Daniel Pinkham

Christmas Cantata

Christmas Cantata (Sinfonia Sacra), the most famous piece of Daniel Pinkham, composed in 1957, is a church composition for chorus, double brass and organ. Written in Latin. Accessible to good high-school and college singers, the opening statement is sung by the whole SATB chorus, followed by the Allegro section, which is rhythmically quite complicated. The middle section is sung by sopranos and altos while the Rondo, which is part of the final part, is sung by the whole SATB, its verses being interpreted by the different groups. Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006) is an American composer, organist and harpsichordist. Most of his compositions were related to church music and his best known works are the Christmas, Advent and wedding cantatas.