The chief difference between this release and other John Rutter collections on the market lies not in the music but in the performances. The program resulted from a decision by then Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum director Benjamin Nicholas, who issued a series of recordings featuring this venerable men-and-boys choir in a variety of repertory. The selection of Rutter pieces is commendably broad, with limpid folkish carols like There is a flower (track 14) juxtaposed with harmonically adventurous pieces, at least by Rutter ...
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The chief difference between this release and other John Rutter collections on the market lies not in the music but in the performances. The program resulted from a decision by then Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum director Benjamin Nicholas, who issued a series of recordings featuring this venerable men-and-boys choir in a variety of repertory. The selection of Rutter pieces is commendably broad, with limpid folkish carols like There is a flower (track 14) juxtaposed with harmonically adventurous pieces, at least by Rutter's standards, like Lord, thou has been our refuge, which sounds a bit like Leonard Bernstein's Jewish-oriented works. Both a cappella and accompanied pieces are represented. But the main news is that while most Rutter recordings feature the composer conducting his hand-picked Cambridge Singers, this one gives a different sound to his music. Choirs with children can have an impersonal, affectless (some would say sexless) sound, but the Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum is a different...
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