Armstrong Gibbs’s Peacock Pie gives this most attractive collection its title‚ drawn‚ like the composer’s inspiration‚ from Walter de la Mare’s book of rhymes of that name. The Grainger­like opening‚ introduced gleefully over pizzicato strings‚ depicts ‘The Huntsman’‚ and the lyric lies rhythmically under the melody (‘Three jolly gentlemen‚ In coats of red‚ Rode their horses‚ Up to Bed’). The central picture of a ‘Sunken Garden’ is mysterious and haunting‚ but in the finale‚ ‘The Ride­by­Nights’‚ which gallops along with witches in mind‚ there is nothing sinister in the music: these are obviously good­natured spectres. Gibbs’s Concertino‚ written at Windermere‚ in the Lake District‚ in 1942‚ trips along gaily but more gently in the outer movements‚ and is more romantic in the rather lovely Andante‚ which yet has an English folk­song flavour‚ and is surely inspired by the composer’s response to the visual beauty all around him. The opening work in the programme‚ by Gordon Jacob‚ is appealingly well crafted‚ lightweight and engaging‚ with its spirited neo­Classical outer movements‚ and delicate morsel of a central Andante (beautifully played here). Robin Milford’s Concertino‚ more ambivalent in mood‚ also has a pleasing insouciance‚ and a charming siciliano for its Poco adagio‚ which is gently reprised in the quirkily rhythmic rondo finale. Cyril Rootham’s four­movement Miniature Suite is again very English in atmosphere‚ with a dainty opening Allegretto‚ leading to a darkly haunting‚ comparatively extended Lento‚ balanced by a tripping third movement in a neatly contrived 5/4 rhythm. A distinct folksong idiom comes to the fore in the last movement. Madeleine Dring’s Festival Scherzo makes a rollocking‚ debonair encore. Altogether this is a wholly delectable disc of spirited miniature concertos‚ all with string orchestra‚ where the composers are never let down by paucity of invention. Performances are light­hearted and polished‚ and beautifully recorded. Most rewarding and entertaining.