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A powerful and moving setting, written for the annual St Cecilia’s Day sung by the joint choirs of Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and St Paul’s Cathedral, and premiered in Westminster Abbey in November 1998.
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I will sing with the spirit (upper voices)
A joyful anthem with an attractive melody and lilting accompaniment. Words are from Corinthians 1:14.
(A version for SATB and organ is also available.)
Full scores and parts for the orchestral accompaniment are available to hire at the OUP link below.
Orchestration: 2 fl, ob, 2 cl, 2 bn (II opt), 2 hn, str
A Clare Benediction (SATB)
An easy anthem with words and music by John Rutter. There are six different versions of the vocal parts – unison (or two-part) with keyboard, upper voices with keyboard, SA and Men with piano, SATB unaccompanied or with keyboard, high voice and piano, low voice and piano The piece is also included in The John Rutter Piano Album, for solo piano, or separately, here.
Orchestration: 2.1.2.1-2.0.0.0-hp-str
An orchestral accompaniment compatible with the SATB version, SA/Men version, and the unison version (although the orchestral parts are a semitone higher for the latter two) is available to hire/rent at the OUP link below. Also available in John Rutter Anthems.
O waly, waly
This beautiful and much-loved Somerset folk-song is No. 2 of Five Traditional Songs arranged for mixed choir by John Rutter. The enduring appeal of the song lies in the beauty of its melody, coupled to a text on a universal theme expressed in touchingly simple metaphoric and poetic language. Also available in a version for TTBB.
Give the king thy judgements, O God
The second of two Rutter anthems celebrating the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, Give the king thy judgements, O God is a ceremonial work that draws upon the Book of Psalms alongside text written by the composer to create a suitably festive piece. Although the prevailing mood is jubilant, the closing pages provide a prayerful moment as Orlando Gibbon’s gentle hymn tune ‘Song 1’ is interpolated to great effect. This anthem is featured on Rutter’s highly-acclaimed CD The Gift of Life.
A trumpet in C part is included in the vocal score, and a B flat trumpet part is available separately from OUP
Orchestration: 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 bn, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, tba, timp, perc, glock, hp, str
Good ale
John Rutter’s rousing drinking song Good ale, which was originally published as part of his cycle of six choral settings with small orchestra When icicles hang, is full of spirit and character.
An accompaniment for orchestra is available to hire/rent at the OUP link below.
Orchestration: 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, bn, 2 hn, 2 tpt, 2 perc [glock, xylo, sn-dr, sus-cym, cym], hp, str
Visions
Visions is a four-movement showpiece for solo violin in unique combination with upper-voice choir, harp, and strings (or organ). Inspired by the idea of ‘Jerusalem’ both as a Holy City and a utopian ideal of heavenly peace, the composer has selected four biblical texts, in English and Latin, that express different aspects of this vision. The profound subject matter is taken up in the celestial soundworld of the choir and the virtuosic, vibrant, and expressive writing for violin, set against rich textures in the strings and harp. The work may be performed by women’s or boys’ voices.
Processional and prelude: Jerusalem the blessed
Arise, shine
Lament for Jerusalem
Finale: The holy city
Orchestration: solo vln, hp, org or str
Communion Service – ASB Rite A/RC ICEL text
A congregational setting for use at an Anglican Communion service
The very best time of year (SATTBB)
With a text by John Rutter, this secular carol is a true celebration of all that we love about the festive season.
Owain Park’s arrangement presents a new take on this Christmas classic, drawing on Rutter’s evocative orchestral colours to create this characterful and heart-warming arrangement for a cappella voices. This arrangement of The Very Best Time of Year has been recorded by The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, conducted by Stephen Layton, on the album Yulefest! (Hyperion, CDA68087).
Also available in an SATB version by John Rutter
John Rutter Anthems for SA&Men
This collection of nine of John Rutter’s finest and most popular anthems, scored for SA Men, has been carefully compiled to be both accessible to a wide range of choirs and appropriate to the needs of today’s liturgy. With the inclusion of so many ‘classics’ covering a variety of texts and styles, this anthology is ideal for working church choirs requiring flexible options.
A Clare Benediction
A Gaelic Blessing
God be in my head
All things bright and beautiful
For the beauty of the earth
Look at the world
Open thou mine eyes
The gift of each day
The Lord bless you and keep you
Also available in a version for SATB