Name: John Rutter Christmas Album by Cambridge Singers
Brand: Cambridge Singers
SKU: 040888051022
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 3 (161 reviews)

ALBUM

No living composer is more closely associated with the Christmas season than John Rutter, whose piece Shepherd's Pipe Carol, first placed him on the map of Yule some 35 or so Christmases ago. Rutter is the primary artistic force behind Collegium Records, which in 2002 made a trip to the vaults and culled together The John Rutter Christmas Album. It is the eighth collection of Christmas music with Rutter issued by Collegium, and before you cry "Noël oversaturation!" it is good to know three things about it. Firstly, it is mostly compiled from the Collegium Christmas Day in the Morning and Christmas with the Cambridge Singers, both titles that are no longer available on CD. Secondly, The John Rutter Christmas Album consists entirely of Rutter's own Yuletide-centric original compositions and arrangements. Finally, there are two brand new recordings on this CD.
Stand out tracks here are Wexford Carol, Nativity Carol, What Sweeter Music, and the newly recorded selections Dormi Jesu and Love Came Down at Christmas. One is a little surprised that Collegium did not take advantage of the occasion to re-record some selections that didn't turn out quite so well the first time, particularly Jesus Child and I Saw Three Ships, both of which suffer from ragged coordination, or the lack of it, between choir and orchestra. The John Rutter Christmas Album could be better sequenced than it is; heard beginning to end, it bogs down somewhat at about the beginning of the last third. Nevertheless, Rutter's contribution to Christmas music is unique, and this is a nice survey of it, with only one other collection of its kind available, namely Polyphony's John Rutter: Music for Christmas on Hyperion. So get out the Yule log, the Wassail bowl, and do consider inviting Rutter to your Christmas feast. The dish he brings with The John Rutter Christmas Album is a tasty one indeed.

1. Wexford Carol (arr. J. Rutter): Wexford Carol

by Stephen Varcoe

Primary Artist: Stephen Varcoe
The Cambridge Singers; Main Performer
Choir/chorus: Cambridge Singers; Ensemble
Composer: John Rutter
Traditional; Composer
Lyricist: Anonymous; Composer
Conductor: John Rutter; Conductor
Artist: Stephen Varcoe; Production

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John Rutter Christmas Album

Product information

Release options

1. Wexford Carol (arr. J. Rutter): Wexford Carol

2. Jesus Child (version for choir and orchestra): Jesus child

3. There Is a Flower - There is a flower

4. Donkey Carol (version for choir and orchestra): Donkey carol

5. Wild wood carol

6. Angels' Carol (Live): Angels' carol

7. Nativity Carol - Nativity carol

8. Mary's lullaby

9. Star Carol (version for choir and piano): Star carol

10. Candlelight Carol

11. Shepherd's Pipe Carol (Live) - Shepherd's Pipe Carol

12. Christmas lullaby

13. Dormi, Jesu

14. Love came down at Christmas

15. Sans Day Carol (arr. J. Rutter for choir and orchestra): Sans Day carol

16. I wonder as I wander (arr. J. Rutter) - I wonder as I wander

17. What Sweeter Music - What sweeter music

18. Joy to the World (arr. J. Rutter for choir and organ): Joy to the world

19. I saw 3 ships (arr. J. Rutter): I saw three ships

20. Deck the hall

21. The Very Best Time of Year - The very best time of year

22. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (arr. J. Rutter) - We wish you a merry Christmas

23. Silent Night: Silent Night (Stille Nacht)

Technical Specifications