for mezzo-soprano and baritone soloists, SATB choir, and full orchestra or small ensemble
This large-scale work sets a poem by American writer and civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson that depicts the Creation story. Blues and gospel influences are present throughout, and declamatory solo writing brings the narrative to life, with the baritone soloist taking on the role of God and choir and mezzo-soprano sharing the role of narrator. The work is rich in rhythmic vitality and dramatic moments that make full use of the orchestral forces, including a triumphant vivace Hallelujah chorus towards the work's close.
The accompaniment is scored for full orchestra or small ensemble; conductor's scores and instrumental parts for both versions are available on rental.
for mezzo-soprano and baritone soloists, SATB choir, and full orchestra or small ensemble
This large-scale work sets a poem by American writer and civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson that depicts the Creation story. The accompaniment is scored for full orchestra or small ensemble; scores and instrumental parts are available on rental.
John Rutter studied music at Clare College, Cambridge and first came to notice as a composer and arranger of Christmas carols and other choral pieces during those early years; today his compositions, including such concert-length works as Requiem, Magnificat, Mass of the Children, The Gift of Life, and Visions are performed around the world. John edits the Oxford Choral Classics series, and, with Sir David Willcocks, co-edited four volumes of Carols for Choirs. In 1983 he formed his own choir The Cambridge Singers, with whom he has made numerous recordings on the Collegium Records label, and he appears regularly in several countries as a guest conductor and choral ambassador. John holds a Lambeth Doctorate in Music, and in 2007 was awarded a CBE for services to music. In September 2023, he received the Ivors Academy Fellowship, and in 2024 he was knighted in the King's Birthday Honours.
