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{{Short description|1981 classical sacred choral composition by John Rutter}}
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{{Use British English|date=June 2018}}
{{about|a musical composition by John Rutter|the Biblical text of which it is a setting|Priestly blessing}}
{{about|a musical composition by John Rutter|the Biblical text of which it is a setting|Priestly blessing}}
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{{Use British English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox musical composition
{{Infobox musical composition
| name = "The Lord bless you and keep you"
| name = "The Lord bless you and keep you"
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| caption =
| caption =
| composer = [[John Rutter]]
| composer = [[John Rutter]]
| Published = {{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1981}}|location=}} {{nowrap|[[Oxford University Press]]}}
| published = {{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1981}}|location=}} {{nowrap|[[Oxford University Press]]}}
| text = [[Priestly Blessing]]
| text = [[Priestly Blessing]]
| scoring = [[SATB]] choir and organ
| scoring = [[SATB]] choir and organ
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}}
}}


'''''The Lord bless you and keep you''''' is a classical sacred choral composition by [[John Rutter]]. It is a setting of a biblical [[benediction]], followed by an extended "Amen". Rutter scored the piece for four vocal parts ([[SATB]]) and [[Organ (music)|organ]].<ref name="OUP" /> He composed it in 1981 for the memorial service of Edward T. Chapman, the director of music at [[Highgate School]], London, with whom he had studied when he attended the school.<ref name="Grimshaw" />
"'''The Lord bless you and keep you'''" is a classical sacred choral composition by [[John Rutter]], based on Numbers 6:24-26. It is a setting of a biblical [[benediction]], followed by an extended "Amen". Rutter scored the piece for four vocal parts ([[SATB]]) and [[Organ (music)|organ]].<ref name="OUP" /> He composed it in 1981 for the memorial service of Edward T. Chapman, the director of music at [[Highgate School]], London, with whom he had studied when he attended the school.<ref name="Grimshaw" />


It was published by [[Oxford University Press]] in 1981, in the anthology ''Oxford Easy Anthems'', edited by [[David Willcocks]].
It was published by [[Oxford University Press]] in 1981, in the anthology ''Oxford Easy Anthems'', edited by [[David Willcocks]].


==Text==
==Text==
''The Lord bless you and keep you'' is a setting of the ''[[Priestly Blessing]]'', also known as the ''Aaronic blessing'', from the [[Book of Numbers]] in the Bible ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Numbers|chapter=6|verse=24|range=–26}}). The blessing, sung or spoken, is used at the conclusion of worship, baptism, ordination, marriage, and other special occasions in Christian worship.<ref name="Hymnary" />
"The Lord bless you and keep you" is a setting of the [[Priestly Blessing]], also known as the ''Aaronic'' blessing, from the [[Book of Numbers]] in the Bible ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Numbers|chapter=6|verse=24|range=–26}}). The blessing, sung or spoken, is used at the conclusion of worship, baptism, ordination, marriage, and other special occasions in Christian worship.<ref name="Hymnary" />


===Other settings===
===Other settings===
Line 26: Line 27:


In "The Lord bless you and keep you", Rutter keeps the music restrained and simple. The accompaniment first rests on a [[pedal point]]; long chords in the bass change only every half bar, while broken chords in steady [[quaver]]s add colour. The first line of the text is sung by the sopranos alone, then repeated by all voices, starting in unison but expanding to harmony on the words "The Lord make His face to shine upon you". "The Lord lift His countenance upon you" is sung twice in two-part homophony, first soprano and alto, then tenor and bass. "And give you peace" appears three times, softer each time from [[Mezzo piano|mp]] to [[Pianissimo|pp]], first in the soprano, then in the tenor, and finally in [[unison]] in all voices.<ref name="Score" /> A [[Polyphony|polyphonic]] "Amen" grows to the climax of the music both in range and in intensity, then gradually softens and, after a "[[Rallentando|molto rallentando]]", reaches the final long chord.<ref name="Grimshaw" /><ref name="Score" />
In "The Lord bless you and keep you", Rutter keeps the music restrained and simple. The accompaniment first rests on a [[pedal point]]; long chords in the bass change only every half bar, while broken chords in steady [[quaver]]s add colour. The first line of the text is sung by the sopranos alone, then repeated by all voices, starting in unison but expanding to harmony on the words "The Lord make His face to shine upon you". "The Lord lift His countenance upon you" is sung twice in two-part homophony, first soprano and alto, then tenor and bass. "And give you peace" appears three times, softer each time from [[Mezzo piano|mp]] to [[Pianissimo|pp]], first in the soprano, then in the tenor, and finally in [[unison]] in all voices.<ref name="Score" /> A [[Polyphony|polyphonic]] "Amen" grows to the climax of the music both in range and in intensity, then gradually softens and, after a "[[Rallentando|molto rallentando]]", reaches the final long chord.<ref name="Grimshaw" /><ref name="Score" />

