John Rutter on the 'Magnificat': 1 (Magnificat Anima Mea) 

I am so looking forward to learning and performing this work. It lifts my heart and soul. Thanks so very much for the beautiful experience. M

As if I needed any other reason to love this piece, the comparison to West Side Story just provided it.

Wonderful opening movement seemingly in Sonata-Allegro form. In the B part of the Exposition, (Et Exsultavit...) John thinks outside the box when he comes back to it in the recapitulation, merely changing the color or mode, instead of the key. The key changes in the Development seem reminiscent of the Development in the first movement of Beethoven's Pastoral (6th) symphony, albeit simpler. It's exciting to go far from the home key, then back to it.

2:06 Oh, yeah, no doubt "America" was running though...