John Rutter And The Cambridge Singers - A Double Celebration
STYLE: Choral RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 153153-22387 LABEL: Collegium 040888013709 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 2
Reviewed by Steven Whitehead
This generously priced double CD celebrates 30 years of John Rutter's house choir, the Cambridge Singers. The first disc has 30 selected tracks from classic Cambridge Singers recordings and the second CD features music composed or arranged by John Rutter over the past 30 years. The 55 tracks are taken from 20 different albums so only the most die-hard of Rutter collectors will have the full set but they will still want this collection to get the previously unreleased "Down By The Riverside", a sparkling arrangement of an old favourite. Both discs are divided between sacred and secular music, with disc one also featuring six Christmas pieces. 'The Cambridge Singers: 30 Tracks For 30 Years' is an introduction to the endless possibilities offered by choral music, taking us from Gregorian chant to the "In Paradisum" from Faure's Requiem and showcasing Rutter's ability as a choir director. "The Music Of John Rutter" lets us appreciate and enjoy his skill as composer and arranger. We get 16 sacred pieces including his popular "A Gaelic Blessing", "Lord, Make Me An Instrument Of Thy Peace" and "I Believe In Springtime" followed by nine secular arrangements including nursery rhymes ("Sing A Song Of Sixpence") and folk songs ("O Waly"). Rutter has a distinctive style which some find so sweet as to be sickly but many choral singers and their listeners have enjoyed his compositions and arrangements over many years and, as has so often been said, there is no need to change a successful formula. The introductory essay by Rutter in the CD booklet gives some background context to his formation of the Cambridge Singers which helps us to understand at least part of his style. To cut the story short, Rutter was Director of Music at Clare College, Cambridge, when female undergraduates were first admitted, meaning his choir could now include female sopranos rather than (or as well as) boy trebles which perhaps explains why his work tends to have a strong soprano line. However rather than over analysing the work of John Rutter we should listen to and enjoy this excellent retrospective compilation of one of the giants of contemporary British music.
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