A gaelic blessing

   This piece was played (though not sung) at a carol service I was at the other day, and as we haven't had any music posts here for a while and this is lovely, I thought I'd put it up. It's not just a Christmas song of course, though it's for his Christmas music that the composer John Rutter is best known, and while you can read more about him in this profile, here's the passage I particularly wanted to quote:

"... carols are actually a very old art-form. They are the first form of vernacular choral literature that we have in this country, because back in the 15th century when Latin was used for everything else in church, English was permitted for carols. Obviously the medieval clergy, stern though they no doubt were, had a soft spot for Christmas.

"Carols are a form of miniature and I like miniatures. I thought they were a charming, limited little art-form that reached out to people. A lot of people who are not touched by choral music for the rest of the year often find that Christmas music touches their heart."

(For John Rutter in different mood, you might like to listen to his Gloria with its wonderful brass part).

Comments

[Karen]

Rutter music is sung a great deal here in Michigan! We just heard his Requiem in church a few weeks ago. I was interested to learn how carols came to be written in English!!!

[Carol]

Just thank you. That was lovely.

[Sian]

I misread this title as a "Garlic Blessing"...

[Margaret]

Beautiful! Have you also listened to John Rutter's "Candlelight Carol"? It's another goody.

[Cornflower]

Ah! A vampire-prevention measure!

[Barbara MacLeod]

Lovely, absolutely lovely!

[Fran]

Christmas would'nt be Christmas without John Rutter carols and arrangements. I sang them when in the school choir and now hum them throughout December. This piece is an all time favourite of mine, thank you for reminding me of it.

[Elizabeth]

That is just beautiful.