'''Structure and sections (According to version for 4 SATB voices):'''

Prelude: C.1 - C.2 | Section A: C.3 - C.18 | Section B: C.19 - C.34 | Section C: C.35 - C.45

'''Vocal Register:'''
Soprano C4 (c.31) - A5 (c.39) | Alto: C 4 (c.31) - E 4 (c.39) | Tenor: C 4 (c.31) - F 4 (c.26 ) | Bass: Sol 2 (c.45) - C 4


==Performances==
==Performances==
Line 31: Line 39:


===Recordings===
===Recordings===
The piece has been recorded several times,<ref name="Grimshaw" /> for example ending a collection of Rutter's choral works performed under his direction by the [[Cambridge Singers]] and the [[City of London Sinfonia]].<ref name="Collegium" /> It also concluded the 2010 recording of [[Requiem (Rutter)|the composer's Requiem]] by [[Polyphony (choir)|Polyphony]] and the [[Bournemouth Sinfonietta]], conducted by [[Stephen Layton]].<ref name="Hyperion" /> In his notes to that recording, the composer described his musical aims: "I happen not to believe in erecting needless barriers between composer and listener: given a choice between critical approbation and a chance of touching the hearts of people outside the limited circle of contemporary music ''aficionados'', I know which I prefer."<ref name="Rutter" />
The piece has been recorded several times,<ref name="Grimshaw" /> for example ending a collection of Rutter's choral works performed under his direction by the [[Cambridge Singers]] and the [[City of London Sinfonia]].<ref name="Collegium" /> It also concluded the 2010 recording of [[Requiem (Rutter)|the composer's Requiem]] by [[Polyphony (choir)|Polyphony]] and the [[Bournemouth Sinfonietta]], conducted by [[Stephen Layton]].<ref name="Hyperion" /> In his notes to that recording, the composer described his musical aims: "I happen not to believe in erecting needless barriers between composer and listener: given a choice between critical approbation and a chance of touching the hearts of people outside the limited circle of contemporary music ''aficionados'', I know which I prefer."<ref name="Rutter" />


== References ==
== References ==


{{reflist | 30em
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Grimshaw">{{cite web | last = Grimshaw | first = Jeremy | url = http://www.allmusic.com/composition/the-lord-bless-you-and-keep-you-for-chorus-orchestra-mc0002367231 | title = John Rutter / The Lord Bless You and Keep You, for chorus & orchestra | publisher = [[Allmusic]] | accessdate = 11 January 2014}}</ref>
| refs =


<ref name="Rutter">{{cite web | last = Rutter | first = John | url = http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/notes/30017-B.pdf | title = John Rutter / Requiem | publisher = [[Hyperion Records|Hyperion]] | year = 1997 | page = | accessdate = 11 January 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Grimshaw">{{cite web
| last = Grimshaw
| first = Jeremy
| url = http://www.allmusic.com/composition/the-lord-bless-you-and-keep-you-for-chorus-orchestra-mc0002367231
| title = John Rutter / The Lord Bless You and Keep You, for chorus & orchestra
| publisher = [[Allmusic]]
| accessdate = 11 January 2014
}}</ref>


<ref name="Augustiner">{{cite web | url = http://www.augustinerkirche-wuerzburg.de/tl_files/augustinerkirche/Themen/Flyer%20John%20Rutter%20Internet.pdf | title = John Rutter Workshop | publisher = [[Hyperion Records|Hyperion]] | year = 2013 | language = German | accessdate = 11 January 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Rutter">{{cite web
| last = Rutter
| first = John
| url = http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/notes/30017-B.pdf
| title = John Rutter / Requiem
| publisher = [[Hyperion Records|Hyperion]]
| year = 1997
| format = PDF
| page =
| accessdate = 11 January 2014
}}</ref>


