The three works on this album by John Rutter — Gloria, Magnificat, and Te Deum — were composed between 1974 and 1990, all for joyful occasions.
Critical Reception
The Gloria premiered in America, where it received a "firestorm of performances" in the late 1970s and 1980s, before gradually filtering back to Europe and worldwide.
Composer's Artistic Vision
John Rutter conceived his Magnificat as a "bright Latin-flavoured fiesta" to reflect the joyous mood of the performers and the celebration of the Virgin Mary in southern countries.
Composition History
John Rutter's Gloria was his first major commission from overseas, requested by the Voices of Mel Olson, a concert choir in the American midwest.
Composer's Artistic Vision
For the Gloria, John Rutter imagined what instruments angels would play as heralds of glad tidings, leading him to choose trumpets and other brass instruments for the accompaniment.
Compositional Technique
John Rutter's Gloria incorporates a mixture of influences including William Walton, Igor Stravinsky, Francis Poulenc, and Gregorian chant.
Composition History
John Rutter's Magnificat was commissioned by MidAmerica Productions for a large-scale choral/orchestral concert in Carnegie Hall, New York, in May 1990.
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