Our Joyful'st Feast

This Christmas carol, commissioned by the Finnish broadcasting company Yle and first performed in Helsinki by Helsinki Chamber Choir, conducted by Nils Schweckendiek, is based on three texts, two by William Shakespeare and one by George Wither. The largely homophonic textures combine with Rautavaara’s characteristically rich and often chromatic harmonies to form a very effective and satisfying work, a bit different from the usual Christmas offering.