All the Stars Looked Down: A John Rutter Celebration

Christmas would not be Christmas without The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Whether it is the annual service of Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols or one of their numerous records devoted to Seasonal music, they are as significant a part of the celebrations as are Mince Pies, Turkey, and Pigs in Blankets. And what would Yuletide be without Sir John Rutter. Often known as Mr Christmas, he has made a major contribution to carols and hymns with many becoming standard favourites. Nevertheless, this attribution is a little unfair as he has produced much that is secular or pertaining to other dates in the Christian calendar.

The present album is a celebration of John Milford Rutter’s 80^th birthday - he was born on 24 September 1945 – which focuses on his legacy of Carol and Choral traditions. The album features orchestral originals and arrangements, played by the Britten Sinfonia, conducted by the current Director of Music for the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Daniel Hyde.

The selection of the repertoire includes some well-loved carols alongside lesser-known pieces.

Among the original Rutter carols are the beautiful Dormi, Jesu, written for the Carols from Kings concert in 1998. The tender Nativity Carol is the earliest of his surviving works, completed aged sixteen. The title track, All the stars looked down was composed in 2023 in memory of Stephen Cleobury, who was Director of Music at King’s College from 1982 to 2019. The touching text was penned by English author, journalist, poet, and Christian apologist, G.K. Chesterton. All Bells in Paradise which celebrates Christmas joy, dates from 2012.

Of considerable interest are the two extracts from Rutter’s Five Meditations for orchestra. We hear What Sweeter Music and Candlelight. These are transcriptions made in 2003 of short choral works dating from the nineteen-eighties. He explains that he made these arrangements so that “listeners could allow their imaginations to roam at will as they [heard] the music” rather than be subject to the “specific meanings and references” of the original texts. It is a pleasing conceit. I only wish that all five Meditations could have been included on this disc.

Another aspect of this recording lies in its orchestral treatments of beloved carols - bold, full-blooded reworkings that rekindle familiar tradition with fresh spirit. Among them are gutsy, brilliant takes on David Willcocks’s iconic arrangements of Hark! the Herald Angels Sing and O Come, All Ye Faithful, now clothed in orchestral grandeur.

Carols not from Rutter’s pen, include Philip Ledger’s serene carol A Spotless Rose, the rarely heard O little town of Bethlehem written by Henry Walford Davies, completed by Daniel Hyde, and orchestrated by Stephen Cleobury. Childhood favourite, Away in a Manger is heard in a delicate arrangement by David Hill and Unto us is born a son from Piae Cantiones, has been realised by David Willcocks. This group is concluded with Daniel Hyde’s evocative orchestration of Ralph Vaughan Williams take on the Sussex Carol.

The remainder of the programme features traditional carols arranged by John Rutter. Particularly lovely, is Parisian composer Adolphe Adam’s O Holy Night. One of his most cherished pieces is the Sans Day Carol, realised from an old Cornish song. The collation of texts that make up the Hereford Carol was originally coupled with a traditional tune, arranged by conductor and organist Christopher Robinson, and subsequently orchestrated by Rutter. Child in a Manger was based on a traditional Celtic melody: the music deploys a simple lullaby, developed into an attractive meditation on the Incarnation. Finally, everyone’s well-loved Silent Night by Franz Xaver Gruber is given and almost symphonic treatment, complete with an orchestral interlude.

The performance is impeccable: the singing is perfect, the accompaniments sympathetic and the recording excellent. The liner notes by David Hyde and John Rutter are most helpful. The texts are included. The booklet is beautifully illustrated and includes details of the performers.

A lovely compilation of Christmas Music that features the indisputable talents of John Rutter. It will appeal to his fans, old and new. Happy Birthday Sir John!

Track Listing:
Felix Mendelssohn, arr. David Willcocks - Hark! the herald angels sing.
Philip Ledger - A spotless rose
John Rutter - All bells in paradise
English traditional, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, orch. Daniel Hyde - Sussex Carol
Adolphe Adam, arr. John Rutter - O Holy Night
Henry Walford Davies, orch. Stephen Cleobury & Daniel Hyde - O little town of Bethlehem
John Rutter - Five Meditations for Orchestra: III. ‘Candlelight’
Cornish traditional, arr. John Rutter - Sans Day Carol
From ‘Piae Cantiones,’ arr. David Willcocks - Unto us is born a son.
John Rutter - Five Meditations for Orchestra: I. ‘What sweeter music’
Traditional, arr. Christopher Robinson, orch. John Rutter - Hereford Carol
Traditional, arr. John Rutter - Child in a manger
John Rutter - Dormi, Jesu
John Rutter - Nativity Carol
John Rutter - All the stars looked down.
Franz Xaver Gruber, arr. John Rutter - Silent night
English traditional, arr. David Hill - Away in a manger
John Francis Wade, arr. David Willcocks - O come, all ye faithful.
The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge Britten Sinfonia/Daniel Hyde
rec. 2023 and 2025, Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge
Texts included.
King’s College Cambridge KGS0075