This album gathers most of John Rutter's carols and arrangements of traditional carols, grouped to narrate, reflect upon, and celebrate the Christmas story.
Composer's Artistic Vision
John Rutter found writing Christmas carols an 'undercover way' to include melodies in his compositions at a time when post-Webernian serialism was the officially approved style for classically-trained music students.
Composition History
John Rutter was encouraged to continue writing and arranging carols by Sir David Willcocks, his senior co-editor on several volumes of the Carols for Choirs series.
Recording & Production
Two tracks on this album, "Dormi, Jesu" and "Love came down at Christmas," were specially recorded for this compilation in June 2002.
Composer Biography
John Rutter's first two published compositions, written in his teens, were the Nativity carol and the Shepherd's pipe carol, both featured on this album.
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