In the 1960s few would have predicted that Sir Peter Maxwell Davies would eventually write a set of Evening Canticles; yet religious texts have always been of fundamental importance to the composer as this disc vividly demonstrates by bringing together sacred masterworks from both ends of his career. Tough, uncompromising and of surpassing beauty, these major contributions to the Anglican repertoire are given thrilling voice by those fearless champions of contemporary liturgical music, Matthew Owens and the Choir of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh.

 'The Master of the Queen's Music would not find many more sympathetic advocates of his compositions in all Her Majesty's Realm.' - Organists' Review, February 2007

The Choir of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, has been described by The Sunday Times as 'one of the UK's finest cathedral choirs'. It is unique in Scotland, in maintaining a daily choral tradition and singing over 250 services every year. The choristers are educated at St Mary's Music School, which acts as the choir school for the cathedral, again unique in Scotland. St Mary's Cathedral became the first in the UK to offer girls scholarships to sing with the boys as trebles in 1978. The lay clerks of the choir consist of undergraduate choral scholars reading a diverse range of subjects at Edinburgh University and more experienced singers.