This CD has a mouth-watering programme of sacred and secular music, old and new. Familiar items by Bach/Gounod, Purcell and Vaughan Williams rub shoulders with contemporary works by Richard Rodney Bennett, Gabriel Jackson, James MacMillan, Howard Skempton, John Tavener and Philip Wilby. Songs by Barber, Bernstein, Ireland and Quilter also contribute to the pleasure given by this enterprising programme.

Throughout, the trebles of the Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum give excellent performances of impressive consistency under the leadership of their director, Benjamin Nicholas. They have an uninhibited, fresh sound, coupled with the skill to sustain lengthy phrases with even tone. Only occasionally does one feel that beauty of phrasing has been given a higher priority than conveying the texts’ meaning and emotions to the listener. Still, there’s no harm done in allowing the music and words to speak freely for themselves.

Together with pieces for the full choir, there are solo songs featuring the outstanding treble Laurence Kilsby. He displays tremendous maturity both in vocal timbre and in his musicianship. He won the BBC 2009 Chorister of the Year competition and I can foresee a glittering future for him. Pianist Helen Porter and organist Carleton Etherington provide impeccable accompaniments and, as usual, Delphian’s recording and booklet are of the highest order.