Patric Standford wrote in a wide variety of forms, from large-scale orchestral and choral music to a cappella, chamber and instrumental pieces. While teaching at the Guildhall School of Music in London he won several major international composition prizes. The First Symphony, each movement of which is named after a season, grew from a string piece conceived as a memorial for the conductor Sir John Barbirolli. Dedicated to and premièred by the soloist on this recording, Raphael Wallfisch, the powerful Cello Concerto is built around a theme from the fifth movement, Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit (You now are sorrowful) of Brahms’ German Requiem.

Symphony No. 1, “The Seasons”

1. Spring: Allegro deciso, risoluto 00:10:24
2. Summer: Adagietto 00:07:21
3. Autumn: Scherzo 00:05:33
4. Winter: Epilogue 00:09:44

   Cello Concerto

5. Adagio, ma con moto 00:09:03
6. Molto vivace 00:08:14
7. Adagio, molto tranquillo 00:10:01

Prelude to a Fantasy, “The Naiades”

Prelude to a Fantasy, “The Naiades” 00:09:35