CD's For Sale

The following CDs are available from the Leighton Trust.

NOVEMBER 2006 Newly released CD recording of choral and organ music by Kenneth Leighton (1929-1988), sung by the Choir of Bromley Parish Church and directed by Thomas Corns. Titled Et resurrexit and featuring the acclaimed 1991 Walker organ of Bromley Parish Church, its total timing is 63'55'' and the tracks are a liturgical sequence from Advent to Easter and include two of Leighton's most beautiful carol settings as follows: 1. Paean* 2. Veni Creator Spiritus* 3. Magnificat Collegium Magdalenae Oxoniense 4. Veni Emmanuel* 5. O leave your sheep 6. Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child 7. Nunc dimittis Collegium Magdalenae Oxoniense 8. St Columba* 9. Drop, drop, slow tears 10. Aus der Tiefe* 11. Solus ad victimam 12. Et resurrexit - Theme* 13. - Fantasy* 14. -Fugue* The CD is available to buy online at www.bromleyparishchurch.org/leightoncd.php priced £10.99 (plus £1.99 P+P) and can be ordered from HMV and Virgin megastores Bromley and several other stores nationwide, as well as directly from Bromley Parish Church (Tel: 020 84645244) for the special price of £10. MARCH 2005 THE COMPLETE SOLO PIANO WORKS Delphian DCD 34301-3 The complete solo piano works are presented for the first time on three discs, containing many premiere recordings. Written for Leighton's own instrument, and played by his distinguished former pupil Angela Brownridge, the varied nature of this programme spans Leighton's entire career as a composer. Calum MacDonald, writing in BBC Music Magazine (August 2005) has awarded the set 5 stars. It has also been highly praised by Robert Matthew-Walker in International Music Magazine. Copies are available from The Leighton Trust from March 2005. The three CD's run to 227 minutes of music. The price is £20.00 inc.p&p. The Kenneth Leighton Trust 38 McLaren Road Edinburgh EH9 2BN 0131 667 3113 Contact us CD's STILL AVAILABLE Cost £10 (Chandos and Hyperion CD's £12)) inc. p&p (within the UK). All cheques to be made payable to The Leighton Trust. Please contact: Mrs J. A. Leighton, 38 McLaren Road, Edinburgh, EH9 2BN. Contact Us
1.	CD RELEASES 2004 The Leighton Naxos CD by the choir of St. John's College, Cambridge directed by Christopher Robinson has been selected as an Editor's Choice in the March issue of Gramophone magazine. It has also received 5 stars in The Guardian. The May issue of BBC Music Magazine lists this CD as the No. 8 best selling classical CD. " The John's touch is there in all this - right from the first phrases of the first track, the other Magnificat (Collegium Magdelenae Oxoniense) with its enthusiasm in the verb, the 'magnify', and in its object 'God my saviour'. Both are wonderful settings, as are those in Easter Sequence with it's trumpet obbligato. In this business of record-reviewing I find, on the positive side, music and performances I like, more that I admire, some that I love, but not much that evokes affirmation from the soul. This does. !" John Steane Gramophone March 2004 PRELUDE, HYMN AND TOCCATA for 2 pianos Anthony Goldstone - Caroline Clemmow Divine Art 25024 British 20th/21st Century Music for One and Two Pianos This large scale, late work for 2 Pianos has been recorded by Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow. Entitled 'Explorations' the CD also includes works by Holst, Ronald Stevenson and Anthony Hedges. All of these are premiere recordings. "... a stimulating collection, splendidly presented by a first-class piano duo. It provides an excellent survey of four-handed and solo 20th-century British piano music..... The collection is dominated by Kenneth Leighton's Prelude, Hymn and Toccata, an immensely commanding antiphonal two-piano work. The Hymn is a heavily submerged and disguised Abide with me, fascinatingly developed. It ends peacefully, to be followed by a hugely arresting closing Toccata, ending with a characteristic Presto precipitoso, played here with exhilarating abandon, ending abruptly and leaving the listener gasping. " PIANO TRIO, PIANO QUARTET, PIANO QUINTET