John Rutter - Visions

Visions is a four-movement showpiece for solo violin in unique combination with upper-voice choir, harp, and strings (or organ). Inspired by the idea of 'Jerusalem' both as a Holy City and a utopian ideal of heavenly peace and seraphic bliss, the composer has selected four biblical texts, in English and Latin, that express different aspects of this vision. The profound subject matter is taken up in the celestial soundworld of the choir and the virtuosic, vibrant, and expressive writing for violin, all set against a backdrop of rich textures and harmonies in the strings and harp. The work may be performed by women's or boys' voices. The accompaniment is available in two different instrumentations: harp and string ensemble or harp and organ.

Visions

Visions is a four-movement showpiece for solo violin in unique combination with upper-voice choir, harp, and strings (or organ). Inspired by the idea of ‘Jerusalem’ both as a Holy City and a utopian ideal of heavenly peace and seraphic bliss, the composer has selected four biblical texts, in English and Latin, that express different aspects of this vision. The profound subject matter is taken up in the celestial soundworld of the choir and the virtuosic, vibrant, and expressive writing for violin, all set against a backdrop of rich textures and harmonies in the strings and harp. The accompaniment is available in two different instrumentations: harp and string ensemble or harp and organ. John Rutter was born in London in 1945 and studied music at Clare College, Cambridge. His compositions embrace choral, orchestral, and instrumental music, and he has edited or co-edited various choral anthologies, including four Carols for Choirs volumes with Sir David Willcocks and the Oxford Choral Classics series. From 1975 to 1979 he was Director of Music at Clare College, and in 1981 formed his own choir, the Cambridge Singers. He now divides his time between composition and conducting and is sought after as a guest conductor for choirs and orchestras around the world. John Rutter was awarded a CBE in the 2007 New Year’s Honours List, in recognition of his outstanding services to music. ‘The most successful and well-known composer of choral music in recent British history’ BBC Music Magazine OTHER PERFORMANCE MATERIAL FOR VISIONS: Solo violin part (ISBN 978–0–19–351319–8) Harp part (ISBN 978–0–19–351320–4) Organ part (ISBN 978–0–19–351321–1) Rental material: Conductor’s score and parts (full instrumentation) (ISBN 978–0–19–351315–0) Conductor’s score and parts (reduced instrumentation) (ISBN 978–0–19–351314–3) For more details about John Rutter and his music, please contact Oxford University Press, Music Department. Cover image: The New Jerusalem, from The Apocalypse of Angers, tapestry, 1373–87. Musée des Tapisseries, Angers, France. © Tuul & Bruno Morandi/Getty Images ISBN 978-0-19-351318-1 9 780193 513181