Sunday, December 30, 2012

What sweeter music can we bring - John Rutter




What sweeter music can we bring, 
Than a carol, for to sing 
The birth of this our heavenly King? 
Awake the voice! Awake the string! 

Dark and dull night fly hence away, 
And give the honor to this day 
That sees December turned to May. 

Why does the chilling winter’s morn 
Smile, like a field beset with corn? 
Or smell like a meadow newly shorn 
Thus on the sudden? 

Come and see 
The cause, why things thus fragrant be : 
Tis he is born, whose quickening birth 
Gives life and lustre, public mirth, 
To heaven and the underearth. 

We see him come, and know his hours, 
Who, with his sunshine and his showers, 
Turns all the patient ground to flowers. 

The darling of the world is come, 
And fit it is, we find a room 
To welcome him, to welcome him. 

The nobler part of all the house here, is the heart, 
Which we will give him; and bequeath 
This holly, and this ivy wreath, 
To do him honor; who’s our King, 
And Lord of all this revelling. 

What sweeter music can we bring 
Than a carol, for to sing 
The birth of this our heavenly King
What sweeter music can we bring. 


JOHN RUTTER was born in London in 1945 and received his first musical education as a chorister at Highgate School. He went on to study music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he wrote his first published compositions and conducted his first recording while still a student.

His compositional career has embraced both large and small-scale choral works, orchestral and instrumental pieces, a piano concerto, two children’s operas, music for television, and specialist writing for such groups as the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble and the King’s Singers.

His larger choral works, Gloria (1974), Requiem (1985), Magnificat (1990), Psalmfest (1993) and Mass of the Children (2003) have been performed many times in Britain, North America, and a growing number of other countries.

He co-edited read more . . . 


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