Finnish Music Quarterly: "The World Tree is the great synthesis of Matthew Whittall’s choral output"

On March 6, 2026, Finnish Music Quarterly published an article about the Helsinki Chamber Choir’s commission The World Tree. Written by Mats Liljeroos, the article explores Matthew Whittall’s compositional process in depth and discusses humanity's relationship with nature. You can read the article in full here.

" Matthew Whittall and Robert Macfarlane’s large-scale choral work The World Tree traces an arc from the Ice Age to the present day from the perspective of a single tree, and stands as a powerful statement against humanity’s callous exploitation of nature. --

“I have written modernist music for amateur choirs and, as in this piece, relatively traditional music for professionals. Of course, it is always about finding the optimal means of interpreting and communicating the text at hand. The choral works of Einojuhani Rautavaara and the Estonian Cyrillus Kreek have long been central sources of inspiration for me, as have certain post-minimalist approaches and objectives.” (Matthew Whittall)"

Mats Liljeroos, FMQ, 6.3.2026

Matthew Whittall. Photo: Maarit Kytöharju

The photo of Helsinki Chamber Choir premiering The World Tree in Temppeliaukio church 18.11.2025: Ella Kiviniemi