Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This pleasant collection marks Patrick Gowers' 70th birthday by celebrating his achievement in choral and organ composition. The celebrants are the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra, Camerata and Cathedral Choir, conducted by David Hill and Stephen Farr with Farr and David Davies on the organ. Gowers read music at Cambridge where he also taught composition. He worked in jazz and then in stage and film music and is best remembered - at least by this reviewer - for his score for Smiley's People. The programme on this CD has been compiled from a varied career in church music for choir and organ and the composer's notes are worth reading for more background. For example, he tells us that the title song was written for the Federation Of Old Choristers' Association's Congress at Canterbury in July 2000 and celebrates two hymns through a different two French Church melodies. Put like this it sounds contrived and complicated but in fact works well. The centrepiece and highlight is a Cantata written for the Southern Cathedrals Festival in 1991. This starts with a slow orchestral prelude, leading into wonderful choral settings based on the Psalms. If you have any interest in contemporary choral music this one piece justifies the price of the CD.

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