⚫
<ref name="Collegium">{{cite web | url = http://www.collegium.co.uk/product-detail/Albums/Collegium/The+Cambridge+Singers+Philip+Jones+Brass+Ensemble+City+of+London+Sinfonia+John+Rutter+conductor/Gloria/cd/30 | title = Gloria / The sacred music of John Rutter | publisher = collegium.co.uk | year = | accessdate = 11 January 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Augustiner">{{cite web
| url = http://www.augustinerkirche-wuerzburg.de/tl_files/augustinerkirche/Themen/Flyer%20John%20Rutter%20Internet.pdf
| title = John Rutter Workshop
| publisher = [[Hyperion Records|Hyperion]]
| year = 2013
| format = PDF
| language = German
| accessdate = 11 January 2014
}}</ref>


<ref name="Hymnary">{{cite web | url = https://hymnary.org/text/the_lord_bless_you_and_keep_you | title = The Lord Bless You and Keep You | website = hymnary.org | accessdate = 23 May 2018}}</ref>
<ref name="Collegium">{{cite web
⚫
| url = http://www.collegium.co.uk/product-detail/Albums/Collegium/The+Cambridge+Singers+Philip+Jones+Brass+Ensemble+City+of+London+Sinfonia+John+Rutter+conductor/Gloria/cd/30
| title = Gloria / The sacred music of John Rutter
| publisher = collegium.co.uk
| year =
| accessdate = 11 January 2014
}}</ref>


<ref name="Hyperion">{{cite web | url = http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA30017 | title = 30th Anniversary Series / John Rutter (b1945) / Requiem & other choral works | publisher = [[Hyperion Records|Hyperion]] | year = 2010 | accessdate = 11 January 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Hymnary">{{cite web
| url = https://hymnary.org/text/the_lord_bless_you_and_keep_you
| title = The Lord Bless You and Keep You
| website = hymnary.org
| accessdate = 23 May 2018
}}</ref>


<ref name="OUP">{{cite web | url = http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780193511286.do | title = John Rutter / The Lord bless you and keep you | publisher = [[Oxford University Press]] | year = 1981 | accessdate = 11 January 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Hyperion">{{cite web
| url = http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA30017
| title = 30th Anniversary Series / John Rutter (b1945) / Requiem & other choral works
| publisher = [[Hyperion Records|Hyperion]]
| year = 2010
| accessdate = 11 January 2014
}}</ref>


<ref name="OUP F">{{cite book | url = http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780193415218.do | title = John Rutter / The Lord bless you and keep you / SA vocal score (F major) | publisher = [[Oxford University Press]] | year = 1992 | accessdate = 11 January 2014 | isbn = 9780193415218}}</ref>
<ref name="OUP">{{cite web
| url = http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780193511286.do
| title = John Rutter / The Lord bless you and keep you
| publisher = [[Oxford University Press]]
| year = 1981
| accessdate = 11 January 2014
}}</ref>

<ref name="OUP F">{{cite web
| url = http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780193415218.do
| title = John Rutter / The Lord bless you and keep you / SA vocal score (F major)
| publisher = [[Oxford University Press]]
| year = 1992
| accessdate = 11 January 2014
}}</ref>

<ref name="Score">{{cite book
| title = Oxford Easy Anthems
| editor = [[David Willcocks]]
| publisher = [[Oxford University Press]]
| year = 1981
| accessdate = 11 January 2014
}}</ref>


<ref name="Score">{{cite book | title = Oxford Easy Anthems | editor = David Willcocks | editor-link = David Willcocks | publisher = [[Oxford University Press]] | year = 1981}}</ref>
}}
}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.songtextemania.com/the_lord_bless_you_and_keep_you_songtext_choirboys_the.html ''The Lord Bless You And Keep You''] text on songtextemania.com


{{John Rutter|state=collapsed}}
{{John Rutter|state=collapsed}}
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{{Authority control}}


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{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lord bless you and keep you}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lord bless you and keep you}}
[[Category:Compositions by John Rutter]]
[[Category:1981 compositions]]
[[Category:1981 compositions]]
[[Category:Choral compositions]]
[[Category:Choral compositions by John Rutter]]
[[Category:Priestly Blessing]]
[[Category:Priestly Blessing]]

Latest revision as of 12:29, 10 October 2024

This article is about a musical composition by John Rutter. For the Biblical text of which it is a setting, see Priestly blessing.

