CD REVIEW – Philip
LANE
Orchestral Music
Verity Butler, clarinet
Royal Ballet Sinfonia / Gavin Sutherland
Naxos 8.555880 [73:39]

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It was appropriate that Philip Lane (b.1950) should have a CD to himself as he had been a moving spirit in creating the original Marco Polo series.

There are eight of his delightfully tuneful compositions on this release beginning with a short 'London Salute', written to mark the 60th anniversary of the BBC. 'Diversions on a Theme of Paganini' was commissioned by the 1989 Three Choirs Festival for brass quintet and re-written for small orchestra in 2000. The earliest work is 'Cotswold Dances', completed in 1973 and taking inspiration from, among others, Badminton House with its Horse Trials connection, Cheltenham's Pittville Park with its Pump Room – also the birthplace of Gustav Holst – and Cleeve Hill, the highest peak of the Cotswold Hills.

'Divertissement for clarinet, harp & strings' was another commission, this time from Verity Butler who plays it here. One of 'Three Christmas Pictures' is the composer's most popular work: Sleighbell Serenade, firstly performed by Ron Goodwin and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 1981. 'A Maritime Overture', 'Three Nautical Miniatures for Strings' and 'Prestbury Park', home of the Cheltenham Gold Cup horserace, complete the album.

You will find much more about the man, who was blessed with perfect pitch, and his music in Gavin Sutherland's very full three pages of booklet notes. As an employee of the retailer for 36 years I was interested to read that as a holidaying student he worked in his local W H Smith's record department.

The original recording, produced by Lane, was made at the Henry Wood Hall, London, in 2001.

As usual with this Naxos British Light Music series, of which this is No.15, if you missed it first time around you certainly won't regret getting it now.

© Peter Burt 2023