Howells: Siciliano for a High Ceremony

“Following eight highly acclaimed discs of 'Organ Fireworks', the winning combination of Christopher Herrick and Hyperion turn their attention towards the calmer and more reflective repertory grouped under the title 'Organ Dreams'. Volume 2 consists mostly of original organ music spanning the period 1815-1952, all of which fits the instrument in Ripon Cathedral like a well-tailored glove.
Not every title reflects a dream-like state, though the disc's opening track – Dubois' Inparadisum creates an aura of calm. Frank Bridge's oft-played Adagio in E is also smoothly shaped, with its grand climax carefully controlled. Guilmant's 'Rêve' of 1902 is delicious, its impressionistic perfume wafting effortlessly.
With a running time of 19 minutes, Elgar's rarely heard Vesper Voluntaries of 1889 form the centrepiece of Herrick's programme. What charmers they are: mostly mezzopiano in dynamic, with occasional fuller-bodied outbursts, none of them outstays its welcome. They are followed by Howells' rambling Siciliano (the most recent piece on the disc), which Herrick keeps moving. However, he does allow himself plenty of time for William Strickland's convincing arrangement of Barber's Adagio.
The Liszt is a shameless piece of kitsch which borrows freely from Allegri's Miserere and Mozart's Ave verum corpus. More worthwhile are Schumann's Study and a quartet of miniatures by Samuel Wesley. The only fault with the whole package is that the portrait purporting to be that of Wesley senior is, in fact, that of his natural son, Samuel Sebastian.
In summary, this thoroughly enjoyable disc is sensitively and affectionately played, and works well at a single hearing.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“Donald Hunt...brings his considerable and appropriate credentials to this twentieth-century British repertoire.” Fanfare