Customer Reviews

John Rutter: Te Deum and Other Church Music

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have had this CD for 5 years and it is one of my all-time favorites. It is an excellent piece of work all round. If you love John Rutter's earlier album "Gloria--The Sacred Music of John Rutter", you will like this too. Both are similar in their presentation of songs, from the glorious anthems to the more tranquil compositions. My personal favorites on this album are "I Believe In Springtime", "Be Thou My Vision" and "As The Bridegroom To His Chosen". "I Believe In Springtime" is a wonderful celebration of life and is truly joyful and uplifting, very much like "For The Beauty Of The Earth" and "All Things Bright And Beautiful" on Rutter's earlier "Gloria" album. "Be Thou My Vision" and "As The Bridegroom To His Chosen" are just as lovely, in the same way that "A Gaelic Blessing" and "The Lord Bless You And Keep You" were so moving on "Gloria". Rutter's version of "Be Thou My Vision" is truly the most beautiful and soul-stirring I've ever heard. "As The Bridegroom To His Chosen" is also wonderful, so pure and sweet. The rest of the songs on this album are also enjoyable and brilliantly performed. This CD is a treasure!

Rutter's Te Deum collection offers exactly what his fans love most about him. This collection offers a set energetic and well orchestrated traditional church hymns with a set of more gentle ballad-like songs that bring Rutter fans to their knees. 'Be thou my vision', 'I believe in springtime' and 'As a bridegroom to his chosen' are three gentle songs full of emotion and meaning that I found especially moving. For fans of John Rutter's work and those who enjoy sacred choral music, this is a must for your collection.

I've had this CD for a few years now, and it still hasn't ceased to uplift me. "Be Thou My Vision" is my favorite track, and Rutter has beautifully made full use of his artistic arrangment skills to refresh this classic hymn.

This recording of the Cambridge Singers has them recording pieces composed by their own director, John Rutter. The 'Te Deum' is Rutter's version of a standard piece of liturgical music, representing classic influences ancient and modern, typical of Rutter's compositional style. This was recorded at in 1990 at the Henry Wood Hall in London, with the City of London Sinfonia and organist John Scott collaborating.

--Music--

'The Te Deum' is a piece that is standard for liturgy in Catholic and Anglican services. It is a song of praise, and here is it bright and powerful. 'Be Thou My Vision' is an Irish folk hymn, gentle and graceful, but Rutter has added something quite new to the rendition with his arrangement. The initial flourishes and fanfare for the standard piece 'All Creatures of Our God and King' lead to a triumphant song experience. 'The Lord is My Light and My Salvation' is once again a meditative and gentle moving piece, with good spirit.

The songs here are familiar for the most part, but Rutter's arrangements and compositions make this a thoroughly new experience in many ways.

--Liner Notes--

The notes include an introduction to the CD by Rutter describing some of the influences and expressions in his composition. Lyrics are included, all of which are in English on this collection. There is no listing of the performers of the Cambridge Singers, no description of the group, nor biographical information about John Rutter.

--John Rutter--

Rutter was born in London and educated at Clare College, Cambridge. This was where his career as a composer, arranger and conductor began. His early work was with groups at King's College Chapel at Cambridge as well as the Bath Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra. He has worked for the BBC providing music for educational series such as 'The Archaeology of the Bible Lands', until in 1979 he began forming the Cambridge Singers, and has continued a remarkable career of performance and recording as their director ever since.

--The Cambridge Singers--

The Cambridge Singers are a mixed choir of voices, many of whom were members of choir of Rutter's college, Clare College, Cambridge. While they specialise in English and Latin liturgical pieces, they have a wide range of recordings that span from modern compositions (including a remarkable requiem by Rutter) to English folk songs of the Middle Ages. Many are former members of the choir of Clare College and other Cambridge collegiate choirs (hence the name, Cambridge Singers). In the quarter-century since the founding, the Cambridge Singers have produced an impressive body of recordings.

This is a wonderful collection.

I have wanted this album for several years and have finally found it and purchased it. I have listened to it dozens of times since I received it, and love it! I hesitated to buy it because it is more expensive than most music CD's, but it is worth it.

Although this product was not for myself I did listen to it and found it very relaxing, then I passed it on to my freind, who so far has listen to it at least three times.

Its the best preasant he has had in his music collection.

Outstanding music and outstanding recording quality. This is a must for all who like the choral music of Rutter, a musical treat from the time you que up the disc.

Of the 5 Cambridge Singers recordings in my possession, this is my favorite. I absolutely love "Be thou my vision," and find the title track inspiring each time I listen to it. This is a CD that will not disappoint!

What better version of the Rutter "Te Deum" than the composer and his group? This CD does not disappoint. Highly recommended!

This CD is amazing and definitely worth purchasing. I have performed two of the pieces in this collection ("As the Bridegroom..." and "Be Thou My Vision") in choral work but was first introduced to the actual CD this summer. Once you hear Rutter's version of "Be Thou My Vision" you will never be able to hear the title again without thinking of this beautiful version. The music is so uplifting to the spirit and is a joy to listen to.