Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Kenneth Leighton (1929-1988) was a talented composer and pianist and while some of his works continue to be performed there is perhaps a danger of him slipping away to be little more than a footnote in the history of British composers of the 20th century. This collection was released to mark the 90th anniversary of the composer's birth and gives a good introduction to his accomplishments in the genre across his entire composing career. It includes Leighton's earliest and last pieces for unaccompanied choir, three Christmas carols, two extended works in "Crucifixus Pro Nobis" that concludes with the lovely hymn "Drop, Drop, Slow Tears" and "Missa Sancti Petri", as well as two works composed for the Choir of St Mary's Cathedral itself. Probably the best-known piece in the programme is Leighton's 1948 setting of "Lully, Lulla, Thou Little Tiny Child" sometimes known as "The Coventry Carol" and here featuring a nice solo by treble Olivia Massimo. Another Christmas song, although probably not one that would be included in many church services, is the sprightly "Wassail All Over The Town", based on a traditional Gloucestershire wassail and here given its premiere recording, featuring another good treble solo, this time from Carlo Massimo. The other premiere on this disc is the "Missa Sancti Petri", commissioned for the 750th anniversary of Peterborough Cathedral in 1987, and given the number of churches dedicated to St Peter I am surprised that it has not been recorded before as it certainly deserves to be better known. Duncan Ferguson and the Choir and soloists of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh have served Leighton well in this recording, actually made in the cathedral and with a good, clear audio quality courtesy of producer/engineer Paul Baxter. Collections of the choral music of Kenneth Leighton are not hard to come by but this one could well become the benchmark. He is probably not the first composer to come to mind when we think of those who worked in church music in 20th century Britain but he does not deserve to be forgotten.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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