LENNOX BERKELEY (1903-1989): Antiphon, Op. 85, MÁTYÁS SEIBER (1902-1960): Besardo Suite No. 2, PETER CROSSLEY-HOLLAND (1916-2001): Suite No. 1, GORDON CROSSE (b.1937): Elegy and Scherzo Alla Marcia, Op. 47a, JOHN MANDUELL (b.1928): Rondo for Nine, ANTHONY GILBERT (b.1934): Another Dream Carousel.

Description: A very attractive program of English string music by composers who had something to do with the last name on the list above, Manduell, who had a long career as a teacher and administrator while composing in his spare time and who contributes a four-page note of his own in addition to the regular liner notes. Everything is tonal and approachable with Seiber (a suite of dances from the 1603 Thesaurus Harmonicus of Jean-Baptiste Besard), Crossley-Holland (English and Irish folk music), Gilbert (waltz rhythms) and Berkeley (two plainsong melodies) using traditional source materials. Manchester Chamber Ensemble; Richard Howarth.