Joseph's Carol - John Rutter, John Rutter, Jonathan Brown, The Cambridge Singers, RPO

'Joseph's Carol'
From the EP ‘I sing of a maiden’

Composer John Rutter
Conductor John Rutter
Choir The Cambridge Singers
Bass-Baritone: Jonathan Brown
Orchestra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

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John Rutter writes about Joseph's Carol:
In 2020, at the height of the Covid pandemic, I was asked by Marios Papadopoulos – founder and conductor of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra – to compose a new carol as part of a filmed Christmas tribute to the Oxford vaccine team. In addition to the orchestra, we had at our disposal the choir of Merton College, and Sir Bryn Terfel as star soloist. I immediately pictured him in the role of the steadfast Joseph, and Joseph’s Carol is written from his point of view: a weary traveller on his way to Bethlehem with Mary, his doubts and fears turned to awe and wonder as he hears angel voices foretelling the miracle to come.

Long and weary was the journey,
Hard and dark the road we trod;
Deep enfolded in the stillness of the night
It seemed I heard the voice of God:
‘Fear not, Joseph, weep not, Mary,
Travel onward through the darkness of night;
Bethlehem will see his glory:
Christ, Emmanuel, the Lord of light.’

Ecce miraculum, ecce miraculum,
Here in a stable lies your heav’nly King,
Ecce miraculum, ecce miraculum,
Alleluia, alleluia hear the angels sing.

Journey’s end was just a stable bare,
Cold and lonely for a birth;
Ox and ass were our companions there
When God revealed himself on earth.
Shepherds came in awe and wonder,
Kneeling low beside his manger stall;
Angels singing, wise men bringing
Gifts to lay before the Lord of all.
Ecce miraculum, &c.
(John Rutter)

I sing of a maiden
Five new carols by John Rutter - recorded by John Rutter, The Cambridge Singers and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, in London, July 2021.

John Rutter, English composer and conductor, is associated with choral music throughout the world. His recordings with the Cambridge Singers (the professional chamber choir he set up in 1981) have reached a wide global audience, many of them featuring his own music in definitive versions. Among John’s best-known choral works are Gloria, Requiem, Magnificat, Mass of the Children, and Visions, together with many church anthems, choral songs and Christmas carols.

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