Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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One of the most extraordinarily popular and successful British composers of his generation, John Rutter’s choral works, anthems, hymns and carols are beloved the world over for their distinctive mix of French choral, English pastoral, and American popular influences.
John Rutter has enjoyed a long career at the pinnacle of the English choral world, from his appearance as a chorister in the 1963 recording of Britten’s War Requiem conducted by the composer, through his time at Cambridge and his numerous prestigious appointments and accomplishments up to the present day.
As he enjoys his 80th birthday year, Rutter is rightly considered a national treasure, and his publishers OUP Music are celebrating with a fresh compilation of his two recent solo piano albums in one superb book of 16 pieces, as well as the publication of his piano concerto, Reflections.
The Complete John Rutter Piano Album brings together his transcriptions first published as Piano Collection: A Flower Remembered in 2020, along with those that make up the subsequent John Rutter Christmas Piano Album.
For fans of his music, the Complete John Rutter Piano Album is an obvious and more cost-effective choice, so the review that follows draws from and replaces my earlier reviews of the initial, separate publications.
A Flower Remembered
When Rutter’s first piano album appeared, along with a recording by pianist Wayne Marshall, I hailed it as one to cherish. The eight pieces included were:
- A Clare Benediction
- A flower remembered
- A Gaelic blessing
- All things bright and beautiful
- Be thou my vision
- For the beauty of the earth
- Lord, make me an instrument of thy pieace
- The Lord bless you and keep you
Rutter’s skilful transcriptions strike a perfect balance between idiomatic piano writing and faithfully reproducing the musical essence of his original full-scale compositions, bathed as they so often are in lush harmonic beauty and chromaticism.
The John Rutter Piano Album is music that deeply enriches both player and listener, and I have enjoyed returning to the score to play these pieces again. In this short clip, the composer introduces us to the album:
Difficulty wise, though billed by the publisher as ‘early intermediate’ (which usually signifies around UK Grade 3-4 level), the pieces have a full texture that encompasses large chords, cantabile octave playing, and contrapuntal inner voices. As such, these transcriptions requires the piano technique and deft pedalling of a more advanced player (I would suggest Grades 6-8).
The Christmas Album
Having produced such sumptuous and elevating transcriptions of eight non-seasonal songs, it was a huge joy when the composer followed it up with a festive sequel.
For many around the world, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without the many choral music Rutter has contributed to the repertoire over his long, distinguished composing career.
Indeed, I remember my own days singing The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol as a young treble chorister, and being smitten with its catchy tune. Of course in the decades since, many more seasonal classics have been added to Rutter’s catalogue, in addition to his best-selling Christmas choral albums.
From this extraordinary archive, Rutter selected the following eight favourites for his Christmas Piano Album:
- A Child’s Lullaby (2020)
- Angels’ Carol (1988)
- Candlelight Carol (1985)
- Nativity Carol (1967)
- The Colours of Christmas (2011)
- The Very Best Time of Year (1985)
- What Sweeter Music (1988)
- Mary’s Lullaby (1979), and Epilogue
When the album appeared, I concluded that,
“Fans of Rutter’s music will of course need no persuasion to grab a copy of this new release, but for any early advanced player and beyond who enjoys Christmas music, this now joins a select few publications on the essential ‘must-have’ list.”
It’s an assessment I still hold to, and once again, Rutter’s skill in creating artistically satisfying and sensitively pianistic versions of his choral classics is beyond any doubt.
Perhaps even more overtly, he retains the voicing of his choral originals, the melody frequently appearing in the tenor range, a device Rutter employs regularly in his choral writing. This contributes to the more sonorous quality that many of these arrangements have, lending them even greater warmth.
As before, the writing is suitable for early advanced players (around UK Grades 6-8), calling upon a wide range, control of inner voices and counterpoint, and a fully-formed pedalling technique.
Special mention must be made of Mary’s Lullaby, the eighth and final transcription in the album, not only because I enjoyed it the most of them all, but also because Rutter has added an Epilogue which pays tribute to “the memory of my friend George Shearing, who liked this carol.”
That he so convincingly and eloquently emulates Shearing’s highly chromatic jazz stylings is a telling reminder of Rutter’s musical versatility, and a poignant tribute to one of this country’s great jazz pianists.
The Complete Edition
The celebratory compendium of all 16 pieces appears as a 60-page volume, and is beautifully presented in OUP Music’s house style, with a tasteful and appealing cover image. The book has staples for binding, and is printed on quality off-white paper.
Aside from the title, credits, and contents pages, there is no additional introduction or preface from the composer. A career overview and tribute would perhaps have made an appropriate addition.
The notation is a good size and clearly engraved. No fingering suggestions are offered, but some pedalling marks are indicated. Rutter’s expression marks are all faithfully present, but this music is so intimately absorbing that I suspect many players will be led by their own artistic engagement with these generous and gorgeous transcriptions.
As a bonus the score also includes the words to the choral originals. This will not only be welcomed by those who wish to sing along, but useful for underpinning the meaning, context, and expressive content of the pieces.
Reflections
OUP Music’s celebration of John Rutter’s 80th year continue with their publication of his new Piano Concerto, which is now available either as a Study Score, or as a performance Piano Score.
Billed as “a joyous and colourful piano concerto”, Reflections for Piano and Orchestra is a plush four-movement work that variously channels Vaughan Williams, Ravel, Gershwin, while distinctively retaining Rutter’s unique voice.
The four movements are titled Prelude, Toccata, Interlude, and Finale alla burlesca. The work has been recorded (on the Decca label) by the pianist Stephen Osborne and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the composer, and here’s the first two movements:
You can listen to the whole of this highly enjoyable concerto on the streaming service of your choice. It certainly speaks to Rutter’s consummate artistry, and I have no doubt audiences will warm to it.
For a copy of the score in either format:
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