2007

Hail, Sacred Music, Hail (William Billings, 1746-1800)

Hail! Sacred music, hail! We offer at thy shrine one perfect round complete, in sound, celestial and divine. ‘Tis by the heavenly aid in one majestic sound, we celebrate Jehovah’s state in one eternal round. Great is the Lord our God. His mercy knows no bound; just are his ways, then let his praise eternally go round. Great is the Lord our God and let his praise be great. He makes the churches his abode, his most delightful seat.

William Billings is considered by many to be the foremost representative of early American music. He was a self-trained musician (a tanner by trade) and a friend of Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.

Three Songs of Light

O Lux Beatissima (Howard Helvey, 1968-)
Text attributed to Stephan Langton (d. 1228), Archbishop of Canterbury

O lux beatissima, Reple cordis intima Tuorum fidelium. Sine tuo numine, Nihil est in homine, Nihil est innoxium.
O Light most blessed, Fill the inmost heart Of all thy faithful. Without your grace, There is nothing in us, Nothing that is not harmful.

A piano concert artist, Howard Helvey is also a choirmaster / organist at Calvary Episcopal Church, Cincinnati , Ohio . He is a published composer with numerous firms.

O Nata Lux (Morten Lauridsen, 1943-)

O nata lux de lumine, Jesu redemptor saeculi, dignare clemens supplicum laudes preces que sumere. Qui carne quondam contegi dignatus es pro perditis. Nos membra confer effici, tui beati corporis. (from “Lux Aeterna”)
O born light, Jesus, redeemer of the world, mercifully deem worthy and accept the praises and prayers of your supplicants. Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh for the sake of the lost ones, grant us to be made members of your holy body.

“Skip” Lauridsen is perhaps the most renowned living American composer of choral music. He is a professor of composition at USC and composer in residence for the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Lux Aurumque (Eric Whitacre, 1970-)
Poem by Edward Esch, translation into Latin by Charles Anthony Silvestri

Lux, calida gravisque pura velut aurum et canunt angeli molliter modo natum.
Light, warm and heavy as pure gold and the angels sing softly to the new-born baby.

Eric Whitacre is one of the bright stars in contemporary concert music. A graduate of the University of Reno and Julliard School of Music, he is a composer of choral and symphonic literature.

** G u e s t A r t i s t P e r f o r m a n c e **
Anna Maria Mendieta, Harp

Introduccion al Angel (Astor Piazzolla, 1921-1992) 

Born in Argentina , Astor Piazolla was a virtuoso bandoneòn player that toured throughout his life time. A student of Nadia Boulanger, he composed more than 1000 pieces, many still performed by the world’s top artists. His merging of jazz, tango and classical styles are hallmarks of his compositions.

KYRIE
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison.
Lord, have mercy. Christ have mercy.

GLORIA (soloist: Selma Ehrlich, Marty Friesen, Ruth E. Wells)
Gloria in exclesis 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, Pater omnipotentens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, 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 all those of good will. We praise thee. We bless thee. We worship thee. We glorify thee. We give thanks to thee according to thy great glory. Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father almighty. Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father. Thou who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon 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 (soloist: Marty Friesen)
Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae, visibilium omnium, et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum. Et ex Patre natum ante omni saecula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero. Genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri: per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis. 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.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, True God from true God. Begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made. Who for us and for our salvation 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. And 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. Hosanna in excelsis.
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest.

BENEDICTUS (soloist: Ruthann Lovetang)
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. 

Born in Argentina , Ariel Quintana graduated from the Universidad Adventista del Plata , later earning a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from the National Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires . Currently he is the conductor of the Cathedral Choir at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood and is in the doctoral program in choral conducting at USC. He was recently appointed assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Daemon Irrepit Callidus (György Orbán, 1947-)

Daemon irrepit callidus, allicit cor honoribus. Quidquid amabile Daemon dat cor Jesu minus aestimat. Caro venatur sensibus; sen sus adhaeret dapibus; Inescatur, impinguatur dilatatur. Adde mundorum milia, mille millena gaudia; Quidquid amabile Totum dat, cor Jesu minus aestimat. Cordis aestum non explebunt, non arcebunt, Daemon!
The devil sneaks expertly amidst praise, song and dance. However amiably [the devil] acts, it is still worth less than the heart of Jesus. Poor, passionate, undisciplined, frustrated devil!

György Orbán is originally from the Romanian province of Transylvania . He emigrated to Hungary in 1979. He is currently Associate Professor of Composition at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest . He is quickly becoming one of the most popular new composers of classical music.

