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The English composer John Rutter turned 65 this year. He is best known for the work he has done with the Church of England over the past four decades. He had started as a boy chorister and performed in the premiere of Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem”. Over the years he has arranged and composed for the church.

In 1990 Rutter decided to tackle a passage from the Gospel of Luke known as the Magnificat. Johann Sebastian Bach had written the definitive treatment of this work in Latin, and few composers felt brave enough to try it since. Rutter decided to add an English poem as a movement and throw in a Marian prayer, the Sanctus and the Doxology as parts of the piece. But where Rutter broke the mold was in casting the piece with a Mexican flavor. Quite unusual for a Brit! First, let’s have the composer explain what he has wrought.

John Rutter explains the Magnificat

Rutter explains the second movement

Rutter explains the third movement

Rutter explains the fourth movement

Rutter explains the fifth movement

Rutter explains the sixth movement

Rutter explains the seventh movement

If you’re a chorister, you can follow along with the score.

Rutter: 1. Magnificat anima mea

For a second movement, Rutter turns to an old English poem.

2. “Of a Rose, a lovely Rose”

It starts like a Baroque overture with vocal parts. At 4:45 the introduction of the Sanctus is breathtaking.

3. Quia fecit mihi magna

There is an attacca, which means the fourth movement should begin without pause. I don’t have that option here, unfortunately. This movement is a three-handkerchief piece. Patricia Forbes’ soprano voice has a mezzo quality to it. This is the most ravishing melody in the piece. It starts in A-flat and progresses through the various keys, with Forbes singing the theme as a counter-melody at times. The high A-flat at 4:03 is amazing.

4. Et misericordia

Rutter now goes warlike. There is a hint of John Williams here.

5. Fecit potentiam

There is another attacca here – no pause. Forbes does another amazing job with this song. The modulation at 2:44 from B-flat to D-flat is breathtaking.

6. Esurientes

Rutter adds the Doxology, and then inserts a Marian prayer sung by Forbes in the middle of it. He wraps it up with the opening theme to make it a cyclic piece.

7. Gloria Patri