It was absolutely no surprise when this album landed on classical best-seller lists in the late autumn of 2024. With music by
John Rutter
and performances by the
Black Dyke Band
, it's catnip to both
Rutter
fans and brass band lovers, whose legions alone would probably be strong enough to put the album on the charts. And there are plenty of other pleasures once listeners dig in. The arrangements are one; most are by the prominent Belgian band figure
Luc Vertommen
, and they effortlessly transfer
compositions in a variety of genres to the brass band medium. Several of these really show what the
can do (sample the
Carol of the Magi
and its silky low registers), but others are more straightforward, and one wonders whether community and collegiate bands will be able to get at them -- they would be ideal for holiday programs. There are three choral pieces, and the
Sheffield Philharmonic Choir
is another draw, with just the proper warmth for this kind of seasonal outing. Ultimately, though, the main draw is Rutter's music. The compositions here date back to his earliest efforts in the 1960s, and by now, even non-fans must concede that his work has become part of the English tradition; some of these pieces are so familiar that a half-attentive listener may well take
's works for traditional ones. This album represents quite a coup for the
Naxos
label: both
and the
have been associated with larger labels in the past. The band is well recorded at a pair of town halls in two separate but temporarily close recording sessions. ~ James Manheim