The Splendid Sounds Of John Rutter

The British choral composer, John Rutter, celebrates his 76th birthday today. He is deeply appreciated in the U.S. and Britain for his many choral and other compositions, his work as a conductor and arranger. and as the founder of The Cambridge Singers and their recording company, Collegium Records. 

Some classical music critics, mostly in Great Britain, find his compositions to be a bit simple, repetitive, and stylistically confused. Others place him at the top among 20th century composers and more than a few journalists and critics have no issue claiming he owns the music of Christmas. I have to side with the latter appraisals. The melodies are generally simple, the harmonies beautiful, and the style affords a perfect balance of music and message. Furthermore, choirs of all sizes and skill levels perform his work to appreciative audiences everywhere. If popularity is any indicator, John Rutter's music will be enjoyed for a long, long time.

Here are two brief videos of Rutter discussing his work. The first one focuses on music for royal occasions, specifically his anthem, This is the Day, written for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The second introduces a compact disc released in 2014 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of The Cambridge Singers.

In conclusion here are two of my favorite Rutter compositions. 

Splendid sounds indeed.