Kenneth Leighton, best known for his organ and sacred choral music, was a composer of great depth and talent who wrote a significant body of works. Many of those works were written for large orchestras and a significant number of pieces of chamber music were composed for a variety of instrument groupings, as well as for instrumental solos. Anyone interested in 20th-century music as well as British and Scottish Cathedral music will find a wealth of works listed with a description of each. Kenneth Leighton, best known for his organ and sacred choral music, was a composer of great depth and talent who wrote a significant body of works. Many of those works were written for large orchestras and a significant number of pieces of chamber music were composed for a variety of instrument groupings, as well as for instrumental solos. Anyone interested in 20th-century music as well as British and Scottish Cathedral music will find a wealth of works listed with a description of each. This volume begins with a brief biography of Leighton and is followed by an alphabetical listing of works and performances. Also included is a discography and a bibliography of articles, reviews, books, and dissertations. The last section is a chronological list of compositions. Smith helps us to realize that Kenneth Leighton was an extraordinary composer of 20th-century music with a varied body of works and also a virtuoso pianist of some note.

This is the first book-length survey of 20th -century British music for solo organ. Beginning with a discussion of British organ music in the last decades of the Victorian era, the book focuses on the pieces that the composers wrote, their musical style, possible influences on the composition of specific works, and the details of their composition. Arranged in chronological order according to date of birth are detailed studies on important composers that made especially significant contributions to organ music including Parry, Stanford, Healey Willan, Herbert Howells, Percy Whitlock, Francis Jackson, Peter Racine Fricker, Arthur Wills, and Kenneth Leighton. Composers' biographies, the role of organs and organ building developments, influential political and sociological events, and aesthetic aspects of British musical life are also discussed in detail. In the concluding chapter, the author discusses the major phases and achievements of the century and gauges what may lie ahead in the new millennium. A comprehensive Catalog of Works provides titles of works, dates of composition, details of publishers, and the dates of publication. More than 60 music examples, 12 black and white photos, and an up-to-date bibliography are included.

Sir James MacMillan first burst into prominence in 1990 with The Confessions of Isobel Gowdie. A steady stream of works has followed, with commissions from many of the world's major orchestras. A prominent part of his work is his religious composition, which includes settings of both the John and Luke passions, Tu Es Petrus (for the 2010 papal visit to Britain) and numerous smaller choral pieces. His works are heard all around the world – Seven Last Words from the Cross has been performed in 24 countries since its premiere in 1994, and his Stabat Mater received a private performance at the Sistine Chapel in 2018. He is a trenchant commentator on a wide range of political, social and theological issues, many of which spring from his commitment to the cultural life of Scotland. He is a passionate advocacy of community involvement in music and set up the burgeoning music festival The Cumnock Tryst in 2013. Much of his music reflects his strong Scottish roots and interest in all aspects of musical tradition.