Editorial Reviews

John Rutter has selected some of his favorite church anthems from previous releases of his music to put together the collection Be Thou My Vision. Most of these have full orchestral accompaniment, as Rutter prefers these versions over those with just organ, but there are also a few a cappella anthems thrown in as well, which sound just as lush and graceful as the orchestral ones. The brief, a cappella "God be in my head" uses a sixteenth century text and hints at the music used in churches from the same period. It is Rutter's smooth and rich, yet not complex, writing that has made his music popular with audiences and amateur performers alike. Of course, this recording features his own Cambridge Singers, with the City of London Sinfonia, all under his baton and sounding highly polished. The lack of pretense or condescension in his music is also appealing. Some of the texts he uses could have much more grandiose settings, and have had by other English composers, but Rutter always goes for a more simple elegance, usually with a serene calmness, also. "O clap your hands" and "For the beauty of the earth" use jazzy rhythms to give them a little more energy than the other works here. The compilation contains many of his more popular anthems, such as "A Gaelic Blessing," "All things bright and beautiful," and "I will life up mine eyes" from his "Requiem." It's a fine sampling of his non-Christmas church music. Patsy Morita, All Music Guide

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