2006

Sing Me to Heaven (Daniel Gawthrop 1949-) Text by Jane Griner

In my heart’s sequestered chambers lie truths stripped of poet’s gloss. Words alone are vain and vacant and my heart is mute. In response to aching silence memory summons half-heard voices, and my soul finds primal eloquence and wraps me in song. If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby. If you would win my heart, sing me a love song. If you would mourn me and bring me to God, sing me a requiem, sing me to heaven. Touch in me all love and passion, pain and pleasure, grief and comfort; love and passion, pain and pleasure. Sing me a lullaby, a love song, a requiem. Love me, comfort me, bring me to God. Sing me a love song, sing me to heaven.

American composer, Daniel Gawthrop, composes music for choral organizations and symphonies and is one of the most frequently commissioned choral writers in the United States.

Three Movements from Five Hebrew Love Songs (Eric Whitacre 1970-) Poems by Hila Plitmann

I. Temuná
Temuná belibí charutá; Nodédet beyn ór uveyn ófel: Min dmamá shekazó et guféch kach otá, Usaréch al panáich kach nófel.

A picture is engraved in my heart; Moving between light and darkness: A sort of silence envelopes your body, And your hair falls upon your face just so.

II. Kalá kallá
Kalá kallá Kulá shelí, Kalá kulla shelí, Kála kalla Kulá shelí, Kála kullá shelí, la la la… Kalá kallá Kulá shelí, Kalá kulá shelí, Kalá kalla Kulá shelí, Kalá kulá shelí, la la la… U’vekalút Tishákhílì! KaláKulá shellí, Kalá kallá U’vekalút Tishák Tishákhílì! La la la...
Light bride She is all mine, And lightly She will kiss me!

III. Lárov
“Laróv,” amár gag la’shama’im, “Hamerchák shebeynu hu ad; Ach lifnéy zman alu lechán shna’im, Uveynéynu nishár sentiméter echad.”
“Mostly,” said the roof to the sky, “the distance between you and I is endless; But a while ago two came up here, and only one centimeter was left between us.”

A graduate of Julliard School of Music, Eric Whitacre is perhaps the newest and brightest star in the field of classical composition. He first received recognition for his compositions for wind symphony, and was recently named the music director of the Narashino Wind Consortium in Tokyo, Japan. His choral works have brought a new expression in musical word painting that have captivated the choral community worldwide. In addition, he also writes for motion pictures and has a grammy nomination to his name (contemporary classical crossover).

Ave Verum Corpus  (Ariel Quintana 1965-)

Ave verum Corpus, natum de Maria Virginie: Vere Passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine: Cujus latus perforatum, unda fluxit sanguine: Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine. O Jesu dulcis, O Jesu pie, O Jesu Fili Mariae, miserere mei.
Amen.Hail, true Body, born of Virgin Mary, Who truly suffered, was sacrificed on the cross for mankind: Whose side was pierced, whence flowed water and blodd: Be for us a foretaste during our final examining. O Jesu sweet, O Jesu pure, O Jesu Son of Mary, have mercy upon me. Amen.

Born in Libertador San Martin, Entre Rios, Argentina, Ariel Quintana completed a bachelor’s degree in music at Universidad Adventista del Plata, and a Master’s in piano performance at National Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires. He is in the final stages of his doctoral studies at USC and directs the choirs at Hollywood Presbyterian Church. He has just been appointed Associate Conductor of the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Missa Brevis in F KV 192 (Wolfgang A. Mozart, 1756-1791)

Kyrie
(Soloists: Soprano – Marty Friesen, Alto – Martha Wall)
Kyrie eleison! Christe eleison! Kyrie eleison!
Lord have mercy! Christ have mercy! Lord have mercy!

