Kenneth Leighton - Orchestral Works Vol.2

Kenneth Leighton 

Orchestral Works Vol.2

Symphony No.2 (Sinfonia mistica)

Te Deum laudamus [orchestral version]

Sarah Fox (soprano)

BBC National Chorus of Wales

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Richard Hickox

This is a poignant release – for reminding us of the strengths of a fine composer taken from us at the height of his powers (Kenneth Leighton died in 1988 aged 58) and for being one of the last recordings by the seemingly indefatigable Richard Hickox (who died, aged 60, towards the end of 2008). Here Hickox is in his element, not only working with a large chorus and orchestra (forces that always brought out the best in him), but conducting the English music he loved so much as well as championing a composer that has unaccountably fallen out of favour – if indeed Leighton ever was in-favour outside of the organ-lofts and choir-stalls. It cannot be claimed that Leighton invented a new musical language in the way that perhaps his close contemporary Harrison Birtwistle did, but as anyone who cares to give his music a chance, it deserves to be heard – it is beautifully crafted, full of energy and capable of great depth of feeling.

Subtitled 'Sinfonia mistica' Leighton's Second Symphony dates from the mid-1970s and was written in memory of the composer’s mother. Leighton describes it as a “Requiem or Meditation” but does not set the words of the traditional Requiem Mass but chooses a wide variety of texts including John Donne, Thomas Traherne, George Herbert and anonymous medieval poets that conjure up images of death, some consoling, some disturbing and in one rather strange text, grotesquely amusing too. The poem ends:

From bier to pit

And be shut in it

Then lies my house upon my nose

And all my care for this world goes.

Central to the melodic and harmonic material of the symphony is the well-known hymn “The Shining River” which although not quoted in full until the end of the extensive last movement (a magical moment in which a soaring soprano combines with the chorus quietly intoning the hymn tune). The work begins with a ghostly reflection of the first bars of the tune that develops into something serious and profound. The six-movement structure includes a central pattern of scherzo-slow movements-scherzo, a favourite Leighton device, his scherzos are here sardonic, brilliantly orchestrated and even a little sinister. The slow ‘Meditation’ is a radiant and glowing soprano solo, sung quite beautifully by Sarah Fox. Under Adrian Partington the BBC National Chorus of Wales has become deeply impressive with singing crisp and rhythmic and with superb diction. Hickox and BBCNOW make the best possible case for this touching and deeply felt work that really shouldn't have languished in obscurity for so long.

The short setting of the “Te Deum” is one of two English settings of this lumbering text that Leighton made – this one in 1964 for a festival service honouring St Cecilia. It makes a good contrast to the symphony showing Leighton in a different mood – with dancing cross-rhythms and bright trumpets there is more than a hint of Waltonian ceremony, but ultimately Leighton is his own man, bluffer and more gritty than the older master.

This is Volume 2 of Leighton’s Orchestral Music (following on from the wonderful Organ Concerto), but with Richard Hickox no longer with us, will there be further instalments? Piano Concerto No.2 would be very welcome. For the present, this disc of first recordings is highly recommended.