Whenever I think of composer Daniel Pinkham, the first things that spring to mind are warm memories of listening to his “Christmas Cantata” on cold December nights, broadcast from the dearly departed, fondly remembered WFLN. The recording, made in the days of vinyl, featured the Dale Warland Singers, and in the tranquil slow movement, I could hear the stylus glide reassuringly along the grooves of the record. What a treat it was to encounter this old friend every year. Astonishingly, although there is a more recent recording featuring the same forces, to my knowledge, this beloved LP version, on the Augsburg label, has never been issued on compact disc. For me, it’s still the one to beat.
And why aren’t there more recordings to choose from? It’s a very popular work among choruses, and audiences love it. In fact, I would say it is Pinkham’s most popular work (though I understand his “Wedding Cantata” also gets a lot of play).
Daniel Pinkham was born 100 years ago today. Like Sir Thomas Beecham and Francis Poulenc, he was born into a prominent family that built its fortune in the pharmaceutical trade.
Pinkham studied at Harvard with Walter Piston and later with Aaron Copland, among others. He studied harpsichord with Putnam Aldrich and Wanda Landowska, organ with E. Power Biggs, and composition with Samuel Barber, Arthur Honegger, and Nadia Boulanger.
He himself went on to teach at the Boston Conservatory and the New England Conservatory of Music. At the latter, he created and chaired its program on early music performance.
For 42 years, he was organist at Boston’s King’s Chapel. The position gave him ample opportunities to write music for the church.
In addition, he performed regularly with the Boston Symphony Orchestra as both an organist and a harpsichordist.
He produced music in virtually every genre, from symphonies to art song, and he embraced many styles. But I will always hold dearest his little, ten-minute Christmas present, most effective – and affecting – in its simplicity. The “Christmas Cantata,” scored for chorus, double brass and organ, is influenced by plainchant and medieval-style modal writing, though filtered through a distinctly 20th century sensibility.
Pinkham died in 2006 at the age of 83.
Thank you, and happy centenary, Daniel Pinkham!
“Christmas Cantata;” not the earlier Dale Warland album (pictured), the audio from which doesn’t appear to be posted online, but it will do
Sonata No. 1 for Organ and Strings
From the Concerto for Celesta and Harpsichord Soli
Symphony No. 2 (posted as a playlist; let the four movements play through)
Interview with Bruce Duffie
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