We are saddened to hear of the death of our friend, James Bowman at the age of 81. James was a leading counter-tenor of his generation and also a warm-hearted and generous person. We were lucky enough to enjoy his company and cheerful leadership as Chairman of the Rodolfus Choir for many years, and latterly as Vice President of the Rodolfus Foundation.
Ralph Allwood remembers the first time he heard James sing:
My first meeting with James Bowman was in 1974, when I was singing with King’s Choir and Philip Ledger, and he had come to record Monteverdi Vespers. I remember exactly where I was sitting, transfixed, as he sang, with that incredibly beautiful voice and wonderful musicianship, Ave Maris Stella. It was all I could do to join in the chorus part after that. I met him later, when he had had some special lessons to help him through a difficult vocal time, and started singing again… better than ever… Handel: Eternal Source of Light Divine. Paul Spicer, one of our staff of three on the first few Uppingham (later to be Rodolfus) courses, remembers James as a choral scholar at New College singing loudly and very beautifully right behind him for two years, when Paul was a seven-year-old chorister.
James had a way with people: he immediately put everyone at ease and usually made them laugh. He also remembered everyone’s name and funny stories about them. That magnetism extended to his audiences. Not only was his voice very beautiful, but he put the music over in an unusually captivating way; with his powerful phrasing he moved with the music.
I experienced his wonderful straightforwardness and modesty when Francis Grier wrote a piece for Rodolfus Choir with James as soloist. There was a note that he found difficult to pitch, so James, internationally renowned soloist at the peak of his career, asked Aidan Oliver, a 19-year-old baritone in the choir with perfect pitch, to stand next to him for the session and discreetly hum his note before his entry.
We were all thrilled when James agreed to be chair of the board of Rodolfus Choir in later years. His warm, avuncular, encouraging presence was much valued by us all, and made us that much more productive without quite realising why.
Thank you, James, and watch out, angels!
Chorus angelorum te suscipiat.
Ralph Allwood MBE, DMus