John Rutter Anthems

Rutter sticks to what he can do and works hard to do it consummately well. His strengths begin with a natural gift for melody, as seen in The Lord bless you and keep you, a tune that has already become so familiar over 20 years that it comes as a surprise, if you didn't already know, that Rutter is the source. The simple structures of Rutter's work may verge on cliché, but clichés contain their element of truth, and the truth is that Rutter's pieces always work. There is no room here for more detailed analysis, but the craft of Rutter's contributions, in this volume as elsewhere, is unfailing . . . all the pieces in this volume, and almost all Rutter's choral output, is singable by choirs of moderate ability, or less . . . there is a warmth, inclusivity and affirmatory quality to the work that make it unusual for the late 20th century, virtues which perhaps particularly commend themselves to the Church over recent, far from easy times.

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