The Quest

John Rutter's The Quest for SATB (with divisions), Oboe and Organ.

This poignant anthem was written in memory of the Revd Dr John Hughes (1978-2014), Dean of Jesus College. The text combines the nineteenth-century poet and Christian minister George MacDonald's emotive poem Lost and Found with the 'In paradisum' antiphon from the Burial Service in the Liber Usualis, and John Rutter sets these important words to music that is at times ethereal, melancholic, poignant, and life-affirming. The solo Oboe and Organ writing is integral to the emotive character of the piece, and the word-painting and angelic chorus moments encourage thelistener to reflect on the subject at hand.