Born in 1934, Bryan Kelly has been an exuberant presence in British musical life for over five decades. He studied composition at the Royal College of Music in London with Gordon Jacob and Herbert Howells. Further study followed in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. He has written works in all the main Classical musical genres: symphony, concerto, opera, solo piano, as well as lighter orchestral music, works for brass band, and a notably a distinguished number of vocal works, including ‘Kelly in C’ of 1965 – a ground-breaking and uplifting setting of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, utilising Latin American rhythms. He writes in an approachable style, with an emphasis on strong melodic lines and rhythms, and demonstrates a consummate control of texture and colour.

This new recording (July 2023) features three works for choir. The first is a major cantata from 1981 for four soloists, choir, and orchestra, based on the life of St Francis of Assisi, written in collaboration with poet, John Fuller.

‘At the round earth’s imagin’d corners’ from 1977, commissioned by the Sheffield Bach Choir, is a  equence of six settings of intense religious texts from the 15th to 17th centuries for solo tenor, choir, and string orchestra.

‘For adoration’ is a more recent work, published in 2001, and is a set of five short anthems in contrasting styles for upper voices and organ.

Regent Recordings; 2023; play time: 65:57