An ancient Russian Christmas carol (Carol of the Little Russian Children), together with a good deal of original material and some motivic elements derived from the liturgical music of the Eastern Orthodox Church, forms the basis for this musical impression of Old Russia during the jubilant Christmas season. Although cast in the form of a single continuous movement, four distinct sections may be easily recognised, originally sub-titled: Children’s Carol, Antiphonal Chant, Village Song and the closing Cathedral Chorus.
