John Rutter The Gift of Life

for mixed choir (double choir for movement 3) with orchestra or chamber ensemble The Gift of Life is a six-movement choral celebration of the living earth and its creation. Setting a variety of sacred texts, including new words by the composer, the work includes the mystical 'Hymn to the Creator of Light', for double choir, as its central canticle. The surrounding movements offer a kaleidoscope of moods, from the spirited 'O all ye works of the Lord' to the majestic 'O Lord, how manifold are thy works' and culminating in the inspirational 'Believe in life'. The accompaniment is available in two versions: full orchestra or chamber ensemble.

> : < !! !! !! !!! !!! !

> : < !! !! !! !!! !!! ! !!!! WW W !"" -""" "! "" - " Q - 4 - ! - Q - î í íî íî S. A. T. B. = > = = > = : < 88 . : < U . . . . 92 rall. 9 9 9 94 9 9 9 94 3 3 dim. -!! WW -WW WW -!! WW W W WW - ""4 3 3 God is the - WW WW W W Lord, who hath showed 3 3 - WW W -W W W W W --! - -! ! " us : . . . . : . . . . q . . . . < . . . . : . . . . < . . . . 3 - WW -WW WW - W W 3 WW W W ! 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 Andante tranquillo + = c. 80 J ppp molto dolce 3 3 - WWW - W WWW - W W W W 3 W W us rall. - """ dim. - ! - !4 "Q ALL VOICES, unis. (CHOIR 1) " " ! ! ! ! " 2 " 0 3 *Light, pp pp " 9 9 8 7 W W W W W 2 " 0 3 Glo ry be to pp ( pp ) " 8 ! ! ! ! ! ! 0 W 2 3 " 0 light. who dost my soul en light en; " " ! ! ! 0 W W W W W W 7 W W W W light, 4 """ ! light, who dost pp ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2 "" 00 3 J pp light, light, !!! ! ! W WW " W WW WW 2 3 ! " " 00 k 7 W Andante tranquillo c. """"!" " ! pp !!!! 3 """ ! ! ! ! ! ! 7 ! W ! W W ! W W 8 2 " " 00 W W W * Melody ‘Schmücke dich’ by J. Crüger (1598–1662) for online perusal only who who + = 80 dost dost my my my soul soul soul en en en dim. light light light 3 2 en; thee, en; en; Glo ry be to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

> W WW " / = > = = > = 48 U . . . . 98 : . . . . : . . . . q . . . . < . . . . : . . . . < . . . . U . . . . 104 : . . . . : . . . . q . . . . < . . . . : . . . . < . . . . 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 pp ! 8 " " ! W W ! ! " pp 9 9 9 8 ! W W W W ! 0 W Glo ry be to thee, W W W W " ! ! ! ! ! 0 W " ry be to thee, who all my life dost bright W W ! " " ! ! ! ! 8 ! O Lord. Sun, who all my life, glo !!00 7 ! ! ! ! " " " Sun, who all dost bright W!W 8WW """ !" " ! ! ! W!! W !W W !W W W "! 0 W !7! W 00 ! 7 ! " ! ! " ! "! ! "! ! / k"" ! ( pp ) Glo thee, Sun, who K p " ! 8 " " ! ! ! ! " en; p " " 9 8 ! W ! W ! ! ! ! Lord. p " " ! ! ! ! ! W W ! 0 W ! ! en; Joy, the sweet est man e’er know p W W W W " " ! ! ! ! ! ! ! W W ry be to thee. Joy, the sweet est man e’er know cresc. p " ! .! ! ! " ! 0 W " " Joy, the sweet est know K """" "! ! !" ! ! !W ! ! W !!!! 0 W !! " !! } B cresc. p "WWWW !" .! ""! ! ""! ! ! !!WW 0 ! ! "!W en. for online perusal only Joy, the the all sweet my sweet est life est man man dost e’er e’er bright know know O