"Sublime, devotional and jubilant, this is a classic piece of pop music, a true evergreen among both professional and amateur ensembles.
John Rutter, who wrote the Gloria in 1974, grew up in the tradition of Anglican church music. He was a chorister at Highgate School and participated in the first recording of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, conducted by the composer in 1963. He was also a member of the choir at Clare College, Cambridge, where he studied.
Although set to a liturgical text, the work was conceived as a concert piece and is in three movements, following the fast-slow-fast scheme typical of concertos. The composer noted of the instrumentation: "The accompaniment is for brass ensemble with timpani, percussion, and organ - a combination that makes quite a joyful noise in the outer movements, but is used more quietly and introspectively in the middle movement.
The text of the first movement is "Gloria in excelsis Deo," the angelic song of the Annunciation to the shepherds, as told by Luke. It is marked Allegro vivace. Its "incisive, punchy, syncopated brass opening" sets the scene; it has "strong rhythms and triumphant shouts from the chorus.
The text of the second movement, "Domine Deus," addresses Jesus as the Lamb of God, asking for mercy and to hear prayers. It is marked Andante. It is dominated by an organ ostinato and contains solos for the upper voices. It has been described as "a gentle and subdued prayer".
The text of the third movement is the conclusion, "Quoniam tu solus sanctus" (For you alone are holy), which ends with a doxology. It is marked Vivace e ritmico. The movement contains the climax of the work, a recapitulation of the beginning in text and music. It contains a fugue "Cum Sancto Spiritu" and ends with a fast Amen.
Rutter was clearly influenced by Francis Poulenc's Gloria. It has also been noted that the use of brass in Rutter's work has similarities to Walton's cantata Belshazzar's Feast.
One reviewer notes as Rutter's hallmarks: "An unfailing instinct for getting to the heart of the text, exquisitely balanced vocal writing, melting harmonies, intensely sweet turns of phrase (sometimes overtly saccharine), brief ecstatic climaxes, but also a willingness to be astringent and rhythmically powerful. This is music that people generally want to play and hear."
Listen to: WDR Radio Choir & WDR Symphony Orchestra
with Simon Halsey, conductor.