Concert Selections from our 2012 program
Beauty and Blessing - words and music by Alice Parker
In the turning of the seasons,
the returning of the birds,
Beauty is born, and blessing linger.
In the cycles of the moon.
In the splendor of our stories, the unrolling of our lives, Beauty is born and blessings linger,
in the singing of our love.
In the poetry of our pain, beauty is born and
blessings linger in the solace of the song.
In the sharing of our music,
in the voices we have joined,
In this moment here together,
Beauty is born and blessing linger,
in the solace of the song.
I Dreamed of Rain (words and music by Jan Garrett)
I dreamed of rain and the rains came, soft and easy, sweet and clear I dreamed of rain and the rains came, and peace spread over the land.
I dreamed of summer, and the winds changed And the green was easy, and the rivers ran clear I dreamed of summer, and the winds changed, and peace spread over the land.
I dreamed of freedom and the moon rose,
and the way was easy and the path was clear.
I dreame of freedom and the moon rose,
and peace spread over the land.
And the guardian stars are shining,
and the night is bright and clear.
I dreamed of rain and the rains came
and peace spread over the land.
I dream of heaven and the earth sang,
and the sound was easy, the song was clear.
I dreamed of heaven and the earth sang,
and peace spread over the land.
And the ancient pain is forgotten,
and the father's debts are clear.
I dreamed of heaven and the earth sang,
peace spread over the land.
I dreamed of rain and the rains came.
Lamento della ninfa - by Claudio Monteverdi, Soprano with male chorus. (Molly Holleran, soloist) sung in Italian, translation below
The Sun had not brought The day to the world yet, When a maiden Went out of her dwelling. On her pale face Grief could be seen, Often from her heart A deep sigh was drawn.
Thus, treading upon flowers, She wandered, now here, now there, And lamented her lost loves Like this:
- O Love - she said, Gazing at the sky, as she stood - Where's the fidelity That the deceiver promised? - Poor her! - Make my love come back As he used to be Or kill me, so that I will not suffer anymore. -
Poor her! She cannot bear All this coldness! - I don't want him to sigh any longer But if he's far from me. No! He will not make me suffer Anymore, I swear!
He's proud Because I languish for him. Perhaps if I fly away from him He will come to pray to me again. If her eyes are more serene Than mine, O Love, she does not hold in her heart A fidelity so pure as mine. And you will not receive from those lips Kisses as sweet as mine, Nor softer.
Oh, don't speak! Don't speak! you know better than that! - So amidst disdainful tears, She spread her crying to the sky; Thus, in the lovers' hearts Love mixes fire and ice.
Lux tenebris - from "Luminosity" by James Whitbourn (Latin following by English translation)
Lux in tenebris lucet et tenebrae eam non comprehenderunt.” (The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overpowered it.)
My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord - arr. Moses Hogan
In the Lord, My soul's been anchored, my soul's been anchored in the Lord, In the Lord, In the Lord, My soul's been anchored, anchored in the the Lord, In the Lord, in the Lord My soul's been anchored in the Lord, my Lord my soul's been anchored in the Lord (hallelujah) my soul's been anchored in the Lord
Before I stay in hell one day (my soul's been anchored in the Lord) I'd sing and pray myself away (my soul's been anchored in the Lord) My soul's been anchored. My soul's been anchored in the Lord ...
Goin' sing and pray and never stop
until I reach the mountaintop
Do you love him?
Will you serve him?
God Almighty!
Will you praise him?
Oh, yes!
My soul's been anchored in the Lord!
Si, ch'io vorrei morire by Claudio Monteverdi (sung in Italian, English translation below)
Oh yes, I would welcome death;
now, as I kiss, O love,
the soft lips of my beloved.
Ah, tongue so dear and sweet,
bestow such nectar upon me
that i expire of sweetness on this breast.
Ah, my love, upon this snowy breast
clasp me, I pray, until my senses reel!
Ah, lips, ah kisses, ah tongue, I repeat:
Oh yes, I would welcome death.
In the Sweet By and By - gospel song arr. by Jeremy Hall and sung by the sopranos/altos of Chor Anno
There's a land that is fairer than day And by faith we can see it afar For the Father waits over the way To prepare us a dwelling place there In the sweet by and by We shall meet on that beautiful shore In the sweet by and by We shall meet on that beautiful shore To our bountiful Father above We will offer our tribute of praise For the glorious ...
The Belle of Belfast City - Arr. Gerald Custer
I'll tell my ma when I get home, the boys won't leave the girls alone.
They pulled my hair and stole my comb, but that's all right 'till I get home.
She is handsome, she is pretty, she is the belle of Belfast City.
She is a-courtin' one, two, three, please won't you tell me who is she.
Albert Mooney says he loves her, all the boys are fightin' for her. Knock at the door and ring at the bell sayin' Oh, my true love, are you well?
Out she comes as white as snow, with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes.
Old Johnny Morrisey says she'll die, if she doesn't get the fellow with the rovin' eye.
For the wind and the rain and the hail blow high, and the snow comes travelin' through the sky.
She's as sweet as apple pie, She'll get her own lad by and by.
When she gets a lad of her own, she won't tell her ma when she gets home.
Let them all come as they will, for its Albert Mooney that she loves still.
She is handsome, she is pretty, she is the belle of Belfast City.
She is a courtin' one, two, three. Please won't you tell me, who is she?
IVestigia - by Imant Raminish (poem by Bliss Carman)
I took a day to search for God,
And found Him not. But as I trod
By rocky ledge, through woods untamed,
Just where one scarlet lily flamed,
I saw His footprint in the sod.
Then suddenly, all unaware,
Far off in the deep shadows, where
A solitary hermit thrush
Sang through the holy twilight hush –
I heard His voice upon the air.
And even as I marveled how
God gives us Heaven here and now,
In a stir of wind that hardly shook
The poplar leaves beside the brook –
His hand was light upon my brow.
At last with evening as I turned
Homeward, and thought what I had learned
And all that there was still to probe –
I caught the glory of His robe
Where the last fires of sunset burned.
Back to the world with quickening start
I looked and longed for any part
In making saving Beauty be …
And from that kindling ecstasy
I knew God dwelt within my heart.
Who is This? setting by John Ferguson, with violist Dr. Stephen Meharg
Who is this?
Who is this who walks among us?
Who is this who speaks such words?
Is it Moses or Elijah or some prophet of the Lord?
Can we name this suffering servant?
Can we name the promised one?
Can we name the heir of David, Jesus, Holy One?
You are Christ, from God eternal!
Living God, from human womb,
Our deliv'rer and redeemer,
known by cross and empty tomb.
Jesus, hidden, holy one.
Who is this?
Hidden, holy one,
Holy one.
Translation of Latin below. This marvelous duet with choir accompaniment features Catherine van der Salm and Nicole Lamartine, Two Chor Anno Sopranos. Eriks Esenvalds, Composer.
O saving Victim,
Who expands the door of heaven,
Hostile wars press.
Give strength; bear aid.
To the Lord One and Three,
May there be everlasting glory;
that he may give life without end to
us in our homeland.
Amen.