Bonnie Rupert

This recording made by the Royal Holloway Choir celebrates the music of Ben Parry. His compositions and arrangements include the popular Faber Carol Book and a burgeoning catalogue of choral music for Peters Edition and Oxford University Press.He has enjoyed commissions from, among others, St John’s College, Cambridge, The Cathedral Choral Society of Washington DC, VOCES8, the BBC Singers, Chelmsford, Ely, Norwich and Worcester cathedrals and his music has been heard at the BBC Proms and on the TV and radio.In this recording, he sets the words of poems by Garth Bardsley, who says of Ben’s work, “all of my poems stand alone but given the Parry treatment, I know that they take flight.”The Choir of Royal Holloway is considered to be one of the finest mixed-voice collegiate choirs in Britain. Their recordings on the Hyperion label have attracted top reviews from all major music publications.

“I tell you not to worry because I’ve done all the worrying for you!”

Prima facie are pleased to release a new collection of works by contemporary composers for recorder and strings. Performed by John Turner (recorder) and The Manchester Sinfonia, this collection of works includes the title work “Balmoral Suite” by Robin Stevens plus works by Peter Hope, John Golland, Anthony Hedges, Nicholas Marshall, Colin Hand, David Beck, Elis Pekhonen and Wilfred Heaton.

Grooving its way out of your hi-fi like a late night television ad with a mind of its own comes Billboard Top Hits: 1975-1979. A generous of mix of R&B and AM pop-charting singles, the set boasts three Elton John songs, two tracks from KC & the Sunshine Band, the aching disco of Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way," a few forgotten nuggets, and, of course, "Y.M.C.A." Because of their adherence to each year's charts, the five discs do have some continuity issues. But it's almost more fun that way. One second you're getting your groove on to Heatwave's "Boogie Nights," the next, you're screwing your face up to sing like Leo Sayer in "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing"." Rhino's Have a Nice Day and Disco Years series are more detailed in both hits and rarities. However, Billboard Top Hits benefits from its own brevity, and is as easy to enjoy than an old episode of Happy Days.