ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

When a choir director hands out John Rutter's setting of "All Things Bright and Beautiful," there is usually a ripple of excitement in the loft. Rutter takes Cecil Frances Alexander's famous text and gives it a completely new, dancing melody that feels both fresh and instantly familiar. Instead of the traditional hymn tune, this arrangement bounces with a joyful, rhythmic energy that perfectly captures the wonder of creation.

The piece is a joy to rehearse and sing. It opens with the sopranos introducing the bright, sweeping refrain, before the altos take over for a warm, gentle first verse about the opening flowers and singing birds. As the song progresses, the voices combine and build, painting pictures of purple-headed mountains and ripe garden fruits.

Choirs often bring this out for harvest thanksgivings, children's masses, or any Sunday focused on creation and praise. It requires a bit of lightness and crisp diction to keep the momentum going, but the result is always uplifting. The final verse swells with full harmony, reminding the congregation of the Almighty who "has made all things well," before settling into a quiet, peaceful close.