Naxos
Rutter: Mass Of The Children / Brown, Clare College Choir
$19.99
Only 2 left
Details
- Composer
- RUTTER
- Artist
- Brown, French, Williams, Jones
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Naxos
- Released
- Apr 18, 2006
- Catalog #
- 8557922
- UPC
- 747313292226
About
John Rutter's Mass of the Children was recorded by the composer and his Cambridge Singers shortly after the work's premiere in 2003. That version, for soprano and baritone soloists, children's choir, adult choir, and orchestra, appeared on Collegium Records and was strongly recommended here; for the review, which includes a discussion of the Mass itself, type Q6863 in Search Reviews. The version recorded here by the Clare College Choir (Rutter's former choir) and Timothy Brown (for whom Rutter wrote the Wedding Canticle that concludes the disc) replaces the orchestra with chamber ensemble and organ with no loss of the original's exuberant spirit or essential texture and color. These choirs are every bit as competent and confident as Rutter's own forces, but with a decided edge going to Rutter's more appealing soloists, whose voices are warmer and more technically solid.
Hearing this work again, I was struck by little reminders of other composers and works, such as Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms (Gloria), Fauré's Requiem (Sanctus), and even in the baritone/soprano duet in the Kyrie, a bit of (gurk!) Andrew Lloyd Webber. But these are tiny, endearing moments in a grand and often enchanting work that contains some very clever, catchy, and masterfully written sections for adult and children's choir. Rutter's setting of Blake's poem The Lamb (appropriately part of the Agnus Dei) could stand alone as a concert piece. I also love how Rutter works the tune of Tallis' famous "Canon", sung to Thomas Ken's "Glory to thee, my God, this night", into the closing Dona nobis pacem.
I found it difficult, however, to warm up to Rutter's song cycle Shadows, for baritone and guitar. It has its moments of artful melodic writing and interesting guitar figures, but it often seems as if the two parts are at odds, not comfortable in each other's company. And Jeremy Huw Williams isn't the best advocate: his wide vibrato often obscures pitch, and his phrasing can be inelegant and doesn't always coincide with the musical line. The Wedding Canticle, for the unusual combination of choir, flute, and guitar, is a gentle, lovely piece that has all the marks of Rutter's most beloved style--flowing, inviting melody and a natural rhythmic feel that ideally captures the sense and structure of the text. [4/27/2006]
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
Hearing this work again, I was struck by little reminders of other composers and works, such as Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms (Gloria), Fauré's Requiem (Sanctus), and even in the baritone/soprano duet in the Kyrie, a bit of (gurk!) Andrew Lloyd Webber. But these are tiny, endearing moments in a grand and often enchanting work that contains some very clever, catchy, and masterfully written sections for adult and children's choir. Rutter's setting of Blake's poem The Lamb (appropriately part of the Agnus Dei) could stand alone as a concert piece. I also love how Rutter works the tune of Tallis' famous "Canon", sung to Thomas Ken's "Glory to thee, my God, this night", into the closing Dona nobis pacem.
I found it difficult, however, to warm up to Rutter's song cycle Shadows, for baritone and guitar. It has its moments of artful melodic writing and interesting guitar figures, but it often seems as if the two parts are at odds, not comfortable in each other's company. And Jeremy Huw Williams isn't the best advocate: his wide vibrato often obscures pitch, and his phrasing can be inelegant and doesn't always coincide with the musical line. The Wedding Canticle, for the unusual combination of choir, flute, and guitar, is a gentle, lovely piece that has all the marks of Rutter's most beloved style--flowing, inviting melody and a natural rhythmic feel that ideally captures the sense and structure of the text. [4/27/2006]
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
Tracklist 14 tracks
-
1 Kyrie 06:40
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Kyrie
- Duration
- 06:40
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Angharad Gruffydd Jones, Jeremy Huw Williams, James McVinnie
- Ensemble
- The Choir of Clare College Cambridge, Farnham Youth Choir, Clare Chamber Ensemble
- Conductor
- Tim Brown
-
2 Gloria 07:16
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Gloria
- Duration
- 07:16
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Angharad Gruffydd Jones, Jeremy Huw Williams, James McVinnie
- Ensemble
- The Choir of Clare College Cambridge, Farnham Youth Choir, Clare Chamber Ensemble
- Conductor
- Tim Brown
-
3 Sanctus and Benedictus 06:48
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Sanctus and Benedictus
- Duration
- 06:48
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Angharad Gruffydd Jones, Jeremy Huw Williams, James McVinnie
- Ensemble
- The Choir of Clare College Cambridge, Farnham Youth Choir, Clare Chamber Ensemble
- Conductor
- Tim Brown
-
4 Agnus Dei 06:02
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Agnus Dei
- Duration
- 06:02
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Angharad Gruffydd Jones, Jeremy Huw Williams, James McVinnie
- Ensemble
- The Choir of Clare College Cambridge, Farnham Youth Choir, Clare Chamber Ensemble
- Conductor
- Tim Brown
-
5 Finale: Dona nobis pacem 08:57
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Finale: Dona nobis pacem
- Duration
- 08:57
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Angharad Gruffydd Jones, Jeremy Huw Williams, James McVinnie
- Ensemble
- The Choir of Clare College Cambridge, Farnham Youth Choir, Clare Chamber Ensemble
- Conductor
- Tim Brown
-
6 I. Shadows 04:27
- Track
- 6
- Title
- I. Shadows
- Duration
- 04:27
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Jeremy Huw Williams, Stewart French
-
7 II. Gather ye rosebuds 01:32
- Track
- 7
- Title
- II. Gather ye rosebuds
- Duration
- 01:32
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Jeremy Huw Williams, Stewart French
-
8 III. Sonnet 03:54
- Track
- 8
- Title
- III. Sonnet
- Duration
- 03:54
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Jeremy Huw Williams, Stewart French
-
9 IV. The Epicure 02:15
- Track
- 9
- Title
- IV. The Epicure
- Duration
- 02:15
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Jeremy Huw Williams, Stewart French
-
10 V. Sic vita 02:02
- Track
- 10
- Title
- V. Sic vita
- Duration
- 02:02
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Jeremy Huw Williams, Stewart French
-
11 VI. O Death, rock me asleep 04:55
- Track
- 11
- Title
- VI. O Death, rock me asleep
- Duration
- 04:55
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Jeremy Huw Williams, Stewart French
-
12 VII. In a goodly night 03:17
- Track
- 12
- Title
- VII. In a goodly night
- Duration
- 03:17
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Jeremy Huw Williams, Stewart French
-
13 VIII. Close thine eyes 02:44
- Track
- 13
- Title
- VIII. Close thine eyes
- Duration
- 02:44
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Jeremy Huw Williams, Stewart French
-
14 Wedding Canticle 05:55
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Wedding Canticle
- Duration
- 05:55
- Composer
- John Rutter
- Performer
- Daniel Pailthorpe, Stewart French
- Ensemble
- The Choir of Clare College Cambridge
- Conductor
- Tim Brown