Priory Records have been successful in their organ recordings made in various locations by the obviously skilful engineer Paul Crichton, and this particular issue is no exception to that rule, with good and atmospheric sound. James Lancelot born in 1952, was a St Paul's chorister under Dykes Bower and a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists at 16, following this by becoming the Organ Scholar at King's College Chapel in Cambridge, in 1985 he was appointed Master of the Choristers and Organist at Durham Cathedral and his excellent educational pedigree is reflected in playing that is thoughtful yet vital.
This recital programme is well chosen, by no means concentrating on spectacular pieces, but delivering an eloquent conspectus of music suited to this Willis instrument (later enlarged by Harrison) in its individual acoustic setting at Durham—music and setting alike which often offer halftones (for example in the Howells Psalm-prelude and the substantial and sometimes dramatic Mathias Berceuse of which Lancelot gave the first performance in 1985) but which are also capable of giving brilliance and power (as in the Mendelssohn Second Sonata and the final Langlais piece on the Te Deum plainchant melody). The performance of the Frank Martin Passacaille reminds us usefully too of the quality of this still too little-known Swiss composer.
This whole recital may be recommended to all who care about the organ repertory and indeed also the organ as a musical instrument, as well as a machine to split the ears of the groundlings.'