John Rutter (b1945) wrote his double-choir anthem Hymn to the Creator of Light for the cathedral choirs of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester and their respective conductors at that time: John Sanders, Roy Massey and Donald Hunt. The work is dedicated to the memory of Herbert Howells and was sung at the dedication of the Howells memorial window by Caroline Swash which adorns Gloucester Cathedral. This anthem occasionally uses musical gestures reminiscent of that composer’s style.

The mysterious, quasi-plainsong opening sung by the second choir is answered as if from on high by the first choir. This eventually leads to a central section, Allegro energico, in which the two choirs continue to answer each other. This subsides in turn to a quieter final section where the chorale Schmücke dich by Johann Crüger (1598–1662) is delicately reharmonized by Rutter, bringing the work to a peaceful conclusion.

from notes by William McVicker © 1997