2010

Yanaway Heyona ( Brian Tate, arr. 1954 – )
Traditional Iroquois, Amanda Hahn, soloist

Yanaway Heyona is a calling song from the Iroquois people of the six nations. Because of its mesmerizing nature, it is often sung as a lullaby. Although many traditional Native American songs contain text with meaning, the words of this song are used for their sound properties only. Unlike typical choral music, the style of this piece requires that voices are not to be rhythmically sung together.

Brian Tate received his undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia and has studied in London and Toronto. He conducts many ensembles, including the 100-voice Island Soul Choir on Vancouver Island. His choral music is performed around the world.

I Am In Need of Music (David L. Brunner, 1953-)
Text by Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979)

I am in need of music that would flow over my fretful feeling fingertips, over my bitter-tainted, trembling lips, with melody, deep, clear, and liquid-slow. Oh, for the healing swaying, old and low, of some song, sung to rest the tired dead, a song to fall like water on my head, and over quivering limbs, dream flushed to glow! There is a magic made by melody: a spell of rest, and quiet breath, and cool heart, that sinks through fading colors deep to the subaqueous stillness of the sea, and floats forever in a moon-green pool, held in the arms of rhythm and
of sleep.

David Brunner is a composer and conductor, currently the professor of music at the University of Central Florida, Orlando. Published exclusively by Boosey & Hawkes, which has released nearly one hundred of his compositions, he is also editorial advisor for their Conductor’s Choice series

Miserere Mei (Richard Burchard, 1960-)

Miserere mei Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam, et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.

Have mercy on me, O God, in accordance with thy generous mercy, And in accordance with the multitude of they tender mercies, remove my iniquity.

Richard Burchard is Associate Professor and Music Department Chair at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. After hearing the news of of the death of his good friend and mentor, Fr. Vernon Robertson, Richard sat down at the piano and composed this piece. “…this composition literally poured out of me,” he shared. It was premiered three days later at the funeral service.

O Nata Lux (Guy Forbes, 1957-)

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 effi ci, tui beati corporis.

O born light of 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 fl esh for the sake of the lost ones, grant us to be made members of your holy body.

Guy Forbes is the Associate Conductor of Choirs and Chair of Music Education at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Forbes received a Master of Music in conducting from Florida State University and a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Florida.

Lead Me to the Rock (Allan Robert Petker, 1955-)
Based on Psalm 12

Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. The tower that’s higher, Lord. Lead me to the Rock that will comfort my cry. Lead me to the Rock that will hold me up high. Lead me to the Rock that will free me from sin. For you are greater than the mightiest storm, And when the waters rise around me you lift me up higher and higher. O God, send me your loving kindness and truth to guard and watch over me. Lead me to the Rock.

This piece was commissioned by the Mountain View Presbyterian Church, Scottsdale, AZ, Kay Randolph, Director

Ave Maria (Kevin A. Memley, 1971)
Traditional text

Ave Maria, gratia plena. Ave Maria, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis, Sancta Maria, nobis pecatoribus.
Nunc et in ora mortis nostræ.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now in the hour of our death.

Kevin Memley is an accomplished pianist and composer. Living in Fresno, he has served as director and accompanist for numerous ensembles in the San Joaquin Valley. His compositional output ranges from sacred choral works to orchestral and feature film.

The Blue Bird (Charles V. Stanford, 1852-1924)
Text by Mary E. Coleridge, (1861-1907)

The lake lay blue below the hill, O’er it, as I looked there fl ew across the waters, cold and still, A bird whose wings were palest blue. The sky above was blue at last, The sky beneath me blue in blue, A moment, ere the bird had passed, It caught his image as he fl ew. The lake lay blue below the hill.

Sir Charles Villiers Stanford was an Irish-born composer who resided in England for much of his life. Although he composed operas and orchestral works, he is particularly notable for his choral music. From 1887 until 1924 he was professor of music at the University of Cambridge.

Dixit Dominus, RV 807 (Antonio Vivaldi, 1678-1741)
In 2005, Australian music scholar Janice Stockigt made a marvelous discovery. Four works written by Antonio Vivaldi had been falsely cataloged in a Dresden library where the Roman church had sent them in the 1760s. The work’s true authorship was confirmed and authenticated and only recently published by Ricordi. As far as we can tell, Consort Chorale is presenting the premiere performance of this Baroque masterpiece in the Western United States.

I. Dixit Dominus Domino meo: sede a dextris meis.
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand.

II. (Michele Baroody, soloist) Donec ponam inimicos tuos scabellum pedum tuorum.
I will make thine enemies thy footstool.

