VENI, SANCTE SPIRITIS: CHORAL AND ORGAN MUSIC OF PATRICK GOWERS
Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra; Guildford Camerata: Guildford Cathedral Choir; David Hill and Stephen Farr (conductors); David Davies and Stephen Farr (organ)
LAMMAS LAMM196D 69m48s

Patrick Gowers is perhaps best known for his music for film and television, but he is a prolific composer for orchestra and choir, with some organ music too. This very welcome CD offers the listener an opportunity to appreciate Gowers’ choral and organ music. We begin with the Veni, Sancte Spiritus, a lively setting for choir and organ that gets much of its drive and exuberance from its rhythms, underpinned by the solidity of two ancient hymns. The effect is very fine indeed. The main work is the 1991 Cantata written for the Southern Cathedrals Festival. I had not heard this work before, but I found myself both impressed and moved, not least by the opening orchestral movement and the final chorale – following on from the German Lutheran tradition. While the Cantata is in a broadly lyrical style, the Adagio for organ is much more dissonant, with shades of Messaien; it explores the softer voices of the organ and relies on ‘atmosphere’ to give it impact, it seemed to me. The Chester Lullaby is in a similar vein, but its 16th century text also influences the texture and the haunting solo voice elements. The two halves of the organ Toccata and Fugue, though written some 18 years apart, combine well. Gowers is a sympathetic and exciting writer for the instrument, and I am surprised not to hear the work more often. The CD ends with An Occasional Trumpet Voluntary, obviously composed with humour, for it combines Clarke and Widor! The playing is of the highest standard on this most interesting disc. DB