Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Editorial policy is not to review organ music if there is little or no discernible Christian content, even if it is played on a church organ. This release is played on an instrument that was installed by Copeman Hart in 1994 according to the specification of Peter St John Stokes. St Silas, Kentish Town is the church of an inner-city parish. It is now surrounded by tower blocks that shelter it from much of the traffic noise and the acoustic is remarkably good and has been well captured by Lance Andrews. The repertoire featured on this CD reflects the Anglo-Catholic tradition of the parish and, one assumes, the organist who for 21 years was head of music at a Roman Catholic school in St Albans. Thus we get liturgical music, mainly from France represented by composers such as Dandrieu, Dornel, Beauvarlet-Charpentier, Boëly, Dubois and Franck. Most of these names are new to your reviewer but the comprehensive notes written by Mr Stokes were illuminating. In addition we get a splendid "Toccata And Fugue In D Minor", probably Bach's most famous organ piece, followed by the same composer's beloved "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring" and, to make a final connection, Liszt's "Fantasia And Fugue On Bach".

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.