Recently, a journalist compared Rutter to Dickens, describing him as a symbol of festive Christmas music. This comparison underscores Rutter's decades-long engagement with the Christmas repertoire, though he himself emphasizes that his works extend far beyond this genre. Nevertheless, his name is primarily known for his carols and Christmas songs.
The deep roots of Christmas traditions continually inspire Rutter to compose new carols. He is impressed by early choral music in the vernacular due to its historical significance, which also influences contemporary composers such as Britten and Vaughan Williams. For Rutter, the genre of Christmas music offers a unique artistic freedom, as classically trained musicians can express themselves without limitations.
Another reason for Rutter's fascination with writing carols is that Christmas is the only opportunity for many people to experience choral music. In the 1970s, his name became widely known through the publication of the anthology "Carols for Choirs" with David Willcocks. This work formed the basis for numerous other Christmas compositions and arrangements by Rutter.
Although arrangements reflect the spirit of the times and are often ephemeral, they remain present across generations. Rutter reflects on his artistic development and highlights "Shepherd's Pipe Carol," which he wrote under the influence of performances of Menotti's opera.
Pieces such as "There is a Flower" and "Sans Day Carol" demonstrate Rutter's versatility—each composition has its own story of origin, whether due to time constraints during a recording session or as a musical dedication to a specific person.
Rutter incorporated American folklore, for example, in "I Wonder as I Wander"; works such as "Jesus Child" and "Donkey Carol" capture the joyful spirit of the Christmas season. With "Wild Wood Carol," he took up motifs from Grahame's "The Wind in the Willows" and created a musical interpretation of the classic children's book.
Rutter's arrangements of "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night," as well as his inclusion of traditional carols like "Angel Tidings," have significantly shaped the Christmas choral repertoire. Compositions such as "Mary's Lullaby" and "Love Came Down at Christmas" also enrich the annual festivities with musical artistry.
With works like "Christmas Lullaby" and "Star Carol," Rutter captures the festive atmosphere of London concerts, while "Dormi Jesu" and "What Sweeter Music?" evoke the soundscape of King's College, Cambridge. The breadth of his compositions ranges from classical to modern, creative pieces, underscoring Rutter's prominent position in the genre of Christmas music.