Rutter has freshly edited all scores, including providing new keyboard accompaniments that are frequently more idiomatic and tailored to rehearsal purposes than older editions . . . Throughout the anthology, musical layout is commodious and easy to read. Rutter also provided an engaging introduction for the collection and commentary for each individual piece. Perhaps the most practical and attractive aspect of this edition is the parallel accompaniment volume which is specifically designed for organ performance. The over-sized score is spiral bound for durability and practicality on the organ music rack, and the organ parts are notated in three staves throughout . . . The accompaniments are indeed remarkably idiomatic and enjoyable to play . . . * Jason Overall, Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians, April 2019 *
Many [items] can successfully be accompanied by a full-size organ with pedals, and a separate organ book with vocal cues (whose turned pages remain turned!) can be purchased - a very welcome feature of this collection . . . Like the editor, I hope that this volume helps to make pieces like Schubert's Magnificat and Vivaldi's exuberant In exitu better known. * Jeremy Jackman, Choir & Organ, March 2019 *
This is a remarkable collection . . . All are freshly edited from original sources and many have new English singing translations. With 380 pages and strong sewn binding the volume is excellent value for money . . . Rather than compromise in the keyboard accompaniments, those in the vocal score are for piano and for rehearsal, while, and this is wonderful for organists, an accompanying, large, wiro-bound organ volume provides three-stave organ accompaniments for all except four of the pieces. Overall, the selection and presentation is at least as much for church and cathedral use as for secular choirs. * Stephen Patterson , www.rscm.org.uk Sunday by Sunday, June 2019 *
