for SATB and organ or piano Originally published as the fifth movement in the large-scale work The Gift of Life, this is a pleasingly optimistic anthem in Rutter's gloriously uplifting style. The words by the composer capture a thankfulness for the world's creation, along with a sense of excitement and anticipation for the future to come. Rutter skilfully mirrors the varying moods of the text through harmonic shifts, melodic devices, and tempo fluctuations, and brings the music to a wonderfully calm and peaceful close.

for SATB and continuo Bach's motets are essential pillars of the choral repertory, and the irresistibly joyful Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden is a wonderful introduction to them for choirs unfamiliar with the works. It features concise contrapuntal writing and a sophisticated harmonic language, yet the vocal lines are not excessively demanding. John Rutter's edition includes helpful performance suggestions and background information, and full scores and instrumental parts are available on hire from the publisher.

for SSA and piano This playful song sets the famous 'Beautiful Soup' poem from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in a suitably tongue-in-cheek manner. With lilting rhythms, intertwining lines, and opportunities for portamento, Beautiful Soup will make an enjoyable addition to any concert programme.

for SSA and piano As She Goes sets words by the composer on a reflective yet inspirational theme ('We were born to fly, but your wings come without a trial run'), against the backdrop of images from the natural world. The choral lines are simple and melodic, drawing on the sound-world of the folksong 'My Love's An Arbutus', which opens the work. Ideal for adult and youth upper-voice choirs, as well as children's choruses.

for SATTBB unaccompanied Thou, my love, art fair was written for The King's Singers and first performed by the group on St Valentine's Day 2015. Setting the William Baldwin poem, Christ to his spouse, this delightful song makes full and effective use of the voice parts and features charming harmonies and interweaving melismas. Chilcott has treated the sixteenth-century text with due care and style, creating a beautifully elegant piece of music.

for CCBarBar and piano This celebrated Spiritual has a strong, appealing, comfortable melody suitable for boys' choirs, and is arranged skilfully here for four-part choir and piano, with Ia cappella sections and affecting modulations. Suited to more established choirs, it has plenty of opportunities for musical growth.

for SSATB unaccompanied Setting part of a Eucharistic hymn text by Thomas Aquinas, Adoro te devote is a beautiful, devotional piece suitable for liturgical or concert use. Flowing and expressive, it features homophonic sections, melismatic lines, and optional soaring soprano solos. Adoro te devote was written for Martin Baker and Westminster Cathedral Choir and is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Nepalese Earthquake in April 2015.

for SATB unaccompanied This setting of the well-known fifteenth-century text Lullay, my liking is both simple and effective. With enchanting solos and a gentle choral refrain, this tender carol will bring a moment of stillness and reflection to Christmas concerts and services.

for SSAATTBB unaccompanied Ave gloriosa mater salvatoris is a challenging and yet delicate anthem, with subtle key-signature changes, vocal divisions in up to eight parts, and alternating homophonic and polyphonic passages. The text includes excerpts from the synonymous medieval hymn and Wordsworth's poem The Virgin, making the piece suitable for a variety of sacred celebrations and particularly those of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

for SATB and piano or organ First published in Carols for Choirs 5, this is a beautiful and touching setting of the well-known fifteenth-century words. The contours of Stroope's melodic writing perfectly mirror the narrative from the manger scene, while the simple refrain highlights the Christ-child's innocence as his mother lulls him to sleep.

for SA and harp or piano This arrangement of the hymn tune Royal Oak is not to be confused with Rutter's famous original composition of the same title, which also sets the beloved text by C.F. Alexander. The elegant text praising God's creation, combined with Rutter's skilful handling of the hymn tune, makes this piece ideally suited for any religious service.

for SATB, optional congregation, and organ or brass choir Christ the Lord Is Risen Today is an arrangement of the Easter hymn tune 'Lyra Davidica'. Not to be confused with Rutter's own composition, Christ the Lord is risen again, published as part of the John Rutter Anniversary Edition. With an exciting introductory fanfare composed by Rutter, this uplifting anthem provides a powerful ending to any Easter service. Brass choir score and parts are available on sale.

for SATB and organ In this arrangement of the hymn tune St Clement, traditional verses alternate with those newly arranged by John Rutter. The piece is part of a wider collection of hymn arrangements, which have been recorded by the Cambridge Singers, directed by John Rutter, on the Collegium CD Sing, ye heavens (COLCD 126). Individual leaflets from the series are available on sale from Oxford University Press.

for SATB double choir unaccompanied Lightly come or lightly go is a playful setting of James Joyce's poem of the same name for SATB double choir. The second choir carries the titular words as an arching ostinato, while choir one presents the main body of the text through characterful melodies and word painting. The two choirs portray the conflicting emotions expressed in the poem demonstrated by the closing line: "Love and laughter song-confessed When the heart is heaviest".

for SATB and organ or piano Horatius Bonar's well-known hymn Beloved, let us love is a perfect text for wedding services, expressing the belief that it is only through loving others that we can know God's love for us. Bullard's celebratory and emotive setting begins by offsetting male and female voices, before exploring full-choir textures, rich harmonies, and contrasting keyboard accompaniments. Both affirmatory and exultant and reflective and wondrous, the anthem should find a place in church services and concerts throughout the year.

for SATB unaccompanied Setting a well-known poem by Percy Shelley, Love's Philosophy is a sweet and tender choral song reflecting on the idea of love with reference to nature and the interdependent relationships evident in the world around us. Mellifluous choral writing and sighing 'ah' interjections convey the sometimes wistful feel of Shelley's words, and numerous repetitions of 'thou' at the end of the piece emphasize the theme of unrequited or lost love.

for TTBB and piano Like the original version for SATB voices, this new male-voice arrangement of Wide Open Spaces reflects on the journeys and adventures to be found in the wide opens spaces within ourselves and in the world around us. The uplifting melody is passed from the tenors to the baritones before the piece opens out into an expansive texture with rich harmonies. Quartel introduces a playful episode of scat singing before a resolute final chorus brings this evocative piece to a peaceful and serene close.

for SATB (with divisions) and piano or chamber orchestra Rutter's charming piece sets a secular text by the composer that emphasises the significance of music and harmony in an ephemeral world. A simple accompaniment figure in the piano provides the backdrop to alternating unison and polyphonic verses that manage to capture both nostalgia for what was and optimism for what is to come.

for SATB (with divisions), oboe, and organ The text combines the nineteenth-century poet and Christian minister George MacDonald's emotive poem Lost and Found with the 'In paradisum' antiphon from the Burial Service in the Liber Usualis. The music is at times ethereal, melancholic, poignant, and life-affirming. The solo oboe and organ writing is integral to the emotive character of the piece, and the word-painting and angelic chorus moments encourage the listener to reflect on the subject at hand. The Quest is featured on the Collegium Records CD The Gift of Life. An orchestration for chamber ensemble (solo oboe, harp, and strings) is available on hire/rental.

for SATB (with divisions) and organ This jubilant carol sets a fifteenth-century text that rejoices in the birth of the baby Jesus. Bednall's rhythmically exciting setting features frequently changing time signatures, with 7/8 passages creating a jaunty feel. There are a variety of tempi and textures: a slower, tender middle section contrasts with the lively outer sections, and an unaccompanied section for the choir is juxtaposed against glittering, rhythmic organ passages. An ideal opener for any Christmas Carol concert, the work is featured on the Choir of Truro Cathedral's CD A Year at Truro (Regent Records).