We went as usual to the Nine Lessons and Carols in St David’s Cathedral. There was more John Rutter than usual, probably because as already mentioned he has a major birthday this year. It included what I think is one of his best pieces What sweeter music, as well as the Shepherd’s Pipe Carol and an arrangement of Noël nouvelet.
I have enjoyed singing many of his pieces (mostly sacred but also secular) over the years, although I’m not in a hurry to do any of his works that use an orchestra, as I find the orchestration works but is predictable. Looking back through this blog I see that Rutter was the subject of one of the earliest posts, and he was far from new on the scene then, so he clearly has enduring power, even though younger composers like Bob Chilcott have movd in on his territory. I wasn’t involved in his visit to Bath earlier in the year but did sing under his direction just once, when he did a workshop at Manchester University.