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 .

Be Music, Night (Bradley Ellingboe, 1958-)
Text by Kenneth Patchen

Be music, night, that her sleep may go where angels have their pale tall choirs. Be a hand, sea, that her dreams may watch thy guidesman touching the green flesh of the world. Be a voice, sky, that her beauties may be counted and the stars will tilt their quiet faces into the mirror of her loveliness. Be a road, earth, that her walking may take thee where the towns of heaven lift their breathing spires. O be a world and a throne, God, that her living may find its weather and the souls of ancient bells in a child’s book shall read her into thy wondrous house.

Professor of Choral Music at the University of New Mexico , Albuquerque , Bradley Ellingboe is a widely published composer. He is also a renowned baritone soloist and has performed with many of the finest performance ensembles throughout the world.

Give Me Words (Allan Robert Petker, 1955-)

Give me words to weave a prayer exceeding heaven’s boundaries. Give me text to paint a thought that births a joy unknown. Give me script to draft a poem that multiplies all thinking. And when the spoken art gives way, and silence leaves too much to say, yet more demands expressing: Ah! Move my lips to say the lines that go beyond all speaking. Move my heart to utter thanks that passion understands. Move my eyes to share the light, illuminating touches. And when the spoken art gives way, and silence leaves too much to say, yet more demands expressing: Ah! Mmm.

"Give Me Words” was written and dedicated to Consort Chorale on their 10 th anniversary.

Amor De Mi Alma (Z. Randall Stroope, 1953-)
Text by Garcilaso de la Vega (1503-1536) 

Yo no naci sino para quereros; Mi alma os ha cortado a su medida; Por hábito del alma misma os quiero. Escrito está en mi alma vuestro gesto; Yo lo leo tan solo que aun de vos Me guardo en esto. Quanto tengo confiesso yo deveros; Por vos nací, por vos tengo la vida, Y por vos é de morir ye por vos muero.
I was born to love only you; my soul has formed you to its measure; I want you as a garment for my soul. Your very image is written on my soul; such indescribable intimacy I hide even from you. All that I have, I owe to you; for you I was born, for you I live, for you I must die, and for you I give my last breath.

Dr. Randall Stroope is Professor of Choral Studies at Rowan University in Glassboro , New Jersey . He is one of the most sought-after choral directors on the guest conducting circuit the world over and is a prolific composer as well.

The Battle of Jericho (Arr. Moses Hogan, 1957-2003) 

Until his untimely death in 2003, Moses Hogan was one of the most celebrated contemporary directors and arrangers of spirituals. In his short life, he created dozens of new original arrangements of classic spirituals, and formed several choirs that performed them with new vitality.

Scarborough Fair (Arr. Fred Bock, 1939-1998)

A prolific composer and arranger, Fred Bock was also a renowned organist in church and recording studio venues. His music publishing endeavors were legendary, including numerous hymnals. “Scarborough Fair” was the very first piece he published to launch his own firm, Gentry Publications.

Witness (Arr. Jack Halloran, 1916-1997)

Jack Halloran was a studio composer and arranger for film and television during the ear of classic Westerns (think John Wayne). He wrote choral arrangements for his own ensemble, The Jack Halloran Singers, consisting of some of the best talent in the genre. His arrangements, like this one, have become classics themselves.

Consort Chorale consists of selected choral singers primarily from the San Francisco Bay Area who are dedicated to the choral art form. Every summer, for the past thirteen years, the group has gathered for a solid week of rehearsals, culminating in a crowd-pleasing concert. The unique “intensive” format comes with certain limitations, but provides an opportunity for singers to share in their love of choral music through the ages. We are indebted to the artistic rehearsal contributions of Sally Johnson, Martha Wall and David Irvine, whose assistance in preparation is immeasurable.

Allan Robert Petker , founder-director of Consort Chorale, is an internationally known choral conductor, clinician and prolific composer with over 250 published works. He is the Director of Publications for the Fred Bock Music Companies, President of Pavane Publishing and serves as U.S. representative for several distinguished English publishing firms. He is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Santa Clarita Master Chorale and the Director of Music at the First Presbyterian Church in San Pedro.

Special thanks to the First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo; Bob Friestad, Consort’s unflappable Dean; Kimberly Ayers Petker, Dorli Hanchette and Marcia DeZwarte, Reception; Kirk Austin, Recording Engineer, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Stephen McKersie for his invaluable assistance and especially Fay Manes, accompanist, and Anna Maria Mendieta for sharing her artistic talents.