Meridian CDE 84465 The 2nd CD by the Edinburgh Quartet, leader Suzanne Stanzeleit, is now available. Together with the pianist Robert Markham (finalist in the 1994 Tchaikovsky Competition) they perform the Piano Trio Opus 46 the, Piano Quartet (Quartet in One Movement - Contrasts and Variants ) Opus 65 and the Piano Quintet Opus 34. These are three of Leighton's major contributions to the chamber music literature. The Piano Trio was awarded the Bernard Sprengal prize for Chamber Music. The International Record Review of October 2002 said . "..it is difficult not to use the word 'masterpiece' in considering Leighton's Piano Trio....I cannot think of a British piano trio finer than this...." "The three remarkable works on the Meridian disc show what a highly distinctive and individual contribution Kenneth Leighton made to English chamber music in the mid-20th century. ... the Piano Quintet of 1959 immediately establishing the composer's concentrated polyphonic style and the structural unity of his writing. The Piano Trio of 1865 is, an anything, even more concentrated in its sinewy melancholy lyricism and restless energy, with the piano often throbbing percussively against the strings....... The single-movement quartet, Contrasts and Variants of 1972 surely sums up the emotional concentration of the earlier works in a kaleidoscope of tempo changes with the music again ending in a peaceful calm." Ivan March Gramophone March 2004 LEIGHTON INTRODUCES AND PERFORMS HIS MUSIC The Leighton Trust has recently had tapes of Leighton playing and introducing his own music, as well as that of Haydn and Mendelssohn, professionally 'cleaned up' and put onto CD format. These are as follows: Leighton Introduction to Haydn Eb Sonata No. 49 and Leighton Household Pets *Leighton Introduction to Mendelssohn Andante and Variations, Leighton Duet Sonata* (with Colin Kingsley)** BBC introduction to Leighton performing Haydn Sonata in D Major, Leighton 4 Romantic Pieces Leighton was a formidable pianist, and these CD's will be of interest to anyone who enjoys hearing a composer talk about and perform his own music. While not for sale, the Leighton Trust will supply copies for a donation to the Trust. PRECES AND RESPONSES Delphian 34017 'Ascension' This CD, which also contains works by James MacMillan, Richard Allain and Messian, has had an excellent review in the February 2004 issue of Gramophone. Of the Leighton Malcolm Riley says : "Kenneth Leighton's Preces and Responses.. sound as harmonically audacious as when they first appeared in 1964." Perhaps the most widely sung of any setting of the Preces and Responses, this is a first rate performance by the Choir of St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh with Matthew Owens. Fantasia on BACH, 5 Preludes for Piano, Piano Trio AFKA Records (USA) The Phillips Academy Chamber Ensemble, Andover, Mass. USA have released a complete Leighton CD. Christopher Walter, the pianist here, was a pupil of Peter Wallfisch, a pianist Leighton held in the highest regard. Mr.Walter performs the very last pieces Leighton wrote, the 5 Preludes for Piano, part of an incomplete set of 24. Leighton died shortly after the last of the five was written. Also included is the Fantasia on BACH Opus 29. This work for viola/piano won the Harry Danks prize. Both these works are Premiere recordings. The final work is the Piano Quartet (Quartet in One Movement - Contrasts and Variants) Opus 63 This is only available from the Leighton Trust in the UK. Price £10 inc.p&p ORCHESTRAL Concerto for Recorder, Harpsichord and Strings Opus 88 White Line English Recorder Concertos CD WHL 2143 Performed by the renowned Recorder player John Turner, with harpsichordist Keith Elcombe and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland.. This is one of Leighton's most attractive works, and has been widely performed. CHAMBER MUSIC String Quartet Nos. 1 and 2, Seven Variations for String Quartet *"This release should be mandatory listening for anyone interested in the string quartet repertoire of the 20th century."