In the 1960s few would have predicted that Sir Peter Maxwell Davies would eventually write a set of Evening Canticles. Yet religious texts have always been of fundamental importance to the composer, as this disc vividly demonstrates by bringing together sacred masterworks from both ends of his career. Tough, uncompromising, and of surpassing beauty, these major contributions to the Anglican repertoire are given thrilling voice by those fearless champions of contemporary liturgical music, Matthew Owens and the Choir of St Mary s Cathedral, Edinburgh.