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 1986-1993, Rees was abbot of Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire.
Alan Rees | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 February 1941 |
| Died | 2 October 2005 (aged 64) |
| Alma mater | University College Cardiff |
| Occupation(s) | Roman Catholic monk, organist, composer |
| Title | Abbot of Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire |
| Term | 1986 - 1993 |
| Predecessor | Jerome Hodkinson |
| Successor | Mark Jabalé |
| Board member of | Society of Saint Gregory |
Biography edit
Rees was born in Morriston, near Swansea, to Hilda and John Rees.[1] He attended both an Anglican church with his mother, and a Welsh baptist church with his father.[1] He attended Dynefor Grammar School, and later studied music and education at University College Cardiff.[1]
Rees began a musical career as organist and director of the choir at Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral, where he worked from 1963 until 1968.[1] He then began a novitiate at Belmont Abbey, became a monk four years later, and was ordained two years later.[1] He directed the music there, and taught at the school.[1] 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.[1][2] He was the ninth person to hold the position.[3]
Rees died suddenly after a fall in 2005.[1] 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.[4]
Selected compositions edit
- English Mass[5]
- Congress Mass, for the National Pastoral Congress in Liverpool, 1980
- Cardiff Mass, for Pope John Paul II's visit to Britain, 1982[1]
- "A Winter Rose", carol
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Abbot Alan Rees: Obituaries from The Times and Daily Telegraph". www.belmontabbey.org.uk. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "Abbot Alan Rees". www.telegraph.co.uk. 11 October 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ Stonham, Paul (21 March 2016). "Fr Paul shares a reflection on Alan Rees OSB". The St Barnabas Society. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Former BelmontAbbot killed himself". Hereford Times. 6 March 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ English Church Music 1968 - Page 63 " as in the English Masses by Guy Weitz (Chapman), Francis Duffy (John S. Burns) and Alan Rees (Chapman)."
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