The Composer Who Owns Christmas<br />sic may be, his personal beliefs are, in his own word, "nebulous." "I love the Church of England," Mr. Rutter said.<br />that But what these people probably don’t realize is that, as steeped in Christianity as Mr. Rutter’s mu<br />Miss Marple said that I used to think that was a problem,<br />So when people come up and say, ‘You’re the guy who wrote "What Sweeter Music" or the "Shepherd’s<br />Pipe Carol," ’ that’s fine," he continued, referring to two of his Christmas standards.<br />What few can deny is that, at its best — in classics like "What Sweeter Music," which thousands of choirs will sing this<br />holiday season — his writing is immaculately crafted, with a gift for melody that most composers would kill for.<br />" Mr. Rutter said, "but I’d made the transition from aspiring composer to functioning one." He continued: "And all thanks to David Willcocks, who was a great enabler.<br />that By the standards of Mendelssohn, I was hardly a prodigy,<br />" he said. that The privilege of writing my sort of music is that people choose it for the days they remember,<br />" he said. that I know they do my music, though, because my wife sings in the choir,
