died aged 87, was organist and master of the choristers at Hereford Cathedral from 1966 to 1974; he was also a prolific composer of church music and many of his 600-plus beautifully crafted anthems and settings remain in Anglican worship today.
With the cathedral post came the directorship of the Three Choirs Festival on its triennial rotation to Hereford in 1967, 1970 and 1973. Before his arrival Lloyd had been attending the festival for nearly 20 years and was keenly aware that many in the Festival Chorus had sung under the baton of Edward Elgar.
The Benin Bronzes depict a variety of different themes. On the plaques, for instance, human figures, either alone, in pairs, or in small groups arranged hierarchically around a central figure, are represented. As for the sculptures, common themes include animals, human beings and scenes from life in the royal court of Benin. Interestingly, following their contact with the West, Europeans also began to be portrayed by the Edo craftsmen in their artworks. Portuguese soldiers / mercenaries, for instance, are often depicted, and may be recognized by the firearms they carry.
The Kingdom of Benin is famous for its brass castings. This finely detailed example is currently held at the British Museum. ( CC BY 2.0 )
There has been mounting pressure to return bronzes since BLM movement
The artefacts, among the most highly regarded works of African art, were plundered by the British Empire during the capture and sacking of Benin in 1897
Germany s culture minister announced return of the artefacts on Thursday
Monika Gruetters said she hoped for reconciliation with the descendants of those whose cultural treasures were stolen