Born in 1969, Peter Fribbins is a composer very much in the tradition of Britten and Tippett, unafraid to write melodically and tonally in thoughtful, well-wrought works. This Guild disc brings together four of his works recorded from different sources in excellent sound.

Most important is the Piano Concerto, written for the Croatian soloist, Diana Brekalo. It was recorded live at its first performance in 2011 at Cadogan Hall in London, an account with next to no interruptions from the audience until the applause at the end. The opening Adagio, made ominous with loud timpani strokes, leads to an Allegro in which a viola melody is constantly varied. It matters little that one hardly registers that motif, for the tautness of structure is perfectly evident. The slow movement is more straightforwardly melodic, with an oboe melody taken up by the piano. In the finale, after a rushing first theme, the oboe introduces a second subject, leading to a movement with plentiful timpani strokes and a slow central section before a final fugato and an exciting coda. Splendid performances from Brekalo and the RPO under the Croatian conductor Robertas Šervenikas.

The title, After Cromer, of the Second String Quartet does not refer to the place but to the hymn tune, which forms the basis of the powerful first movement: the Chilingirian Quartet, for whom it was written, are the persuasive advocates. After a brilliant scherzo, the slow movement is a reworking of one of Fribbins’s organ pieces with a pizzicato central section. The finale also brings some pizzicato writing with double-stopping reminiscent of Bartók, leading to an energetic conclusion.

A Haydn Prelude was written as a tribute to John McCabe on his 70th birthday, reflecting his monumental recording of the complete Haydn piano sonatas. The Two Fantasias for viola and piano feature deep meditations for the viola, the first based on a Welsh folk tune, the second on a Hungarian melody, with the piano weaving an often elaborate accompaniment. Superb performances from the dedicated Sarah-Jane Bradley and Anthony Hewitt, who also plays the solo piano piece. Altogether an illuminating portrait of a composer who deserves to be even better known.