Judith Weir, CBE, composer and, Master of the Queen's Music, writes: "Ed Hughes' refreshing, cultured, lovingly patterned music is built around a thoroughly contemporary theme; our present-day contemplation of landscape, and how we give it the attention and respect it deserves. Via music, the composer suggests, which works like the weather on a hilly walk in the South Downs. Our perceptions constantly change and re-energise as we encounter familiar objects while colors, shadings and vegetation are in a constant flow of development. The same can be certainly said of all the works in this rich collection, which surge forward with textural warmth and harmonic continuity." Ed Hughes' music has been recognized for it's outstanding craft and originality; operas, silent film, chamber, orchestral and piano works have been premiered around the world and recorded for Métier with commissions from Mahogany Opera Group, Brighton Festival, Glyndebourne, London Sinfonietta, I Faglioni and other leading ensembles. The South Downs is a range of chalk hills extending about 260 square miles across the South East of England. Ed Hughes's music has special qualities which, like the area that inspired it, have universal appeal.