John Rutter - Blessing (Catrin Finch)

Information

Composer: John Rutter; Catrin Finch

1. Rutter - A Gaelic Blessing: Maditation
2. Rutter - The Lord Bless You and Keep You: Meditation
3. Rutter - Lullaby for Ana Gwen
4. Finch - Celtic Concerto: 1. JigAJig
5. Finch - Celtic Concerto: 2. Hiraeth
6. Finch - Celtic Concerto: 3. Solstice
7. Welsh Folk Songs (arr. Rutter): Bugeilio'r gwenith gwyn (Watching the white wheat)
8. Welsh Folk Songs (arr. Rutter): Beth yw'r haf i mi? (What’s the summer to me?)
9. Welsh Folk Songs (arr. Rutter): Migldi magldi
10. Rutter - Suite Lyrique: 1. Prelude
11. Rutter - Suite Lyrique: 2. Ostinato
12. Rutter - Suite Lyrique: 3. Aria
13. Rutter - Suite Lyrique: 4. Waltz
14. Rutter - Suite Lyrique: 5. Chanson
15. Rutter - Suite Lyrique: 6. Rondeau
16. Rutter - Lullaby for Pegi
17. Rutter - A Clare Benediction

Catrin Finch, harp

Sinfonia Cymru

John Rutter, conductor

Date: 2020

Label: Deutsche Grammophon

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/john-rutter-blessing-catrin-finch-10752

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Review

This collaboration between composer John Rutter and Welsh harpist Catrin Finch falls decidedly toward the crossover end of Rutter's output. Like most of Rutter's productions, it's elegantly executed, and it shows that he probably would have been a grand success even if he had chosen not to devote himself to choral genres; the arrangements for harp and the Sinfonia Cymru are lovely. You get several of Rutter's popular compositions arranged for harp and ensemble, some songs with or without the voice, a more substantially rewritten Suite Lyrique for harp and orchestra (the original was the Suite Antique for flute, harpsichord, and strings), and perhaps best of all a Celtic Concerto of Finch's own composition. If you are to believe her, "it was the first time I had put pen to paper, as it were, and written some music down properly." As such, it's remarkably accomplished, with a knack for making virtuoso passagework musically eventful, and a fine lyrical slow movement. The piece was apparently included on the album at Rutter's insistence, and for this he deserves credit. The balance of the album presents Rutter in a simple, unfamiliar yet pleasing mode, and it's likely that even his detractors will get a few smiles out of this artless, tuneful music.

-- James Manheim, AllMusic

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John Rutter (born 24 September 1945 in London) is a British composer, conductor, arranger and record producer, mainly of choral music. He read music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the choir. In 1981, Rutter founded his own choir, the Cambridge Singers, which he conducts and with which he has made many recordings of sacred choral repertoire (including his own works), particularly under his own label Collegium Records. Rutter's music is eclectic, showing the influences of the French and English choral traditions of the early 20th century as well as of light music and American classic songwriting. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rutter

http://www.johnrutter.com/

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Catrin Finch (born in Llanon, Ceredigion) is a Welsh harpist, arranger and composer. She studied harp with Elinor Bennett before attending the Purcell School. Finch continued her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London where she studied harp with Skaila Kanga. During the 1990s, she won several competitions for harpists, including ones in France and the USA. She was the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales from 2000 to 2004 and is Visiting Professor at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and the Royal Academy of Music in London. Finch has given recitals at venues throughout the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catrin_Finch

http://www.catrinfinch.com/

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