This disc includes chamber music by two composers, roughly contemporaries, both of whose compositional careers are marked by a substantial silence in middle age, but for very different reasons. In the case of John Veale (1922-2006), it was because he felt that the musical climate had become inimical to his style (Howard Ferguson and John Jeffreys were two other distinguished composers who gave up composing for similar reasons), whereas in the case of Robert Crawford (b1925) it was because the demands of his career as a busy BBC music producer in Glasgow took up all his time and energy.

All six works are completely accessible – and in fact are a delight. As far as can be checked, there are no other recordings of any of the works available at this time.

Linda Merrick has an international profile as a clarinet soloist, recording artist and clinician. Specialising in contemporary repertoire, she has been responsible for generating many new works for her instrument by British composers. Linda has broadcast as a solo artist for BBC Radio 3, and performed across America, Asia, Australia, the UAE, and throughout Europe. She is a founder member of the contemporary ensemble ‘Sounds Positive’, with whom she has premiered over 70 works by British composers and recorded for NMC. Linda is Vice-Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music.

John Turner is one of the leading recorder players of today. Born in Stockport, he was Senior Scholar in Law at Fitzwilliam College Cambridge before pursuing a legal career, acting for many distinguished musicians and musical organisations, alongside his many musical activities. These included numerous appearances and recordings with David Munrow's Early Music Consort of London, the Academy of Ancient Music, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields and the English Baroque Soloists. In all, he has given the first performances of over 500 works for the recorder. Many of the works he has premiered have now entered the standard repertoire, and these and his own recorder compositions are regularly set for festivals and examinations.

The Adderbury Ensemble was formed in 1986 by a number of Britain’s finest young musicians and has grown from concerts organised in the beautiful village of Adderbury in North Oxfordshire. The Ensemble has helped to establish the now famous Oxford Coffee Concerts and the Music in Adderbury series. It also has a regular summer series of its own in the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford.