This Is the Day: Music on Royal Occasions The Cambridge Singers, Aurora Orchestra & John Rutter

• John Rutter (b. 1945): This Is the Day:
• 1 Rutter: This Is the Day 04:24
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791): Vesperae solennes de confessore, K. 339:
• 2 Mozart: Vesperae solennes de confessore, K. 339: V. Laudate Dominum 04:00
• Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828): Psalm 23, Op. 132, D. 706:
• 3 Schubert: Psalm 23, Op. 132, D. 706 05:06
• Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897): Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45:
• 4 Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45: IV. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (How lovely is thy dwelling place) 05:28
• Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934): The Apostles, Op. 49:
• 5 Elgar: The Apostles, Op. 49: Prologue (The Spirit of the Lord Is upon Me) 07:39
• William McKie (1901 - 1984): We Wait for Thy Loving Kindness:
• 6 McKie: We Wait for Thy Loving Kindness 02:59
• Paul Mealor (b. 1975): Ubi caritas:
• 7 Mealor: Ubi caritas 03:54
• Maurice Duruflé (1902 - 1986): 4 Motets on Gregorian Themes, Op. 10:
• 8 Duruflé: 4 Motets on Gregorian Themes, Op. 10: Ubi caritas 02:30
• William Henry Harris (1883 - 1973): Holy Is the True Light:
• 9 Harris: Holy Is the True Light 01:54
• John Tavener (1944 - 2013): Song for Athene:
• 10 Tavener: Song for Athene 05:44
• Richard Rodney Bennett (1936 - 2012): These Three:
• 11 Bennett: These Three 05:25
• William Walton (1902 - 1983): Set Me as a Seal upon Thine Heart:
• 12 Walton: Set Me as a Seal upon Thine Heart 03:14
• Henry Walford Davies (1869 - 1941): God Be in My Head:
• 13 Davies: God Be in My Head 01:38
• Irish Folk-tune: Folk-tune: I Would be True:
• 14 Irish Folk-tune: I Would be True 02:58
• William Walton: Touch Her Soft Lips and Part (From "Henry V"):
• 15 Walton: Touch Her Soft Lips and Part (From "Henry V") 01:33
• Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976): Gloriana, Op. 53:
• 16 Britten: Gloriana, Op. 53: Choral Dance No. 1, Time 01:29
• 17 Britten: Gloriana, Op. 53: Choral Dance No. 2, Concord 02:09
• 18 Britten: Gloriana, Op. 53: Choral Dance No. 3, Time and Concord 01:18
• 19 Britten: Gloriana, Op. 53: Choral Dance No. 4, Country Girls 01:05
• 20 Britten: Gloriana, Op. 53: Choral Dance No. 5, Rustics and Fishermen 00:56
• 21 Britten: Gloriana, Op. 53: Choral Dance No. 6, Final Dance of Homage 02:24
• George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759): Samson, HWV 57:
• 22 Handel: Samson, HWV 57: Let the Bright Seraphim in Burning Row - Let Their Celestial Concerts All Unite 06:12
• Total Runtime 01:13:59

Info for This Is the Day: Music on Royal Occasions

Music on royal occasions. Includes John Rutter's anthem, written for the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton. This album recollects and celebrates some of the choral music heard on royal occasions during the lifetime of HM Queen Elizabeth II. The music chosen reflects the personal choices and commissions by the Royal Family for weddings, funerals, and anniversaries.

Featuring John Rutter’s celebratory royal wedding anthem This is the Day, written for the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011. Orchestrated specially for this recording, it reminds us of the event that captivated the attention of the nation.

The album also includes a new arrangement for unaccompanied choir of the much-loved Air from County Derry to the text I would be True, and an orchestration of Schubert’s beautiful Psalm 23 - The Lord is my Shepherd by John Rutter for this recording.

"The Cambridge singers present wonderfully tuned and expressive performances throughout…Altogether, this is a wonderful disc in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year. The performances are enchanting and remind us of the importance of music in making the great events of our lives." (Richard A.A. Larraga, Choral Journal)

Elin Manahan Thomas, soprano
Cambridge Singers
Aurora Orchestra
John Rutter, conductor

John Rutter
was born in London and studied music at Clare College, Cambridge. He first came to notice as a composer during his student years; much of his early work consisted of church music and other choral pieces including Christmas carols. From 1975–79 he was Director of Music at his alma mater, Clare College, and directed the college chapel choir in various recordings and broadcasts. Since 1979 he has divided his time between composition and conducting. 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. His music has featured in a number of British royal occasions, including the two most recent royal weddings. He 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, and he appears regularly in several countries as guest conductor and choral ambassador. He holds a Lambeth Doctorate in Music, and in 2007 was awarded a CBE for services to music.

Booklet for This Is the Day: Music on Royal Occasions