For choral musicians, Christmas is an especially joyous time, as it is filled with the warmth of singing beloved carols and sacred works that celebrate the spirit of the season. That shared experience of harmonising in festive concerts creates a profound sense of community and uplift.

Christmas is made even more special by John Rutter, one of the world’s most popular choral composers, whose famous arrangements of traditional carols and original Christmas pieces have become cherished holiday favourites.

John Rutter

“I have always enjoyed carols ever since I first sang them as a member of my school choir,” Rutter relates, “and it was not long before I began to write carols of my own.” This Christmas season, let us listen to some of John Rutter’s most enchanting carols, filling our hearts with the festive joy of his timeless music.

John Rutter: Shepherd’s Pipe Carol

The Spark of Christmas

Christmas was always a very special time for Rutter. “It’s kind of the world as we all wish it could be, for just those precious few days each year. A time of stillness and yet of rejoicing. So Christmas will always be very special in my heart, and it’s always been celebrated in music.”

Listening to and singing carols was not enough for John Rutter, “and it was not long before I began to write carols of my own.” In fact, his first two published compositions, written when he was in his teens, were the “Nativity Carol” and the “Shepherd’s Pipe Carol.”

As the composer relates, “this was more subversive than it sounds since at the time, the only officially approved style of composition for a classically-trained music student was post-Webernian serialism, which never appealed to me much.”

John Rutter: Nativity Carol

A Festive Revolution

For young John Rutter, writing Christmas carols was an undercover way of slipping a tune or two into circulation at a time of year when music critics are generally on vacation. “No one seemed to mind, so from time to time I continued to write and arrange carols.”

Things got even more involved when Oxford University Press set out to craft a vibrant new anthology of Christmas carols and hymns tailored for the British Anglican tradition in 1961. Reginald Jacques, conductor of the Bach Choir, and Sir David Willcocks, Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge, edited the inaugural volume.

This first volume blended vibrant new arrangements of traditional tunes with works by contemporary composers like William Walton and Benjamin Britten. And it was an instant success, selling over a million copies.

John Rutter: Candlelight Carol

Harmony in Opportunity

The public demanded sequels, and after Jacques’ passing in 1969, a young Cambridge undergraduate named John Rutter joined Willcocks as co-editor, infusing the series with his emerging talent for joyful, accessible choral writing that would define its enduring appeal.

Rutter described his involvement in the Carols for Choirs series as a thrilling opportunity, noting that he felt “incredibly fortunate to work alongside Willcocks.” He recalled the joy of contributing to the second volume, where his early arrangement of Come Leave Your Sheep appeared.

He described it as a moment of “pinching himself” to believe he was part of such a prestigious project. He also expressed pride in the series’ lasting impact, saying it was a privilege to help shape a collection that brought “so much joy to choirs and audiences worldwide.”

John Rutter: Christmas Lullaby

Carols for Choirs

John Rutter

Spanning four main volumes plus a beloved compilation, the Carols for Choirs series offers choirs a wealth of options to suit every ensemble and occasion. Carols for Choirs 1 (1961) features 50 mixed-voice (SATB) pieces, emphasising both unaccompanied and accompanied carols for Advent and Christmas.

Carols for Choirs 2 (1970) builds on this with another 50 SATB selections, including Rutter’s early contributions, alongside brass and orchestral options for festive flair. Carols for Choirs 3 (1978) shifts focus to Advent, offering 50 carols with a mix of ancient and modern gems, perfect for reflective services.

Carols for Choirs 4 (1980), affectionately called the “Maroon Book,” caters to upper-voice choirs (sopranos and altos) with 50 simple, heartfelt arrangements, plus originals by Rutter and Britten. Rounding it out, 100 Carols for Choirs (1987) compiles 74 favourites from the first three books with 26 new additions, spanning Advent through Easter, and including a full order of service for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. And I believe the series is still going.

John Rutter: Jesus Child

Weaving Christmas Magic

John Rutter approaches the creation of Christmas carols with a blend of reverence for tradition and a spark of creative joy, aiming to craft music that feels both timeless and deeply personal. He begins by immersing himself in the spirit of the season, drawing inspiration from the imagery of winter, the Nativity, or the simple warmth of human connection.

Rutter has shared that he often starts with a vivid mental picture, perhaps a night or shepherds in a field, which he then translates into a singable and evocative melody. Rutter focuses on crafting tunes that are instantly memorable, “with harmonies that add a touch of magic.”

Rutter also places great importance on the text, often writing his own lyrics or carefully selecting poetry that captures the emotional heart of Christmas. He has described this as “a collaborative dance between words and music, where the rhythm and meaning of the text guide the melody’s flow.”

John Rutter: Angels’ Carol

A Warm Embrace in Song

As a composer, John Rutter always pays meticulous attention to vocal ranges and harmonic colour to ensure that choirs of all levels can bring his carols to life. His orchestration, meanwhile, sometimes adding flutes or strings, enhances the festive glow.

“A carol should invite everyone to sing and feel the season’s wonder,” he once noted, and his compositional process reflects this, weaving together craftsmanship and heartfelt emotion to create music that lights up Christmas with joy and unity.

For John Rutter, the perfect Christmas carol is a magical blend of melody, emotion, and timeless tradition that wraps listeners in the warmth of the season. He believes a carol should feel like an old friend, instantly familiar yet fresh, with a tune that lingers in the heart and words that stir the soul.

John Rutter: The Wild Wood Carol

Simplicity and Wonder

In Rutter’s opinion, the best carols balance simplicity and depth, inviting everyone, whether a choir or a congregation, to join in with joy. Rutter has often emphasised the importance of evoking the Christmas spirit, capturing the wonder of the Nativity or the cosy glow of a winter’s night.

“It is the ability to connect people across generations, drawing them into a shared moment of festive delight, that makes a carol truly special,” he once explained. Rutter always highlights the power of a carol to tell a story or convey a universal truth, whether sacred or secular, that resonates deeply during the holiday season.

For Rutter, the perfect carol is a spark of joy that transcends the notes on the page, fostering a sense of togetherness and wonder. As he once shared, “A carol should lift the spirit and make you feel Christmas is here.”

John Rutter: There is a Flower

The Heart of Christmas

John Rutter’s Christmas carols are a radiant gift to the world, illuminating the holiday season with melodies that capture the heart and spirit of Christmas. In his compositions, lively and energetic or serene and glowing with warmth, he weaves a spell that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

Rutter’s music invites singers and listeners into a shared celebration. It transcends mere notes, embodying the wonder of starlit nights, the joy of communal song, and the quiet hope of the Nativity.

Rutter’s carols resonate across generations, uniting choirs in grand cathedrals, small community halls, and cosy living rooms in a universal language of festivity. This Christmas, as we sing his carols, let us embrace their infectious joy and tender beauty.

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