Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

To my shame I had put this CD down as worthy but dull before I bothered to listen to it - after all, hearing something before you review it does tend to prejudice your opinion. This is indeed worthy - in its positive sense - but certainly not dull. Edward Woodall Naylor was born into a musical family in 1867, went up to Emmanuel College, Cambridge aged just 17 where he studied classics and theology before adding music in his fourth year. He became a prolific composer and his opera 'The Angelus' beat Holst's 'Sita' to win a competition for a new English opera. In 1898 he returned to Emmanuel as organist and remained there until his death in 1934 and, let us be honest, who now remembers him? The Revd Canon Raymond Hockley (1929-2012), Chaplain of Emmanuel College (1968-1976) started to write Naylor's biography but died before finishing it but an extended essay from it has been included in the CD booklet. Apart from his well-known anthem 'Vox dicentis: Clama' and a few canticle settings, very little of Naylor's music is known, or is in the repertoire of choirs, today and this is the first recording entirely devoted to his choral works, seven of which are first recordings. Richard Latham and the Choir of Emmanuel College give Naylor's music their all and the Senior and Junior Organ Scholars George Lacey and Adam Matthias play well when called upon. The music is of its time. Naylor was not an Elgar or a Holst but he was a competent and tuneful composer and listeners who appreciate traditional Victorian and Edwardian Anglican choral music will be pleased to make Naylor's better acquaintance. Clearly this has been a labour of love from those at his alma mater but this deserves a much wider audience.

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