III (Marty Friesen, soloist) Virgam virtutis tuæ emittet Dominus ex Sion: dominare in medio inimicorum tuorum.
The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of
thine enemies.

IV. (Michael Petersen and David Irvine, soloists) Tecum principium in die virtutis tuæ: in splendoribus sanctorum ex utero ante luciferum genui te.
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth

V. (Patricia Littman and RuthE. Wells, soloists) Juravit Dominus et non pænitebit eum: tu es sacerdos in æternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech.
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the
order of Melchizedek.

VI. (Michael Petersen, soloist) Dominus a dextris tuis: confregit in die iræ suæ reges.
The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

VII. (Patricia Littman, RuthE. Wells; Lucy Arnold, Michele Baroody, soloists)
Judicabit in nationibus implebit ruinas: conquassabit capita in terra multorum.
He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fi ll the places with the dead bodies;
he shall wound the heads over many countries.

VIII. (Ruthann Lovetang, soloist) De torrente in via bibet: propterea exaltabit caput.
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

IX. (Marty Friesen, Lucy Arnold, soloists) Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

X. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
As it was in the beginning, it is now and forever, Amen.

XI. Et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
It is now and forever, Amen.

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, nicknamed il Prete Rosso (“The Red Priest”), was a Venetian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist. Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his infl uence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe.

Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child (Rosephanye Powell, arr. 1962)
(African-American Spiritual)

Sometimes ah feel like a motherless chil’ a long ways from home. Bokaya ya, (West African, meaning “something terrible has happened”) Nu wo vinowo he (“something has happened to mothers”). Sometimes ah feel like ahm almos’ gon’ Way off in duh heav’nly lan’, true believuh.

Dr. Rosephanye Dunn Powell has been hailed as one of America’s premiere women composers of choral music. Her compositions include sacred and secular works for mixed chorus, women’s chorus, men’s chorus, and children’s voices. An accomplished singer and voice professor, Dr. Powell’s research has focused on the art of the African-American spiritual.

The Word Was God (Rosephanye Powell, )
(Text John 1:1-3)

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made that have been made. Nothing was made, He has not made.

This anthem was Rosephanye’s first published piece.

Hear My Prayer (Moses Hogan, 1957-2003)

O Lord, please hear my prayer, in the mornin’ when I rise. It’s Your servant bound for glory. O dear Lord, please hear my prayer. O Lord, please hear my prayer, Keep me safe within Your arms. When my work on earth is done and you’ve come to take me home, Just to know I’m bound for glory, and to hear You say well done. Done with sin and sorrow, have mercy. Amen.

Moses George Hogan was an African-American composer and arranger of choral music, best known for his settings of spirituals. Hogan was a pianist, conductor and arranger of international renown. He was a graduate of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) and Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, and he also studied at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and New York’s Julliard School of Music.

Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel (Stacey Gibbs, arr. 19xx)
(Traditional Sprirtual)

Oh, Lordy, if I could, you know I surely would stan’ on de rock where Moses stood. Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel, then why not a-every man? He delivered Daniel from the lion’s den, Jonah from the belly of the whale, an’ the Hebrew chillun from the fi ery furnace then why not a-every man? Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel, then why not a-every man? I set my foot on de gospel ship an’ de ship begin to sail, an’ it landed me down on Caanan’s shore an’ I’m nevuh comin’ back anymo’. Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel, then why not a-every man? The wind blows east an’ the wind blows wes’, it blows like the Judgmen’ day, an evr’y poor sinnuh that nevuh did pray will be glad to pray that day. Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel, then why not a-every man?

Stacey Gibbs is a relatively new name on the scene of choral music. A true amateur musician who makes a living outside of music, his arrangements of spirituals have quickly captured the attention of choral directors of professional, university and community choirs.

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 fifteen years, the group has auditioned in May, gathered for almost weekly rehearsals and then an intensive week of nightly 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 David Irvine, Sally Johnson and Ruth E. Wells, 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 President of Pavane Publishing and the Director of Publications for the Fred Bock Music Companies. 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; The Madison Company for their assistance with our publicity; Marty Friesen for managing the web site, ticketing and finances; Susie Woo for the Media production on “Touch”; Suzanne Young and Martin Hillyer for program assistance; Kimberly Ayers Petker and Erna Randig, Reception; Sean Bush, Recording Engineer; Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Stephen McKersie for his invaluable assistance and especially Jim Berry, accompanist.

Please join us for a reception on the patio immediately following the concert. Our 2011 concert will be August 14. Mark your calendars now!