A student effort from 1896, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s A minor Symphony is a very likeable discovery. Both middle movements display a disarming melodic felicity and no mean assurance, to say nothing of the occasional admiring glance towards Dvorák, although Stanford (the 20-year-old’s composition teacher) was never happy with the finale – three versions exist.

It was first played by RCM students in June 1896 (participants included a certain Gustav von Holst on trombone and Ralph Vaughan Williams on triangle) and received its concert-hall debut four years later. Although the symphony went down well, it gathered dust for more than a century until David Kendall organised a student workshop performance.

The Aarhus SO under Douglas Bostock’s alert and affectionate lead seem to enjoy making its acquaintance – as indeed they do the last of the six symphonies penned by Frederic Cowen (1852-1935). Premiered by Hans Richter in May 1897 but not heard since 1910, the Sixth (The Idyllic) emerges as something of a late-Victorian gem. An illustrious conductor in his day, Cowen handles the orchestra with an almost Mendelssohnian deftness (captivating woodwind colours in the Scherzo and slow movement, where both cor anglais and bass clarinet are assigned conspicuous roles), and the work as a whole registers strongly in terms of appealing invention, lyrical grace and bright-eyed charm. Dare we hope that Cowen’s two preceding symphonies won’t be too long in following? (No 3 is available on Marco Polo, 2/91.)

Classico provides crisp and clear sound for these two world premiere recordings. In every respect, then, a solid thumbs-up.