From the Organist & Choirmaster
At this Sunday’s 10:30 am Mass, the Parish Choir will sing This is the Day in an arrangement by the English composer John Rutter (b. 1945), one of the most widely loved and frequently used figures in contemporary Anglican Church music. Bright, rhythmic, and full of confident joy, this piece captures both the exuberance of the text and the accessible, radiant musical style for which Rutter is best known.
The words of This is the Day come from various parts of the Psalter including Psalms 118, 148, 91, 121, and 27. Some of the most familiar texts from the psalter, often associated with Eastertide, festal occasions, and moments of thanksgiving. Its message is simple, yet profound, each day is a gift from God, worthy of joy, gratitude, and praise. Rutter’s arrangement amplifies this sense of celebration. The text is treated not as a quiet meditation but as a proclamation, sung with rhythmic energy and buoyant momentum. The music invites both singers and listeners to share in the joy of the psalmist’s declaration.
Rutter’s setting is characterized by strong rhythmic drive, bright harmonies, and a clear, singable melodic line. Syncopations and repeating rhythmic patterns create a sense of forward motion and excitement, while the harmonies language remains warm, consonant, and appealing. One of Rutter’s great gifts as a composer is his instinct for vocal writing. The choral parts lie comfortably for the voice, allowing singers to produce a full, confident sound. The texture alternates between unified, homophonic statements of the text and more layered, imitative passages that build energy and color. The accompaniment adds a sparkle and clarity, reinforcing the celebratory character of the piece and supporting the choir.
John Rutter was born in London in 1945 and educated at Clare College, Cambridge, where he studied music and later served as Director of Music. While at Cambridge, he came under the influence of the English choral tradition at its finest, absorbing the legacy of composers such as Herbert Howells, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Benjamin Britten. Rutter first gained international recognition in the 1970s with works such as For the Beauty of the Earth, All things Bright and Beautiful, and The Lord Bless you and Keep you. These pieces quickly became staples of the church and concert choir repertoires around the world. In 1981, Rutter founded the Cambridge Singers, a professional chamber choir with which he has recorded extensively. Through this ensemble, he has helped bring both early sacred music and contemporary choral works to a wide global audience.
Rutter composed This is the Day in 2011 for the Royal wedding of HRH Prince William and Miss (now Princess) Catherine Middleton and was first performed by the choir and Queen’s singers at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.