George Butterworth (1885-1916) was perhaps the most gifted of those young composers who lost their lives in the Great War. Though Butterworth's output was small (he was notoriously self-critical, destroying many early manuscripts before enlisting in 1914), it is of exceedingly high quality and works such as the ineffably poignant 1911 orchestral rhapsody A Shropshire Lad and "On the Idle Hill of Summer" from Bredon Hill are mini-masterpieces by any standard, driving home afresh what a grievous loss to British music Butterworth's premature demise was. On this useful mid-priced Decca compilation, Benjamin Luxon and David Willison bring a wealth of character and insight to the two Housman song-cycles (Six Songs from A Shropshire Lad and Bredon Hill), while Marriner and his beautifully poised band give supremely sensitive performances of the three entrancing orchestral offerings. Very good sound throughout and a positive recommendation, though no collector should miss hearing Adrian Boult's treasurable mono recordings of both A Shropshire Lad and The Banks of Green Willow on a bargain Belart reissue. --Andrew Achenbach