Roy Heaton Smith (1928-2014) studied composition with Richard Hall and piano with Noel Walton (brother of Sir William). He won a Royal Philharmonic Prize while still a student and a scholarship from the Royal Academy. He wrote a great deal of music in many forms, early works being published by Novello, Schott and others. He devoted himself to teaching and did not publish his later work. His music is difficult to define as it embodies modernism cautiously and remains also essentially lyrical – his poem settings are perfect renditions of the texts and his chamber works worthy of a regular place in the repertoire.

This is the first album totally devoted to his music, ‘opening the door’ for a wide audience and also a fine tribute to a highly skilled and inspired composer who chose to live out of the limelight. Top British artists from around the composer’s home city of Manchester do full justice to this excellent anthology of recent British music.

Bonus track:
Divertimento for clarinet and strings
Stephen Waters (clarinet), BBC Northern Orchestra, Stanford Robinson (conductor)
Off-air recording, 1958