Rutter: For the beauty of the earth

No composer alive today more completely embodies the Anglo-Saxon choral tradition than John Rutter, whose compositions and arrangements have enjoyed endless success around the world.

These illuminating performances are licenced from John Rutter’s own Collegium label, taken from albums many of which have sold in six-figure numbers over the years. The performances can hardly be bettered, directed by John Rutter with his hand-picked choir, recorded in the iridescent acoustic of the Chapter House in Ely Cathedral.

John Rutter is probably the world's favourite choral composer, and over the course of his long career has created some of the most popular and often performed pieces for vocal ensemble.

All 22 tracks on this collection performed by The Cambridge Singers, the choir which Rutter founded back in 1981, the tracks range from the joyous "Shepherd's pipe carol" of 1966 to the 1995 setting of Philip Sidney's poem "My true love hath my hear" from Birthday Madrigals.

The disc opens with one of Rutter's best-known works, the timeless "For the beauty of the earth" and also includes his settings of Psalm 23 and "All things bright and beautiful"--popular with choirs and audiences alike--as well as two movements each from his Magnificat and Requiem. Most tracks are accompanied by the City of London Orchestra, breathing new life into works which are often heard only with piano accompaniment.

The perfect gift for Christmas!

While children’s voices have been heard in church music for centuries, music specifically composed for young choristers is a relatively recent, and most welcome, development.

As the attractive and diverse music by the fourteen composers represented on this delightful recording shows, children’s choirs now have a wealth of outstanding repertoire to delight, challenge and initiate them into the world of music.

The Grammy award-winning New London Children’s Choir, founded by Ron Corp in 1991, has been described by the Financial Times as “excellent” and by The Independent as “terrific.”

They have performed in the UK, Europe and North America to critical acclaim and boast an impressive discography, including two recordings of music by Britten for Naxos (8553183 and 8557203).