New CD of piano music by Nicholas Wilton

A friend of long-standing, of both The Saint Lawrence Press and of this writer, is the acclaimed composer of liturgical music Nicholas Wilton. Many readers will be familiar with Nicholas' first CD - which I wrote about last year. Nicholas won much acclaim for his liturgical music from, amongst others, Sir James Galway saying "This is one of my favourite CD's. Masterfully written, beautifully sung. It brings me closer to God. I have given it as a gift to many of my friends."

Now Nicholas has produced another CD this time featuring some of the compositions for piano that he has composed. I was delighted a couple of weeks ago on returning to London to find a autographed copy of the CD amongst my mail as a kind gift. The CD consists of eight short tracks of piano music composed between 1987 and 1989. As with his sacred music, these pieces show the influences of composers whom he most admired at the time; principally Chopin but also Scarlatti, Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven, Shostakovich and Liszt.

Individual tracks are available for download from the Tutti website. The CD is available direct from the composer and generous discounts are being offered for multiple purchases along with trade discounts. Nicholas has price lists available for UK, European and other International customers. Please contact him at sales@catholicmusic.co.uk .  Copies of his first CD are also available and attractive deals offered for buying both!

As an added incentive the first 250 copies of the CD are numbered and signed by the composer. With Christmas on the horizon this is an excellent opportunity for a lovely Christmas present - do please go and buy a copy - and download the tracks!

The Music of Nicholas Wilton

An American composer, Jack Gibbons, has put together the above video which features the music of our friend of long-standing Nicholas Wilton along with images of the art of Fra Angelico.

The featured music is taken from Nicholas' CD 'Sacred Choral Music' which is available to order here.

Jeffrey Tucker of 'The Chant Cafe' wrote 'Nicholas Wilton is another of many composers of outstanding liturgical music in our time.'

Do enjoy the video and order a copy of the CD. I understand that the composer is seeking a patron.

Some recommended music

Any readers who are choir directors, or friends of choir directors, may be interested in listening to the Missa brevis by the English composer Nicholas Wilton.

Nicholas is a friend of long standing of Rubricarius and the Saint Lawrence Press and produced a CD of choral music several years ago.

I recently heard his latest composition, the Missa brevis, and it reveals development and maturity of the composer's style. I found the Kyrie, unusual for settings of the Kyrie in being completely polyphonic, and the Gloria particularly pleasing. The whole Mass is rather delightful and deserves to be widely performed IMHO. The composition can be heard on MP3 files from the composer's website. Samples of the sheet music are also available for inspection on the site. Copies of the music may be bought by following the link on the website.