BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
John RUTTER (b.1945)
The Original Carols from Clare
CD 1
Shepherd's Pipe Carol (1967) [2:57]
Infant Holy, infant lowly [3:15]
Once in Royal David's City [4:01]
Quem Pastores Laudavere [2:25]
Rocking [3:52]
A nativity carol [4:10]
Eight Christmas Carols: Set 1 [10:32]
Eight Christmas Carols: Set 2 [12:33]
CD 2
O Little Town of Bethlehem [3:43]
Flemish Carol [1:30]
Twelve Christmas Carols: Set 1 [20:08]
Twelve Christmas Carols: Set 2 [18:59]
Simon Vaughan (baritone), Jeremy Blandford (organ)
Clare College Singers and Orchestra/John Rutter
rec. 9-10 November 1966, 31 January-1 February 1968, Lady Chapel, Ely Cathedral,
ADD
EMI CLASSICS 946947 2 [43:48 + 44:26] 
I discovered John Rutter’s music with a performance of his first major work
for chorus and orchestra – The Falcon (1969). If I remember correctly,
he wrote this as his degree exercise and David Willcocks, as he was then,
conducted the première in Cambridge and, a few days later, brought it to the
Bradford Choral Society, of which he was the chief conductor, and gave it
in St George’s Hall in Bradford. It is available on Collegium COLCD 114, where
it is conducted by the composer, and is coupled with the Two Festival Anthems
and the Magnificat. Rutter hasn’t looked back since then. He worked
on OUP’s highly successful publications Carols for Choirs, and has
written some of the most attractive and enjoyable choral music of the post-war
period. I have been a fan since that first encounter with his work and therefore
I am more than pleased to see this music, in these performances, back in the
catalogue.
Rutter appeared at exactly the right time for church music. In the early 1960s
it had fallen into the doldrums, with Trendy Revs, accompanied by the Happy–Clappy
brigade, thinking to update music, and by default bring young people into
the Church, employed local guitarists, with their friend, the drummer, to
create a more contemporary sound in the Services. It was a mistake, yet examples
of it can still be seen on BBC TV’s weekly programme Songs of Praise when
we can all cringe in embarrassment at the naiveté of it all. What Rutter achieved
was to marry a popular voice, with an obvious enthusiasm and charm and create
music which is both attractive and devotional. Oddly, although Rutter has
written anthems, masses, a requiem and much else, he’s never written a set
of Canticles for the Evensong service. I do hope that, at some point,
he will fill this gap for a Magnificat and Nunc dimittis from him would
be a major addition to the repertoire.
These two disks contain 28 carols, some original, many arrangements of old
favourites, clothed in Rutter’s distinctive orchestral style, in performances
which simply effervesce with enthusiasm. Considering that these recordings
are over 40 years old, the sound is astonishingly good, bright and clear.
The notes, by Rutter himself, are a lesson in saying everything you have to
say clearly and succinctly. In short, these disks are a joy. You don’t have
to ration yourself to listening to them purely at Christmas, the music is
too good to be kept for one time of the year. Enjoy them all the year round.
I shall.
Bob Briggs
These disks are a joy.