For the beauty of the earth

By John Rutter

Gorgeous piece. Anniversary Edition parts are not identical to the original octavos, so if you are buying additional copies, be aware that the pagination is not to supplement or replace the original octavos, there will be challenges with the choir singing from these two editions. Anniversary parts are separated into...

4 staves instead of SA on treble staff and TB on bass staff. In some measures, a bass line was added below the original, and it's simpler to learn, so if all your choir starts with the anniversary edition, it's great. The tips from John Rutter on the inside cover are wonderful. If I were buying this for the first time, I'd love the anniversary edition. As supplemental copies for new choristers, this doesn't work as well. I'll need to sell all I bought and buy the original. Our rehearsal was too challenging with mixed editions.

This anthem is easy technically, but the intrinsic beauty is one of indescribable joy and gentleness that expresses the happiness in God's creation. Rutter has done a rather magnificent job in penning such a tremendous addition to the literature.

Really lovely piece to accompany on piano. Only needed one copy for piano so would have preferred to buy single copy instead of minimum 8. Amy keeping others to give my piano students when they reach 7th grade or up to playing All the sharps it modulates into. One student...

has started this piece couple of wks ago and already loving it (a year ago she was not wanting so many sharps but after tackling moonlight sonata this year she's happily enjoying this piece now, which is great.

This is an absolutely beautiful and tasteful setting of a beloved hymn. All parts sit high in their ranges, but the interplay of parts is well-balanced between unison, chordal, and descant. Piano accompaniment is also masterfully done.

This is not a beginner piece. It repeats the melody, which makes it simple, but some of the rhythms can be tricky. The melody goes quite high, so inexperienced "sopranos" might have trouble with the top notes. And some of the interplay between the voice parts will take some practice...

to get the timing right. I ordered it for a girls' choir and after one rehearsal it wasn't their favorite song, but we'll keep working on it and hopefully it will grow on them.