I decided at Christmas that we should have a Howellsfest. Herbert Howells towers above everyone in 20th Century English Church Music, but I was worried that a service, the recital and the recording might just be too much for everyone, but my fears were ungrounded. We started with a broadcast in which all except the hymn was by Howells, using in particular his "Dallas" Canticles, and then gave a recital in the wonderful and unusual Douai Abbey. For that I chose a programme of music by Howells together with those who had influenced him, and one composer, Paul Spicer, who was influenced by him.

We had rather too different a choir for the recordings, but it turned out well, and we were helped in this by the excellent producing of Adrian Peacock, who always had interesting and pertinent things to say about our singing, but made all his points with humour. The recording days were most enjoyable, particularly when St John's Upper Norwood warmed up a bit, and I am confident that we have an excellent disc to deliver to Signum.