English Cathedral Series Volume V
Regent REGCD173
72' 03"
www.regentrecords.co.uk

David Poulter plays an eclectic programme of music by mainly English composers with Saint-Sans and Reger to begin and end the disc. In between, we have some well-known pieces, such as Rhosymedre by Vaughan Williams, Purcell Trumpet Tunes and movements from Whitlock's Plymouth Suite and some less well known, such as Harvey Grace's Resurgam, and Philip Cranmer's Pavan and Galliard. The centrepiece is Piet Post's Partita on De Lofzang van Maria. While the playing was precise and the registration thoroughly thought through and smoothly implemented, I did not feel at all moved by the performances. There was just something lacking: a certain joie de vivre or 'soul' that would have made me sit up and take notice. At times there seemed to be a lack of balance between manuals and pedals and the louder Trumpet and Tuba stops seemed to be remarkably thin. I was left uninspired then, though credit should go to the player for including some less well-known music. DB