Making Peace

English composer Sir John Rutter is one of the biggest names in the 20th and 21st century choral world, whose music, for many listeners, represents the sound of Christmas. Also an international conductor, editor, arranger and record producer, he describes himself as a musical 'magpie'. Donald Macleod visits John at his home in the Cambridgeshire countryside, amidst the celebrations of his 80th birthday, to discuss the twists and turns of his extraordinary career. Across the week, we delight in some of his hallmark carols, and hear about the full breadth, and depth of his musical life across his eight decades, with some of his hot-off-the-press recordings.

Today, John speaks about how he coped with some of the most difficult periods in his life – suffering chronic illness, and bereavements including the tragic loss of his son Christopher. We hear about the music he wrote around those times, and how he encourages himself to write - on both good days and bad.

A Gaelic Blessing
Ex Cathedra
Jeffrey Skidmore, conductor
Andrew Fletcher, organ

Lord Make me an Instrument (arr. for orchestra)
Manchester Camerata
John Rutter, conductor

Requiem: The Lord is my shepherd; Lux Aeterna
Thomas Harries (treble)
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
City of London Sinfonia
Stephen Cleobury, conductor

Mass of the Children: Gloria; Sanctus and Benedictus
Angharad Gruffydd Jones, soprano
Jeremy Huw Williams, baritone
Clare College Choir
Farnham Youth Choir
Clare Chamber Ensemble
James McVinnie, organ
Timothy Brown, conductor

The Gift of Life: The Gift of Each Day; Believe in Life
The Cambridge Singers
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
John Rutter, conductor

There is a flower
Quintin Beer (treble)
St John’s College Choir
David Hill, conductor

Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Wales and West