Concert Program
Our concert program tonight is titled Gaudete, Latin for Rejoice. We invite you to rejoice with us in celebrating the light and inspiration that this season brings.
Gaudete!
Ancient carol
arr. Michael Engelhardt
Gaudete is an ancient Christmas carol from Piae Cantiones, a collection of late medieval Latin songs published in 1582. This arrangement begins with the original melody sung in the style of Gaelic chant. The addition of biting harmonies and percussion regenerate the simple tune into a post modern carol.
Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary, rejoice!
It is now the time of grace
That we have desired;
Let us devoutly return
Songs of rejoicing.
God has become man,
And nature marvels;
The world has been renewed
By Christ who is king
The closed gate of Ezechiel
Has been passed through;
Salvation is found there,
Whence the light rises.
Therefore let our song
Now resound in purification
Let it give praise to the Lord:
Salvation to our King.
I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In
Traditional English Carol
arr. Edward Henderson
Winter Stars
Jake Runestad
In this setting of Sara Teasdale's poem, winter stars are depicted by piano improvisation at the beginning and end of the piece. The choir enters to convey sorrowful longing for the happiness of youth sparked by seeing the stars. The holiday season often evokes nostalgia for dreams and memories of days past, but forever constant is the beauty of the stars in the sky.
S'Vivon
Traditional Hebrew Song
arr. Betty Bertaux
Little dreidel, spin, spin, spin,
Hanukkah is a festive time.
A joyous holiday for everyone,
For a Great Miracle happened there,
Hanerot Halalu
Hanukkah Carol
arr. Meir Finkelstein
These Chanukah lights we kindle
In honor of the miracles, the wonders
And salvation wrought and wars
You fought, for our fathers,
In days of yore and in present time
By the hands of Your holy priests.
And throughout Chanukah's eight days
These lights, these lights shall be sacred:
No right to make use of them have we
Only to look at them and see,
That Your great Name we may thank and praise
For the miracles and salvation You brought
And for Your wondrous deeds.
Where the Light Begins
Susan LaBarr
Text by Jan Richardson
The poet writes, "though we cannot see or feel or know all the ways that God is radiantly illuminating us, may we open ourselves toward that light. May we open our eyes, our hands, our hearts to meet it. May we lean into the light that begins in the deepest dark, bearing itself into this world for us."
Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal
arr. Alice Parker
The tune of “Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal” was first published in the 1854 edition of Southern Harmony, a harp singing collection, where it went by the title, Invitation.
Dance Suite
Smile arr. Jhoely Garay
Triste arr. Jhoely Garay
Featuring Ballaro Dance and Jhoely Garay
Sing Along
Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
O Holy Night
O holy night! the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;
Fall on your knees,
Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
The Christmas Song
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack Frost nipping at your nose,
yuletide carols being sung by a choir
and folks dressed up in winter clothes.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe,
help to make the season bright.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
will find it hard to sleep tonight.
They know that Santa's on his way;
he's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh,
and every mother's child is gonna spy
to see if reindeer really know how to fly.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
to kids from one to ninety two.
Although it's been said many times, many ways,
"Merry Christmas to you,"
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Rockin' around the Christmas tree,
at the Christmas party hop.
Mistletoe hung where you can see;
every couple tries to stop.
Rockin' around the Christmas tree
let the Christmas spirit ring.
Later we'll have some pumpkin pie,
and we'll do some caroling.
You will get a sentimental feeling,
when you hear; voices singing,
"let's be jolly; deck the halls with boughs of holly"
Rockin' around the Christmas tree
have a happy holiday
Everyone dancing merrily,
in the new old fashioned way.
La Paloma
Traditional from Venezuela
arr. Cristian Grases
La Paloma (The Dove) is an example of the "drum gaita" or gaita de tambora, a type of folk music from Zulia state in the western part of Venezuela which combines elements of Iberian, African and indigenous music. These songs become more popular during Christmas celebrations. Traditionally, they are of a religious character, but more recently they have become a means of social protest and criticism. To this day, the gaita remains a vibrant, unique musical form much esteemed in Venezuela.
Where is the dove that the sparrow hawk caught go?
Where is the dove that the sparrow hawk caught?
At Ramona's gate, Oh! Look, I found it plucked.
All in life is false, death is the only truth.
For there is where pomp and vanity run out.
Why wouldn't I cry when my mother dies?
I wish I could bring her back to life.
I'm leaving, Maria, I leave the dove there for you,
Open its beak and make it eat, I'm leaving the food there.
I'm leaving, I say goodbye even though the gaita is very good.
Beat this drum hard so my sorrow cheers up.
A la Nanita Nana
Spanish Carol
arr. Norman Luboff
A la nanita nana, nanita ea, nanita ea
Sleep, sleep, my little Jesus
May peace attend Thee,
To the world, little Savior,
New hope Thou art bringing,
All the world, little Savior,
Thy praises singing.
God's angels hovering over Thee sing Alleluia,
A la nanita nana, nanita ea.
Abreme La Puerta
Traditional from Puerto Rico
arr. Cristian Grases
In Puerto Rico, there are numerous types of Christmas songs. The majority of them are called aguinaldos and tend to be very rhythmic and festive. Traditionally the group of singers performs aguinaldos in an activity called a paranda. Through the month of December, carolers sing outside of homes late in the evening waking the owners who often join the paranda to other homes. At the final house, the carolers are received and a party ensues with food and drink. A highlight is often sharing coquito a Puerto Rican drink similar to egg nog with cinnamon, coconut, and rum.
Open the door, I am on the street
and people will say this is a slight (a snub),
(dancing) to the rhythm (shaking), a sweetie, of my heart.
Inside I see a covered shape,
I don't know if it could be a roasted piglet.
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
arr. Greg Gilpin
Night of Silence
Daniel Kantor