Album

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, Rovi

CD 1
John Rutter Composer Be Thou My Vision Work Recorded 1989 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
1	Be Thou My Vision	4:18			$0.99
John Rutter Composer Open Thou Mine Eyes Work Recorded 1983 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor
2	Open Thou Mine Eyes	2:37			$0.99
John Rutter Composer I Will Sing with the Spirit Work Recorded 2002 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
3	I Will Sing with the Spirit	3:02			$0.99
John Rutter Composer A Gaelic Blessing 'Deep Peace' Work Recorded 1983 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
4	A Gaelic Blessing 'Deep Peace'	1:48			$0.99
John Rutter Composer Wings of the Morning Work Recorded 2002 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
5	Wings of the Morning	5:40			$0.99
John Rutter Composer O Be Joyful in the Lord Work Recorded 1989 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
6	O Be Joyful in the Lord	3:17			$0.99
John Rutter Composer All Things Bright and Beautiful Work Recorded 1983 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
7	All Things Bright and Beautiful	2:43			$0.99
John Rutter Composer I will lift up mine yyes Work Recorded 1986 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
8	I will lift up mine yyes	7:10			$1.49
John Rutter Composer As the Bridegroom To His Chosen Work Recorded 1989 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
9	As the Bridegroom To His Chosen	3:22			$0.99
John Rutter Composer A Prayer of St. Patrick Work Recorded 1983 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor
10	A Prayer of St. Patrick	1:30			$0.99
John Rutter Composer Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep Work Recorded 1990 Caroline Ashton Soprano, Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor
11	Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep	3:20			$0.99
John Rutter Composer Look at the World Work Recorded 2002 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
12	Look at the World	4:33			$0.99
John Rutter Composer O Clap Your Hands Work Recorded 1983 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
13	O Clap Your Hands	3:12			$0.99
John Rutter Composer The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation Work Recorded 1989 David Rix Clarinet, Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
14	The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation	7:14			$1.49
John Rutter Composer Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace Work Recorded 1989 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
15	Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace	2:55			$0.99
John Rutter Composer I Believe in Springtime Work Recorded 1989 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
16	I Believe in Springtime	3:02			$0.99
John Rutter Composer God Be in My Head Work Recorded 1983 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, John Rutter Conductor
17	God Be in My Head	1:29			$0.99
John Rutter Composer A Clare Benediction Work Recorded 2002 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
18	A Clare Benediction	3:07			$0.99
John Rutter Composer For the Beauty of the Earth Work Recorded 1983 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
19	For the Beauty of the Earth	3:39			$0.99
John Rutter Composer Thy Perfect Love Work Recorded 1989 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
20	Thy Perfect Love	2:44			$0.99
John Rutter Composer The Lord Bless You and Keep You Work Recorded 1983 Cambridge Singers Chorus/Choir, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, John Rutter Conductor
21	The Lord Bless You and Keep You	2:39			$0.99