‘If ever music suited an organ and performer this does. Perceptive, deeply-felt and immaculate performances as you will ever hear, in a crystal clear recording’ (Organists' Review)

‘Trinity finds the heart of this work and gives a strong, committed reading’ (International Record Review)

‘This is a fine progamme for Howells fans … Layton elicits a gentleness of tone from sopranos which casts such muscular writing as found in Take him, earth, for cherishing in a new, mature light’ (Choir & Organ)

‘Serenely beautiful … Layton's performances have exactly the poise and careful moulding that this rather fragile, deeply felt music needs’ (The Guardian)

‘A glorious celebration of Howells' sacred output, creating a highly sympathetic musical picture of a composer deeply affected by death (three of the works on this disc are linked in some way to his son), but also capable of much joy. Gorgeously sung throughout, this is repertoire perfectly suited to Trinity Choir's pure, chorister-like sound’ (bbc.co.uk)

‘Howells's two Services for Gloucester and St Paul's Cathedrals magnificently exploit ecclesiastical acoustics while bringing to the canticle text a fluid lyrical gift, an imaginative harmonic spectrum and a sense of occasion … Trinity College Cambridge brings clarity of words and superb singing’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘The tonal blend drawn from the choir by conductor Stephen Layton, suffused by the acoustic of the Lady Chapel in Ely Cathedral, is glowing … in tutti sections, the clear, youthful timbre of the Trinity choir … intensifies the sense of loss that permeates Howells's composition. It's as though a sad tale is rendered somehow sadder when recited by the voice of fresh, untarnished innocence … a superb one-stop introduction to Howells's choral music’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge is ideally pure and full in tone. The grand hymns and canticles are extroverted and focused, the intimate supplications such as Take him, earth sung with great poise … in a recital of many highlights, I have returned again and again to the St Paul's Nunc dimittis: spaciously paced and … directed towards a ritardando of almighty breadth … this is a perfect disc of its kind’ (Gramophone)

‘The Corydon Singers are superb in this music … truly exquisite and subtle; this is wonderful choral singing in every way’ (American Record Guide)

‘A very recommendable issue indeed, which will give the most lasting satisfaction’ (Music and Musicians)

‘These are uniformly excellent performances and the recording quality is detailed yet superbly spacious. It's the first release from a renewed relationship between Winchester and Hyperion and, although I will hope for more rare Howells, I look forward to whatever else is on the cards. I highly commend this disc’ (International Record Review)

‘The performances of Winchester Cathedral Choir are so good you hardly register the need to 'assess' them—exactly as it should be in devotional music. That's a huge tribute to the state of the singing at the cathedral, and to Andrew Lumsden, who directs it. A marvellous CD, beautifully planned and executed’ (BBC Music Magazine)