John Rutter, "All bells in Paradise"

John Milford Rutter CBE est un composteur et chef d'orchestre britannique, né le 4 septembre 1945 à Londres. D'une manière très anglaise et "cross-over" ses œuvres mêlent une inspiration classique et une autre, proche de ce qu'on peut entendre à Broadway. Il est ainsi possible de le rapprocher d'un autre compositeur anglais, Andrew LLoyd Weber. Ses œuvres les plus connues sont son Requiem (1985), Psalmfest (1993) et sa Mass of the Children (2003). Il a également harmonisé ou adapté de nombreux cantiques. 

"Deep in the cold of winter,
Darkness and silence were eve'rywhere;
Softly and clearly, there came through the stillness a wonderful sound,
A wonderful sound to hear.

All bells in paradise I heard them ring,
Sounding in majesty the news that they bring;
All bells in paradise I heard them ring,
Welcoming our Saviour, born on earth, a heavenly King.
All bells in paradise, I heard them ring,
'Glory to God on high' the angel voices sing.

Lost in awe and wonder,
Doubting I asked what this sign may be ;
Christ, our Messiah, revealed in a stable,
A marvelous sight, a marvelous sight to see.

All bells in paradise I heard them ring,
Sounding in majesty the news that they bring;
All bells in paradise I heard them ring,
Welcoming our Saviour, born on earth, a heavenly King.

He comes down in peace,
A child in humility,
The keys to his kingdom belong to the poor ;
Before him shall kneel the kings with their treasures,
Gold, incense, and myrrh.

All bells in paradise I heard them ring,
Sounding in majesty the news that they bring ;
All bells in paradise I heard them ring,
Welcoming our Saviour, born on earth, a heavenly King.
All bells in paradise, I heard them ring,
'Glory to God on high' the angel voices sing,
The angel voices sweetly sing."