The Christmas oratorio Unto Us by John A. Speight must certainly be considered a pivotal work in the history of Icelandic sacred music. Never before has an Icelandic composer written such a large scale work about the birth of Christ. John A. Speight was born in England in 1945. He studied singing and composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London from 1964-1972. He became an Icelandic citizen in 1980.