John Rutter

Dancing Tree

Dancing Tree is a captivating set of eight songs for mixed choir and harp that draws upon the poetry of Cornish writer Charles Causley. The work presents a rich selection of Causley's texts, primarily drawn from his Collected Poems for Children and illustrative of his simple yet evocative style that conveys emotion and connection to folklore while being deeply rooted in nature. Rutter employs a diversity of musical styles and uses his choral and instrumental forces to perfectly capture the spirit of the texts, including the lilting 'Stone in the water', the lyrical 'In my garden', and the waltz-like 'Dandelion'. In this harp part pedalling is fully indicated and enharmonic notation used where appropriate.

Composer Information:
John Rutter (b. 1945) studied music at Clare College, Cambridge and first came to notice as a composer and arranger of Christmas carols and other choral pieces during those early years; today his compositions, including such concert-length works as Requiem, Magnificat, Mass of the Children, The Gift of Life, and Visions are performed around the world. John edits the Oxford Choral Classics series, and, with Sir David Willcocks, co-edited four volumes of Carols for Choirs. In 1983 he formed his own choir The Cambridge Singers, with whom he has made numerous recordings on the Collegium Records label, and he appears regularly in several countries as a guest conductor and choral ambassador. John holds a Lambeth Doctorate in Music, and in 2007 was awarded a CBE for services to music. In September 2023, he received the Ivors Academy Fellowship, and in 2024 he was knighted in the King's Birthday Honours.