John Rutter 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.

There is no doubt that the European Sacred Music Choral Classics volume is one of the most important additions to the repertoire made in this century. The fame of this collection has spread so fast that it needs little comment from me, except to congatulate John Rutter on his great achievement. Here at last is an opportunity for choirs to broaden and enrich their musical and spiritual experience with the best works from the pens of Bruckner, Brahms, Lassus, Monteverdi, Palestrina, Reger, Verdi and Victoria. Russian composers are particularly well represented by works from Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Glinka and Tchaikovsky . . . This book is an absolute bargain, since it not only contains 54 anthems and motets, but also includes fascinating and erudite notes on every single piece, with sources always given. It goes without saying that every self-respecting choir should have a set of this valuable book in its library: so on with the coffee mornings and sponsored swims!

• Miserere ; Christus factus est ; The Lord's Prayer ; O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht, BWV 118 ; Ach, arme Welt, Op. 110 no.2 ; Geistliches Lied, Op. 30 ; Warum ist das Licht, Op. 74 no.1 ; Ave Maria ; Christus factus est ; Locus iste ; Os justi ; Magnificat ; O vos omnes ; Cantique de Jean Racine ; Panis angelicus ; Jubilate Deo a 8 ; O vos omnes ; The Cherubic Hymn ; Ave maris stella ; Ave Virgo sanctissima ; Pater noster ; Dixit Maria ; Crux fidelis ; Ave Maria ; Adoramus te, Christe ; Ave verum Corpus ; Timor et tremor ; Crucifixus a 8 ; Verleih uns Frieden ; Psalm 43 (Richte mich, Gott) ; Beatus vir ; Cantate Domino ; Christe, adoramus te ; Ave verum Corpus ; Exsultate Deo ; Sicut cervus ; Tu es Petrus and Quodcumque ligaveris ; Salve Regina ; Ave Maria ; Abendlied, Op. 69 no. 3 ; Unser lieben Frauen Traum ; O salutaris Hostia ; Psalm 23 ; Psalm 100 ; Selig sind die Toten ; Ave Maria ; Laudate Dominum ; Hymn to the Virgin ; Ave Maria ; Exsultate justi ; Ave Maria a 4 ; Jesu, dulcis memoria ; O quam gloriosum ; O vos omnes