Mixed choir
SKU:
FG.55011-355-5
Composed by Matthew
Whittall. Score. Fennica
Gehrman #55011-355-5.
Published by Fennica
Gehrman (FG.55011-355-5).
Asked to
contribute a carol to the
already rich Finnish
Christmas repertoire,
music I've sung myself
for many years, I was
very aware of the things
that mark the season for
my adopted countrymen:
peace, stillness, the
cold landscape and home.
When I came across Ester
Ahokainen's gentle poem,
so focused around these
images, it seemed like
providence. The resulting
song is modest and warmly
modal, departing only a
little from Finnish
tradition: a lingering
dissonance here, a moment
of quiet sentiment held
slightly longer expected
there. Like the words,
the music opens outward
in thanks at the end.
Aattoilta was composed
for the Helsinki Chamber
Choir Christmas CD
recording, and is
dedicated to them.
