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Track Name: Suzi's Carol (New Commission by ORA and world premiere recording)
Composer: John Rutter
Text: 15th century English
Duration: 4:55
Nationality: British
"John Rutter is one of the most successful of all living composers. His rare melodic gift and captivating harmonic flair have combined in a series of unforgettable choral gems that have touched the hearts of millions around the globe."
- Classic FM, UK
"In common with many composers, I have often found the text for a new carol in the rich store of early English poetry, so much of which was inspired by the Christmas story and written with musical setting in mind - though in many cases the music is lost. Suzi's Carol was composed to a 15th-century anonymous text, A babe is born all of a may, found in the Sloane manuscript in the British Library. In modern times this text was memorably set to music in exuberant style by William Mathias, but I felt there was scope for a more introspective setting: given the brief that there was to be an accompaniment for percussion, I found a counterpart to the mood of the text in the characterful and perhaps slightly enigmatic tone-colour of marimba, with crotales (small pitched metal plates sounding like like tiny bells) at the point of climax in the music. I have dedicated my setting to Suzi and her wonderful choir Ora."
- John Rutter