Praised for his vibrant and dynamic musical language, American composer Daniel Pinkham studied composition with Walter Piston, Aaron Copland, Arthur Honegger, Samuel Barber and Nadia Boulanger. He was a major fixture on the Boston music scene and regularly performed throughout the region as an in-demand pianist, organist and harpsichordist. His music reflects an idiomatic mastery of 20th-century compositional techniques while paying homage to medieval plainchant, modal harmony and 17th-century forms. Many of his works also employ 12-tone/serial, electronics and other sacred musical forms.

Subtitled “Sinfonia Sacra,” the Christmas Cantata is one of Pinkham’s best known works, employing lush harmonies, persistent rhythmic vitality, and inventive settings of traditional Christmas and sacred texts. The resulting combination of both traditional and modern musical elements creates a celebratory and engaging experience for audiences and performers alike.