Gloria
(Soloists: Soprano – Marty Friesen, Alto – Ruthann Lovetang, Tenor – Michael Petersen, Bass – Jim Kamphoefner)
Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Pater omnipotens, Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, agnus Dei, filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis! Suscipe deprecationem nostram, qui sedes ad dexteram Patris. Miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus sanctus. Tu solus Dominus. To solus altissimus, Jesu Christe. Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, weadore Thee, we glorify Thee. We give thanks to Thee, we praise Thee for Thy glory. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father. Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son of the Father. Lord God, lamb of God, son of the Father. Thou who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou who takes away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou who art seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For Thou alone art holy. Thou alone art the Lord. Thou alone art the most high, Jesus Christ. With thy Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Credo
(Soloists: Soprano – Marty Friesen, Alto – Ruthann Lovetang, Tenor – Michael Petersen, Bass – David Irvine)
Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium omnium. Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula, Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum, non factum, consubstatialem Patri, per quem omnia facta sunt, qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de coelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine. Et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato: passus et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in caelum: sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, judicare vivos et mortuos: cujus regni non erit finis. Et in Spiritum Sanctum Dominum, et vivificantem: qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre, et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per Prophetas. Et unum, sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum. Et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of earth and heaven, of all things seen and unseen. Begotten of the Father before all worlds. God from Gods, Light from light, true God from true God. Begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven. And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary. And was made man. Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, he suffered, and was buried. And on the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and he sits at the right hand of the Father. He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; and of his kingdom there will be no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son who together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who spoke to us through the Prophets. And I believe in one, holy, catholic and Apostolic Church. I believe in the forgiveness of sins and the life everlasting. Amen.

Sanctus
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua, osanna in excelsis!
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Benedictus
(Soloists: Soprano – Selma Ehrlich, Alto – Martha Wall, Tenor – Ron Hawks, Bass – David Irvine)
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Agnus Dei (and Dona Nobis)
(Soloists: Soprano – Selma Ehrlich, Alto – Ruthann Lovetang, Tenor – Michael Petersen)
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis! Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem!
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us! Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us your peace.

Composed in 1774, this missa brevis (brief mass) was written for the mass at the Saltzburg Cathedral. Three years later the twenty-one-year-old Mozart took this mass with him as part of his portfolio as he journeyed to Paris in search of employment. Scholars consider it to be “the high point of Mozart’s youthful masses.”

Three Selections from All-Night Vigil (Einojuhani Rautavaara, 1928-)

Katisma I Psalm Chapter
(Soloists: Soprano – Ruth E. Wells, Alto – Ruthann Lovetang, Tenor – Michael Petersen, Bass – John Griffin)
Autuas se mies, joka ei vaella jumalattomien joukossa Silla Herra tuntee vanhurskasten tien mutta jumalattomain tie hukkuu Palvelkaa Herraa pelolla ja iloitkaa Hanen edessansa vavistuksella Autuaat ovat kaikki jotka Haneen turvaavat Nouse Herra, pelasta minut, minum Jumalani.Herrassa on pelastus: Sinun suinauksesi tulkoon Sinun kansallesi
(CHOIR: Halleluja, Halleluja, Halleluja)
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice unto him with trembling. Verily blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Come, arise, O Lord and save me, O My God. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord and thy blessing is upon thy people. (CHOIR: Alleluia)

Avuksihuuto-psalmi Psalm of Invocation
Herra, mina huudan Sinua kuule minua. Ota korviisi minun aaneni, kun mina Sinua huudan, Kuule minua oi Herra, kuule minua, Herra Nouskoon minun rukoukseni niikuin suitsutus-savu Sinun kasvojesi eteen, minun kateni ylennys olkoon Sinulle ehtoo-uhri, kuule minua, oi Herra. Vie minun sieluni ulos vankeudesta kiitamaan Sinun nimeasi.
Lord, I cry to thee, give ear to my voice when I pray thee. O Lord, I cry to thee, give ear to my voice, Lord. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice, give ear unto my voice, Lord. Bring my soul out of prison that I may praise thy name.

