Child of Mary, softly sleeping sets a text that Timothy Dudley-Smith wrote for his 2008 Christmas card . . . It is a thoughtful and satisfying carol where words and music enhance each other.

Malcolm Archer was educated at King Edward VII School, Lytham, the Royal College of Music, and Jesus College, Cambridge, where he was organ scholar. He studied the organ with Ralph Downes, Gillian Weir, and Nicolas Kynaston, and composition with Herbert Sumsion and Alan Ridout. He is a prolific composer with well over 200 published works, which receive regular performances on BBC radio and TV. Archer was formerly Organist and Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral and is now Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College.