Customer Reviews

Rutter: Requiem

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This has to be one of the most moving musical pieces that I have ever had the privilege of performing. Rutter's music transcends mere notes. I believe that his music is blessed directly by God Himself. There has been no other choral composer like him in the 20th century. "Requiem" is another stunning piece of work in that it tells a story of life and death. Rutter's genius lies in the way he fashions the melody of the song with the words to give them full meaning. With the Catholic Latin text of the Requiem along with english text, Rutter fashions the view of life after death for the Christian and the hope of eternal life in Christ.

"Pie Jesu" and "The Lord is My Shepherd" are beautiful melodies and messages that give you peace and send shivers down your spine! "Sanctus" is incredible in it's tonal and melodic structure. "Agnus Dei" is gothic and dark in tone. All come together excellently to create a masterpiece. As a bonus, one of Rutter's other compositions "I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes" is included. Another example of Rutter's beautiful melodies wrapped around a wonderful Bible text. I can't recommend this recording enough!

After hearing a friend play this music in his office next to mine, I had to run out and buy a copy. It is so beautiful. At first I mistakenly bought a recording made by a different choir. It wasn't the same. I had to go back and get this one. The Cambridge Singers and the London Synphonia perform this work beautifully. The oboe in "The Lord is My Shepherd" is numinous. I'm entranced by it. It soothes my soul. This music is wonderful. I couldn't help but get more of John Rutter, but this one is still my favorite.

This recording of the Cambridge Singers has them recording pieces composed by their own director, John Rutter. Rutter's Requiem has become one his most widely-recorded pieces, with literally dozens of versions available internationally. This was recorded at one of the Cambridge Singers' favourite venues, the Great Hall of University College School, London, in 1986. Here they are joined by the City of London Sinfonia, and feature sopranos Caroline Ashton and Donna Deam.

--Music--
This Requiem was written in 1985. In Catholic liturgy, a requiem is a Mass for the Dead, and as such involves strong tones both of mourning and loss as well as elements of hope and eternal life as reflected in Christian belief. Rutter states that, like Brahms and Faure, there are elements that depart from the traditional lines of a Catholic requiem. Rutter takes some of the texts from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Both the first and second movements, Requiem aeternam and 'Out of the Deep', set very dark, low, sombre tones. The use of strings at the beginning of 'Out of the Deep' is very effective, together with funeral-dirge like vocals. This contrasts greatly with the Pie Jesu, light and spiritual. The Sanctus is almost playful in aspect, and the Agnus Dei and Lux aeterna draw the listener higher and higher into the fullness of expectation of God's presence.

In addition to the Requiem, Rutter's setting of Psalm 121 (I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills) is included here, as a setting for mixed choir and orchestra. It is a wonderful, full and melodious setting, with strong instrumentation and strong singing complementing each other.

--Liner Notes--
The notes include an introduction to the CD by Rutter very briefly the outline of a requiem. Lyrics are included, and where the original is in Latin, an English translation is provided. There is no information on 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 truly beautiful work.

Rutter's Requiem is one of the most movingly beautiful works in the modern canon of sacred music. I have conducted, sung and listened to this music numerous times, and it always sends chills down my spine. The Cambridge Singers render Rutter's compositions flawlessly. It does not get better than this.

Rutter will join the ranks of composers whose names endure. Having the privilege of performing this work under the conduction of Mr. Rutter himself (though certainly not this recording of it!), hidden among the chorus though I was, I can say that it was an experience of a lifetime. I can also say that you will surely find listening to this recording a similarly moving experience regardless of your religious affiliation.

This CD gives us a perfect example of how inspirational, spiritual and awfully wonderful music can be. It warms the soul and guides us with soaring melodies and rich harmonies. Having sung this piece before one would say I am somewhat biased, but on the contrary. Usually recordings of works I have performed leave me feeling like something is missing, but not this recording of Rutter's Requiem. Having listened to this recording I am still entranced with not only the work itself, but also at the mastery with which all performers engage it and always leave me having felt like I have learned something more. A marvelous work splendidly performed.

I am a real Rutter fan. I love both his music and his conducting. But my love for his Requiem is a deep love that I will not be able to fully express. While Rutter is very good at writing catchy little tunes, his Requiem goes way beyond being merely interesting. It is a piece overflowing with wonderful soul. It deals with the tragedy of death, but it never loses that essential ingredient - hope. The opening movement, Requiem Aeternam, contains a marvelous melody that leaves me fighting the tears every time I hear it. It is incredibly sad and moving, but never despairing. The following movement is entitled "Out of the deep". With an amazing solo cello, it full of raw sorrow. Pie Jesu is tremendously relaxed and soothing. With a soprano solo, this is without question the most famous movement from the entire Requiem. There is still a strong feeling of gravity, and there is still grief, but hope reigns predominant here. Then along comes "Sanctus". This is the only light-hearted movement in the work, and the one that it the most representative of the composer's more typical works. But in the following movement, Agnus Dei, we once again enter the world of grief and woe. The piece builds to a painful, almost excruciating climax, as if though the mourner was trying to come to grips with the stark reality of death. The following movement, The Lord is My Shepherd, could not be more of an effective contrast. It is incredibly peaceful and soothing, even more so then "Pie Jesu". With a marvelous oboe solo, it is almost unbearably touching. To close things up, we hear the "Lux Aterna". This is the most bittersweet movement of the whole work; there is a tremendous amount of sorrow, but also an equally tremendous amount of hope. Like all truly great Requiems, the work leaves the listener hanging, mourning yet full of hope.

I cannot possibly recommend this album highly enough. It is an intensely gripping work that is sure to leave the listener wiping away the tears.

Seriously. i did grow up with the cassette version as a child. My mom LOVED John Rutter's Requiem and even though i was 4 or 5 years old i loved it too. Everytime I'd want to hear it in the car or in the house i'd say "Mom, can we listen to the 'Jesus Music'?" (I had NO i dea what his name was until i was a little older) I haven't been able to find it on CD until now. It is TRULY exciting that a little treasure of my child hood is now easily accessible...and cheap too! ^_^ THANK YOU AMAZON.COM!

Christian theology has misrepresented the concept of God for close to 2000 years now. We have a God that has rules; requires obedience; and takes vengeance on people who fail to observe the rules. This is rubbish. This album is inspiring primarily because it is not garish; nor loud; nor obnoxious. It conveys to the listener a quite strength. It says that God is there; holding your hand and will never abandon you. It is too bad that the Church does not do the same.