Ever since my musical life began, church music has played a significant and cherished part in it: first as a boy soprano in my school chapel choir, then as a teenage organist, much later as director of the chapel choir at Clare College, Cambridge, and most recently as conductor of the Cambridge Singers, whose recordings and recitals often include sacred music. Given this background, it is almost inevitable that among my compositions there should be a fair amount of church music, most of which has been written in response to commissions and invitations. All of the pieces heard on this recording were primarily intended for use in the context of a church service or festival, originally accompanied (with the exception of the two hymn arrangements with brass fanfares) just by organ or piano. However, I also scored the accompaniments for orchestra, and hope they may find use in this more colorful form. John Rutter

Songlist: Te Deum, Be thou my vision, I believe in springtime, Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace, O be joyful in the Lord, All creatures of our God and King, A choral fanfare, As the bridegroom to his chosen, Christ the Lord is risen again, Thy perfect love, The Lord is my light and my salvation, Go forth into the world in peace, Now thank we all our God

21 favorite Rutter anthems, taken from classic Cambridge recordings. The talented, prolific (29 excellent CDs in the Primarily A Cappella catalog) 33-strong, mixed-voice Cambridge Singers were founded by John Rutter after he gave up his position as Director of Music at Clare College, Cambridge in 1979, to allow himself more time for composition. Here are 21 of Rutter's finest Christian anthems, culled from the many fine recordings by the Singers. The title tune, "Open thou mine eyes," the lovely "Wings of the morning," the triumphant "O be joyful in the Lord," "All things bright and beautiful," "As the bridegroom to his chosen," the soaring "Loving Shepherd of thy sheep," "O clap your hands," "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace," "God be in my head," "Thy perfect love" - these are all joyful, positive songs of worship and celebration, the best of everything we love about John Rutter and his Singers. Some accompaniment. "Be Thou My Vision" is a winning, inspirational collection!

Songlist: Be thou my vision, Open thou mine eyes, I Will Sing With The Spirit, A Gaelic Blessing, Wings of the morning, O be joyful in the Lord, All things bright and beautiful, I will lift up mine eyes, As the bridegroom to his chosen, A Prayer of Saint Patrick, Loving Shepherd of thy sheep, Look at the world, O clap your hands, The Lord is my light and my salvation, Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace, I believe in springtime, God Be in My Head, A Clare Benediction, For The Beauty Of The Earth, Thy perfect love, The Lord bless you and keep you

Gloria (a concert work, despite the use of a religious text) was commissioned by the Voices of Mel Olson in Omaha, Nebraska, who invited Rutter to direct the first performance in 1974. The words come from the second section (the Hymn of Praise) of the Ordinary of the Mass, which in the liturgy follows the 'Kyrie'. The familiar opening words are those of the angels proclaiming the birth of Jesus, as found in the second chapter of Luke's Gospel. Rutter's setting is based largely on one of the Gregorian chants with which the text is associated. He describes the three movements as 'roughly corresponding to traditional symphonic structure', the mood of the sections being respectively 'exalted, devotional and jubilant by turns'. The use of organ, brass and percussion makes for plenty of Waltonian punch in the outer movements and yet also for a hauntingly ethereal middle section. 'Delicious performances of Rutter's wonderfully approachable and finely crafted vocal writing. The sound, too, is outstanding' (Gramophone)

Songlist: Gloria I : Allegro vivace, Gloria II : Andante, Gloria III : Vivace e ritmico, Come down, O Love divine, Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace, To everything there is a season, I my Best-Beloved's am, Praise the Lord, O my soul, I Will Sing With The Spirit, As the bridegroom to his chosen, A Clare Benediction, The Lord is my light and my salvation, Go forth into the world, Thy perfect love, Te Deum