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Track(s) taken from CDA67245

Mary's Lullaby

First line:
See the child that Mary bore
composer
John Rutter (b1945)
author of text
John Rutter (b1945)

Polyphony, City of London Sinfonia, Stephen Layton (conductor)
Recording details: January 2001
All Saints, Tooting, United Kingdom
Produced by Mark Brown
Engineered by Julian Millard
Release date: October 2001
Total duration: 3 minutes 8 seconds
 

Other recordings available for download

The Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia, John Rutter (conductor)

Reviews

‘It’s hard to imagine them better performed than by the award-winning British choir Polyphony’ (The Mail on Sunday)

‘The performances by both choir and orchestra are ideal in tone, style and accomplishment … a Christmas treat’ (Gramophone)

‘A treat for all Rutter fans! … the program is bound to satisfy anyone seeking a balanced program of Christmas choral music done with sensitivity and taste’ (American Record Guide)

‘Superb performances which are beautifully recorded’ (International Record Review)

‘Those of you for whom Rutter is a new name are in for a very special treat. From the jaunty Shepherd's Pipe Carol, with its vivid portrayal of the starry sky above Bethlehem, to the sublime and deeply moving What Sweeter Music, Rutter's music is impeccably crafted, melodically rich and entirely infectious. More than a stocking-filler, this disc is surely one of the highlights of the year’ (Classic FM)

‘The carols of John Rutter are becoming as traditional at Christmas as mince pies, so rich is his output … [An] extraordinary disc. Rutter’s music is impeccably crafted, melodically rich and entirely infectious … this disc is surely one of the highlights of the year’ (Classic FM Magazine)

‘When the chirpy Shepherd’s Pipe Carol, the instantly singable Star Carol, or the literal sound effects of the charming Donkey Carol are wrapped up in such glittering, top-quality packaging as Stephen Layton’s Polyphony and The City of London Sinfonia, its seasonal allure is sealed. Finely Polished performances, served up with a warm and festive mulled-wine sensation’ (The Scotsman)

‘Lovingly rendered by Polyphony under Stephen Layton, this should be a disc of choice not only for this year but as well as for the years to come’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘Polyphony beautifully continue the English tradition with joyful refinement’ (HMV Choice)

‘[Rutter] could not have asked for better performers’ (The Evening Standard)

‘The performances are uniformly excellent; Stephen Layton and his Polyphony vocal ensemble have shown a previous affinity for Rutter’s work and this effort simply reaffirms their commitment to and love for this very special music. Outstanding’ (Classics Today)

«Les arrangements sont ingénieux» (Diapason, France)
Mary’s Lullaby dates from the period when Rutter was director of music at Clare College, between 1975 and 1979. It owes its inspiration to the panic of a television producer who calculated, following a camera rehearsal for a recording of Christmas music featuring the Clare chapel choir, that his programme was going to come in around three minutes short: ‘He asked whether I could by any chance write him something for the choir to sing the following morning!’ Rutter recalls. The dreamy Mary’s Lullaby, in the gently flowing triple-time typical of so many of Rutter’s slower carols, was the result. It is dedicated to the composer’s wife, JoAnne.

from notes by Andrew Green © 2001

Mary’s Lullaby date de l’époque où Rutter était directeur musical de Clare College, entre 1975 et 1979. Il doit son inspiration à la panique d’un producteur d’une émission télévisée sur la musique de Noël avec le chœur de Clare College: celui-ci calcula après une répétition générale qu’il lui manquait trois minutes de musique. «Il me demanda si par hasard, je pouvais écrire quelque chose que le chœur puisse chanter le lendemain matin!» se remémore Rutter. Ce fut ainsi que naquit Mary’s Lullaby, une pièce rêveuse dans un doux flot de mesures ternaires caractéristiques des carols plus lents de Rutter. Cette œuvre est dédiée à son épouse, JoAnne.

extrait des notes rédigées par Andrew Green © 2001

Mary’s Lullaby entstammt dem Zeitraum 1975 bis 1979, als Rutter musikalischer Leiter am Clare College war. Es verdankt seine Inspiration der Panik eines Fernsehproduzenten, der sich im Anschluß an eine Kameraprobe für eine Aufnahme von Weihnachtsmusik durch den Kirchenchor von Clare College ausgerechnet hatte, daß sein Programm ungefähr drei Minuten zu kurz sein würde. „Er fragte, ob es möglich wäre, daß ich ihm etwas schreibe, das der Chor am nächsten Morgen singen kann!“ erinnert sich Rutter. Das verträumte Mary’s Lullaby im sanft fließenden Dreiertakt, der für so viele von Rutters langsameren Carols typisch ist, war das Ergebnis. Es ist JoAnne gewidmet, der Frau des Komponisten.

aus dem Begleittext von Andrew Green © 2001

Other albums featuring this work

Rutter: The John Rutter Christmas Album
The Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia, John Rutter (conductor)
CSCD510Download only

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