* Fanfare Magazine, July/August 2003 USA Meridian CDE 84460 Performed by the Edinburgh Quartet, leader Suzanne Stanzeleit The Edinburgh Quartet has had a very long association with Leighton's music, and have played these Quartets all over the world. The Washington Post described the 7 Variations as 'a gem of a piece...Leighton seems to be a master of wonderful sonorities... even without an apparent melodic dimension, the variations are easily followed and understood' String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2 have been described as 'golden examples of Leighton's clarity of thought and austere lyricism....' Piano Trio Opus 46 (Awarded the Bernard Sprengal prize for Chamber Music) , Metamorphosis (violin/piano), Partita and *Elegy* (cello/piano) Dutton CDLX 7118 This CD, in the Dutton Epoch Series, is performed by Lorraine McAslan, Michael Dussek and Andrew Fuller. All the works included are Premiere recordings with the exception of the Elegy for cello. There are many who feel that some of Leighton's finest music is in his Chamber music. This very fine CD goes a long way towards illustrating that opinion. The Piano Trio in particular has been hailed as one of the major Trios of the latter part of the 20th Century. Metamorphosis is Leighton's largest work for violin, and the Partita is more than worthy to join the ever popular Elegy. Robert Matthew-Walker, writing for International Record Review (10/02)says 'I cannot think, off hand, of a British piano trio finer than this.... Indeed it is difficult not to use the word 'masterpiece in considering Leighton's Piano Trio...Leighton's magnificently composed music - the product of a genuine artistic mind - is well worth anyone's attention'' 6 Study-Variations Opus 56 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED This work has been included by Stephen Hough in his CD for Hyperion 'Stephen Hough's English Piano Album' Chosen CD of the week by The Guardian, this splendid CD also contains works by Elgar, Stephen Reynolds, Bantock, Bowen, and Bridge, as well as 2 works by Hough himself. Stephen Hough has performed this work world-wide, and gave a performance at the Wigmore Hall in September 2002 that was very enthusiastically received. *CONCERTO FOR OBOE AND STRINGS* . Opus 23 (1953) ASV 2130 Jill Crowther/Alan Cuckston, English Northern Philharmonia This work was premiered in August 1999 at the 3 Choirs Festival in Hereford by Paul Daniels and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, with Halle oboist Virginia Shaw. The Concerto was very well received by a large audience. The history of the work is interesting, in that Gerald Finzi rehearsed it with his Newbury String Orchestra, but never performed it. Correspondence from Finzi indicates that his string players were finding it rather challenging, and he also felt the musical language might be a bit more than his audiences were ready for! He released it when the BBC requested it for a 'practise rehearsal'. For some reason it was never performed, and until recently has existed only in manuscript. Maecenas Music have now published the Concerto, and further performances are planned.
2.	ANIMAL HEAVEN Opus 83 (1980) Metier CD92036 This work is scored for Recorder, cello and harpsichord with soprano solo. It was commissioned by John Turner and the Legrand Ensemble for the Manchester Festival in July 1984 and given it's first performance at that time. Since then John Turner has performed the work many times. Animal Heaven, a Diptych, sets poetry by the famous American poets, Walt Whitman and James Dickey. The ensemble, consisting of John Turner, Keith Elcombe, Jonathan Price and Alison Wells also include a work by Edward Harper, Lights Out, dedicated to Leighton's memory. Other works are by Lyell Cresswell, Sally Beamish, Roger Williams and David Johnson. Leighton always had a 'soft spot' for Animal Heaven .... it was quickly followed (1981)by the piano work Household Pets and the last movement of this work quotes from the earlier one. Household Pets, performed by Eric Parkin, is available from the Leighton Trust, price £10.