Loppu-siunaus (Final Blessing)
Meidan isallemme pyhimmalle patriarkalle ja korkeasti siunatulle Karjalan ja koko Suomen arkkipiispalle seka korkeasti siunatulle isallemme Helsingin metropoliitale ja taman pyhan temppelin veljille ja kaikille seura-kuntamme jasenille seka kaikille oikea-uskoisille kristityille anna Herra pitka ika ja varjele heita!
Grant to our Father, the most holy Patriarch and also the highly blessed Archbishop of Karjala and all of Finland and also to the highly blessed Metropolitan of Helsinki, our blessed Father and also to brothers of this holy temple, and to members of our congregation and also to all Orthodox Christians in the world, O Lord, grant them a long life, bless them and keep them, O Lord!

Perhaps the best known Finnish composer of our time, Einojuhani was born in Helsinki and studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki under Aarre Merikanto from 1948 to 1952 before Jean Sibelius recommended him for a scholarship to study at the Juilliard School in New York City. There he was taught by Vincent Persichetti, and he also took lessons from Roger Sessions and Aaron Copland at Tanglewood.

There is A Season (Allan Robert Petker, 1955-)
Based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; incorporating the “Canon” by Thomas Tallis 1505-1585)
(Singers from the Marin Children’s Chorus, Martha Wall, Director: Isabel Block, Sofia Britto-Schwartz, Stephanie Light, Madelaine Matej)

To everything a season comes, a time to lift the truth in song, O may we sing God’s purpose clear so love will be our anthem here. To everything there is a season, for every purpose there is a plan. To everything there is a season in heaven. A time for birth, a time for death, a time for planting, a time for harvest, a time for endings, a time to kill, a time to heal. A time to tear down, a time to build up, a time for tears, a time for laughter, a time to mourn, a time to dance. A time to give, to rend, for silence, hate, war. A time to receive, to mend, to speak, to love, a time for peace.

Commissioned in 2004 by the First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo, in honor of Sally Johnson’s retirement as Director of Music.

I Believe in the Sun (Jonathan Adams, 1962-)
[This anonymous text was found on a basement wall in Cologne, written by someone hiding from the Gestapo].

I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining. I believe in love, even when I am lonely. I believe in God, even when He is silent.

A blossoming composer, Jonathan Adams is the choral director at Nettleton High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He wrote this setting in response and in dedication to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Quando Corpus Morietur (Gioacchino Rossini, 1792-1868)

Quando corpus morietur, fac ut animae donetur Paradisi gloria.
When my body dies, grant to my soul the glory of paradise. Amen.

Rossini was a very successful composer for his day, first in Italy, then in Paris. He is best known for his operas, especially his final one, “The William Tell.”

Camptown Races (Stephen Foster, Arr. Jack Halloran)

Gon to run all night, Gon to run all day, I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag, (somebody bet on the bay). Camptown ladies sing this song, Doo-dah! Doo-dah! camptown racetrack five miles long, Oh! doo-dah day! I come down there with my hat caved in, Doo-dah! doo-dah! I go back home with a pocket full of tin, Oh! doo-dah day! (Chorus) The long tail filly and the big black hoss, Doo-dah! Doo-dah! fly the track and they both cut across, Oh! doo-dah day! The blind hoss stick in a big mud hole, Doo-dah! doo-dah! I can’t touch bottom with a ten foot pole, Oh! doo-dah day! (Chorus) Old muley cow come on to the track, Doo-dah! Doo-dah! The bob-tail fling her over his back, Oh! doo-dah day! Then fly along like a railroad car, Doo-dah! doo-dah! runnin’ a race with a shootin’ star, Oh! doo-dah day! (Chorus) See them flyin’ in a ten mile heat, Doo-dah! Doo-dah! ‘round the race track, then repeat, Oh! doo-dah day! I win my money on the bob-tail nag, Doo-dah! doo-dah! keep my money in an old tow bag, Oh! doo-dah day! (Chorus)

Jack Halloran was a television music writer and conductor who worked for such greats as Dean Martin and Bing Crosby, and scored countless films.