Rutter's Christiana Canticles are a model of pragmatism - touching and serenely beautiful. The upper-voice led Magnificat trips along gracefully, with an appropriately wistful 'He remembering' section, and the double-arched structure of the lower-voice led Nunc dimittis is formally satisfying. The organ part is thoroughly manageable and the choral writing is craftsmanlike in the extreme, only dividing (suitably enough) for the 'and to be the glory' section in the Nunc dimittis. * Jeremy Summerly, Choir & Organ, November/December 2012 *
John Rutter's Christiana Canticles were also written for the choir of Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, a professional choir, but Rutter has written a piece that good amateur singers as well as professionals will enjoy. Surprisingly it is his first setting of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis. There is much contrast in the vivid characterization of each verse, and a particularly effective coming to rest on 'as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever'. You can hear a recording of the complete Magnificat on the publisher's website. * James L. Montgomery, Sunday by Sunday, Sept 15 *