3.	Chandos CD - APRIL 2000 - PIANO WORKS played by MARGARET FINGERHUT, CHANDOS 9818. Two of the pieces played on this excellent CD are Premiere Recordings. Pieces for Angela (often set for Associated Board Examination Grade 5) Sonatina No. 2 (often set for Associated Board Examination Grade 8) Other works included are Fantasia Contrappuntistica; 5 Studies Op. 22; Four Romantic Pieces. Margaret Fingerhut has won many Gramophone Awards for her recordings of British Piano Music. She is a "Leighton enthusiast" and often includes his piano works in her recital programmes. In 1998 she performed the *Four Romantic Pieces* at the 3 Choirs Festival (Gloucester) and she has recently toured the Sonatina No. 2.
4.	A Premiere Recording recently released by the National Youth Choir of Scotland, which includes Leighton's Hymn to Matter. Conducted by their founder, Christopher Bell, who has a long association with Leighton's music, with the Scottish National Orchestra. The other works are 'A Burn's Sequence' by John Gardner and 'Six Songs for Female Voices' by John McEwan.
5.	Awake my Glory (LAMM106D) is the title of a CD by the Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge and includes the choral work of the same name. Also included are Leighton's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis 'Collegium Magdalenae Oxoniense', Britten's' 'Rejoice in the Lamb' and 'Te Deum in C', '5 Spirituals from a Child of our Time' by Tippett, Tavener's '2 Hymns to the Mother of God' and 'Like as the Hart' by Howells
6.	'Martyrs (Dialogue on a Scottish Psalm Tune)' for Organ Duet has recently been recorded by the following: Timothy & Nancy LeRoi Nickel (ARSIS CD 104) and Sylvie Poirier and Philip Crozier (SP 2 8222)
7.	A new release by Helen & Harvey Davies, of Twentieth Century Piano Duets (ASC CS CD13), which includes Leighton's 'Duet Sonata', and duets by Rawsthorne, Joubert, Lennox Berkeley and Peter Melville Smith.
8.	Fantasy on a Chorale - Es ist Genug This work for the unusual combination of violin and organ, has been recorded by Rupert Gough, the Assistant Organist of Wells Cathedral and his wife Rachael. It is a Premiere Recording and the Goughs often include this work in concerts.
9.	A BMS cassette with Leighton playing his own 4 Romantic Pieces. Also the Duet Sonata, played by Leighton and Colin Kingsley. Also available from the BMS. Cost £6.00
10.	Piano Music played by Eric Parkin. includes 'Sonatina No. 1, Conflicts, Five Studies Op.22, Household Pets and Fantasia Contrappuntistica'.
11.	'Serenade for Flute/Piano Op.19a' played by Nicola Woodward and Nigel Clayton on a CD of Celtic Flute Music.
12.	'Serenade for Flute/Piano Op.19a' This work has also been recorded by Kenneth Smith, (principal flute Philharmonia Orchestra) and Paul Rhodes (ASV CD DCA 862) It was a selection of the Britannica Music Club and has proved to be very popular with many flautists. The CD entitled 'The Reed of Pan' is a selection of British Flute Music and includes works by Bantock, Mathias, Finzi, York Bowen, William Lloyd Webber, Howard Blake and Eugene Goossens.
13.	Choral music sung by the choir of St. Catherine's College, Cambridge. Directed by Rupert Jeffcoat. Includes 'The Magdalen Service, Awake my Glory, Three Carols, The Star-Song, Lully lulla, An Ode on the Birth of our Saviour, O God enfold me in the Sun, Drop Drop Slow Tears, The Beauty of Holiness, O Leave Your Sheep, The Second Service and Let all the World in Every Corner Sing'.
14.	'The Complete Organ Works' played by Dennis Townhill - a 3 CD set, cost £30.00 This set also includes the Organ duet Martyrs, performed by Dr. Townhill and Peter Backhouse, who was then Assistant Organist at St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh