The most consistently fine and distinctive piece is Pilgrim - what is it about massed strings that so often brings out the best in English composers? The strings of the BBC Scottish sound as though they enjoy every moment of it but then the whole disc conveys conviction and dedication, and the composer makes a strong and authoritative soloist in the Concerto.

It's long been a source of amazement why McCabe's splendid First Piano Concerto, written for the 1967 Southport Centenary Festival, has not been recorded before so Dutton's committed advocacy is unequivocally to be welcomed.
The concerto's rhythmic élan is a feature prominent in most of his output, including Pilgrim for double string orchestra (1998, arranged from a string sextet original). Although Bunyan's book was the inspiration, the singlespan Pilgrim is not illustrative, rather a slow fantasia with two quicker sections, like a scherzo and trio in negative. As with the concerto's finale, Pilgrim shows how danceable McCabe's concert music is (several works have been successfully choreographed).
The largest item is a suite from his recent ballet diptych, Arthur (1998-2001), the four movements deriving from the first part, Arthur Pendragon, all but the finale from its first act. The vigour and drive of 'Uther and the Tribes' and 'The Tourney' (in which Arthur draws Excalibur from the Stone) contrast with the poignant beauty of 'Igraine and Uther'. The finale, 'The Lovers', is a complex conflation of two pas de deux for Lancelot and Guinevere and the ballet's climax, Arthur's vain and misguided massacre of the innocents (attempting to destroy the infant Mordred). Powerful stuff, the BBC Scottish SO's performance under Christopher Austin is inspired. With excellent sound, this issue is very strongly recommended.

Powerful stuff, the BBC Scottish SO's performance under Christopher Austin is inspired. With excellent sound, this issue is very strongly recommended.