Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

John Dryden wrote his 'Ode For St Cecilia's Day' in 1687, when Handel was still a toddler back in Germany. By the time he came to write this music in 1739 Handel was reaching his peak, with 'The Messiah' to follow within two years. Handel incorporates a variety of colourful instrumental effects in vivid illustration of the text. The final air and chorus, "As From The Powers Of Sacred Lays" is one of the composer's finest and celebrates the glory of music itself. The soprano soloist Dorothee Mields is excellent. Any listener who enjoys Handel but has yet to hear this Ode is in for a treat and those of you who are still unsure would find this a good introduction to a great composer. The words are in English and there are few recitatives that some find off-putting. However it is niggardly to object when the price is a more than generous £4.99.