"The Lord bless you and keep you"
by John Rutter
TextPriestly Blessing
Dedication"in memoriam Edward T. Chapman"
Published1981 (1981): Oxford University Press
ScoringSATB choir and organ

"The Lord bless you and keep you" is a classical sacred choral composition by John Rutter, based on Numbers 6:24-26. It is a setting of a biblical benediction, followed by an extended "Amen". Rutter scored the piece for four vocal parts (SATB) and organ.[1] He composed it in 1981 for the memorial service of Edward T. Chapman, the director of music at Highgate School, London, with whom he had studied when he attended the school.[2]

It was published by Oxford University Press in 1981, in the anthology Oxford Easy Anthems, edited by David Willcocks.

Text

[edit]

"The Lord bless you and keep you" is a setting of the Priestly Blessing, also known as the Aaronic blessing, from the Book of Numbers in the Bible (Numbers 6:24–26). The blessing, sung or spoken, is used at the conclusion of worship, baptism, ordination, marriage, and other special occasions in Christian worship.[3]

Other settings

[edit]

In 1900, Peter Lutkin composed a setting for a cappella choir.[3]

Music

[edit]

Rutter's setting is for four vocal parts (SATB) and organ.[1] Marked "Andante espressivo", the music is in G-flat major and common time. It takes about 2+1⁄2 minutes to perform. Rutter also wrote an arrangement for soprano, alto and keyboard in F major[4] and a version for choir and orchestra.[2]

In "The Lord bless you and keep you", Rutter keeps the music restrained and simple. The accompaniment first rests on a pedal point; long chords in the bass change only every half bar, while broken chords in steady quavers add colour. The first line of the text is sung by the sopranos alone, then repeated by all voices, starting in unison but expanding to harmony on the words "The Lord make His face to shine upon you". "The Lord lift His countenance upon you" is sung twice in two-part homophony, first soprano and alto, then tenor and bass. "And give you peace" appears three times, softer each time from mp to pp, first in the soprano, then in the tenor, and finally in unison in all voices.[5] A polyphonic "Amen" grows to the climax of the music both in range and in intensity, then gradually softens and, after a "molto rallentando", reaches the final long chord.[2][5]

Structure and sections (According to version for 4 SATB voices):

Prelude: C.1 - C.2 | Section A: C.3 - C.18 | Section B: C.19 - C.34 | Section C: C.35 - C.45

Vocal Register: Soprano C4 (c.31) - A5 (c.39) | Alto: C 4 (c.31) - E 4 (c.39) | Tenor: C 4 (c.31) - F 4 (c.26 ) | Bass: Sol 2 (c.45) - C 4

Performances

[edit]

Rutter has chosen this work to represent his compositions in workshops.[6] It was part of the celebration of the 100th birthday of the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 2000,[2] and was sung by the choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018.

Recordings

[edit]

The piece has been recorded several times,[2] for example ending a collection of Rutter's choral works performed under his direction by the Cambridge Singers and the City of London Sinfonia.[7] It also concluded the 2010 recording of the composer's Requiem by Polyphony and the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, conducted by Stephen Layton.[8] In his notes to that recording, the composer described his musical aims: "I happen not to believe in erecting needless barriers between composer and listener: given a choice between critical approbation and a chance of touching the hearts of people outside the limited circle of contemporary music aficionados, I know which I prefer."[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "John Rutter / The Lord bless you and keep you". Oxford University Press. 1981. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e Grimshaw, Jeremy. "John Rutter / The Lord Bless You and Keep You, for chorus & orchestra". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  3. ^ a b "The Lord Bless You and Keep You". hymnary.org. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  4. ^ John Rutter / The Lord bless you and keep you / SA vocal score (F major). Oxford University Press. 1992. ISBN 9780193415218. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  5. ^ a b David Willcocks, ed. (1981). Oxford Easy Anthems. Oxford University Press.
  6. ^ "John Rutter Workshop" (PDF) (in German). Hyperion. 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Gloria / The sacred music of John Rutter". collegium.co.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  8. ^ "30th Anniversary Series / John Rutter (b1945) / Requiem & other choral works". Hyperion. 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  9. ^ Rutter, John (1997). "John Rutter / Requiem" (PDF). Hyperion. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
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