Rutter: Requiem

Rutter's Requiem, his first composition written without being commissioned, is a convincing affirmation of Christian doctrine pertaining to death and eternal life. It is also a substantial and sincere work that strives to be widely appealing while preserving a spiritual context centered around themes of light and consolation. Highlights include "Out of the Deep," its modal tune and harmonies giving it the flavor of a spiritual, and the wonderfully gentle and restful 23rd Psalm. Rutter personalizes his Requiem by adding movements not traditionally part of the Requiem Mass--passages from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, for instance--and this proves to be an effective strategy. The Cambridge Singers are superb as usual, and soloist Caroline Ashton steals the show with her heavenly Pie Jesu. --David Vernier