Leighton: Chorale Prelude on Rockingham

“If the early Symphony for Strings (1949) recalls Tippett or Berkeley, the Concerto for String Orchestra of 12 years later finds him absorbing Continental influences such as Bartók and Martin. Matching the scoring of Poulenc's Organ Concerto, Leighton's own essay in the medium perhaps struggles to distance itself from the Frenchman's work. But all in all it is a revelatory and superbly played disc. The Wells recording explores the better-known Leighton of cathedral and chapel with consummately sung performances of music that illuminates the liturgy, with able solos and solid organ foundation.” The Telegraph, 24th May 2008

“Kenneth Leighton died too young. Aged just 58, he left behind a substantial body of high-quality work for orchestra, small ensemble and cathedral choir. We can only wonder what could have come later, but as this disc illustrates, he was already a worthy successor to the great Herbert Howells. The CD takes its title from an Epiphany sequence, and includes fine music for organ and a set of morning canticles never before recorded. Wells Cathedral Choir is in cracking form.” The Observer, 4th May 2008

“Stunning performances of outstanding music, a composer fully in sympathy with the practicalities of performance and musicians who are utterly at home with this distinctive musical idiom. Leighton's memory is well served in this superb release.” Gramophone Magazine, July 2008

“Two things stand out in this new release featuring a selection of Kenneth Leighton’s sacred choral music: the inclusion of three first-time recordings and the glorious, energetic performances of the Wells Cathedral Choir … [The World’s Desire] the return of Heber’s hymn brings both the work and the disc to a close in such a spine-tinglingly awesome fashion that the listener is compelled to hit the ‘play button’ again almost immediately” International Record Review

“Written in 1978 for the West Riding Cathedrals Festival, A Sequence for All Saints is a major score for large choir and organ, its five sections running continuously and containing some of Leighton's more sumptuous passages alongside those characteristic hallmarks: driving, repetitive rhythms, extended sequences and the piling on of harmonic tension. Larger still – weighing in at around half an hour – is The World's Desire, a BBC commission for a work reflecting facets of both Western and Eastern liturgy relating to the Feast of the Epiphany. It was premiered by the BBC Northern Singers in 1984. Between these come a typically celebratory anthem with a suitably dazzling organ part, O God, enfold me in the sun, a set of three Morning Canticles and an organ piece based on the hymn tune Rockingham.
Matthew Owens has certainly brought the Wells Cathedral Choir to the very peak of excellence; it ranks as probably the finest English cathedral choir at the moment. Supplemented by singers from the Wells Cathedral School Chapel Choir, the two large-scale works are delivered with great power and breadth, David Bednall's organ accompaniments as full of colour and pizzazz as one could want. It all adds up to stunning performances of outstanding music, a composer fully in sympathy with the practicalities of performance and musicians who are utterly at home with this distinctive musical idiom. Leighton's memory is well served in this superb release.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“Our reviewer summed up: 'In this business of record-reviewing I find, on the positive side, music and performances I like, more that I admire, some that I love, but not much that evokes affirmation from the soul. This does.'” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010