Good Tidings of Great Joy is based on the biblical texts according to Isaiah and St. Luke. The christmas Story has been told many times in oratorio and cantata form, but this version is told instrumentally. The success and uniqueness of this composition results from the composers careful intertwining of over 40 Christmas Carols and themes including excerpts from Handel's Messiah and Bach's Christmas Oratorio. Each stran dis like a threat intricately woven, the more familiary the strands are to the listener, the finder the tapestry becomes. The musical substance of the piece is sufficient to tell the Christmas Story, althought the use of prgramme notes, citing the verses of the scripture used, or the optional narration provided, will help clarify the progress of the story to some of the listeners. In addition ot eh optional narration, an optional unison chorus on "O Come O Ye Faithful" is incorporated at the end of the composition.
