The Lord is my shepherd – John Rutter (b. 1945)
John Rutter is principally known as a choral composer and arranger, with a series of compositions and arrangements that have won wide popularity. His Requiem, written after the death of his father, interposes texts from The Book of Common Prayer between parts of the Latin Requiem Mass. It retains an important place in contemporary repertoire, as do his anthems and carol arrangements. Rutter’s beautiful setting of Psalm 23, the communion motet this Sunday in church, was originally published in 1978 as a stand-alone work, but was later incorporated as the sixth movement of his Requiem.
The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall feed me in a green pasture, and lead me beside the waters of comfort.
He shall convert my soul and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
For thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
Thou shalt prepare a table for me against them that trouble me:
Thou has anointed my head with oil and my cup shall be full.
But thy loving kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Gerald Harder