As well as the York Bowen and the Elgar mentioned on the previous page the Vaughan Williams Christmas disc from Chandos was recommended, despite the controversy about which version of the Carol Fantasia it was or wasn’t.

Discs that weren’t mentioned for lack of space rather than quality would include the fifth volume in the complete Alwyn orchestral music on Naxos (when are they going to complete the Naxos Walton edition with the overtures like Portsmouth Point and Scapino, we might very well ask..? And whilst we’re on the topic why did Chandos miss out from their Walton Edition the original soprano and piano version of Song for the Lord Mayor’s Table, when they included both versions of Anon in Love? A question on the Chandos Forum elicited no answer)

But the Oboe Concerto from Naxos is a splendid work, as are the Elizabethan Dances, and we have never heard of The Innumerable Dance before, but it is really fine - now we want the Fanfare for a Joyful Occasion with all of its myriad percussion [to come in 2008 apparently according to Naxos website].

Volume 2 of the complete Dowland lute music is more reflective than volume but still as finely played by Nigel North. Roll on the next two volumes...

And Stephen Fry narrating The Night Before Christmas on a new disc of Christmas orchestral music (only recorded in September 2006) bids to become a Christmas favourite. Fancy Coleridge Taylor writing a Christmas Overture, I didn’t know that either...