Carl Rütti

• Biography

  Born in 1949, Carl Rütti grew up in Zug, Switzerland. He studied music at the Zürich Conservatoire, emerging in 1975 with a Solisten-diploma in both piano and organ. During the following year, studying under Kendall Taylor and Richard Latham in London, he became especially fascinated by English choral singing. He attended a lunch-time concert given by the BBC Singers and their performance of Scarlatti's 10-part Stabat Mater inspired him to write several pieces for a capella choir, some of which were later recorded by the Singers.

  Since then he has composed a steady output of largely religious choral works and worked together with many English choirs. His compositions also include the carol I wonder as I wander, which has been performed several times in recent years as part of King's College Cambridge's "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols".

  Rütti's music blends the English choral tradition with other genres including jazz and the blues in rich colourful textures, and has been performed all over the world. He teaches piano at the Zürich Conservatoire, gives concerts and recitals as a pianist and organist, and is the organist of the local church in Oberägeri, Zug.

  O patre unigenitas
  Carl Rütti has composed a number of works for choir and in this, his most recent, his particular 'bluesy' ear for harmony and incisive sense of rhythm abound. The anonymous 15th-century words, set in both English and Latin, tell the story of the Word made Flesh.

  More like this: Jonathan Dove - The Three Kings
  A previous King's College, Cambridge commission, Dove's carol The Three Kings contains distinct, varied sections, from the sweetest treble melodies to complicated vocal effects. Rütti employs similar contrasts between the chant-like opening and the bubbling, dance that follows.

• More Carols

  • David Briggs - Adam lay y-bounden
  • Hermione Roff - The Virgin's Song
  • Andrew Simpson - I saw three ships
  • arr Malcolm Archer - Angels from the realms of glory
  • Sir Richard Rodney Bennett - The Holly and the Ivy
  • Sir John Tavener - Cradle Song
  • arr Sir David Willcocks - I saw three ships
  • arr Bob Chilcott - Sussex Carol
  • Richard Lloyd - St Joseph's Carol
  • Francis Pott - Balulalow
  • Alexander Campkin - Sleep, holy babe
  • Bernard Hughes - I am Christmas
  • Peter Cornelius - The Three Kings
  • Kristina Arakleyan - New Year!