Goldsmiths Choral Union
Rutter: The Gift of Life
Holst: Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda Quartel: This endris night
Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
Goldsmiths Choral Union
Jack Apperley Conductor
Lucia Foti Harp
Stephen Jones Piano
Edward Batting Organ
Max Heaton Timpani
Will Miles Percussion
Lauren Bye Percussion
Holy Trinity Church
146 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9BZ 21st June 2024 at 7.30 pm
We hope you enjoy this evening’s concert. You will find more information about Goldsmiths Choral Union on the website via this QR code.
INTRODUCTION
Good evening on this, the longest day of the year. My starting point for this concert was to gather a programme of music celebrating life and all creation, inspired by different religious belief systems, each uniquely interpreted by the composer.
Gustav Holst’s Rig Veda writing of the dawn, the waters, the sun, the god the guide of travellers along the roads of this world and along that lead to the next; Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, including The Lord is my Shepherd; and contributions from two living composers: John Rutter’s The Gift of Life and Sarah Quartel’s This endris night - very apt for Midsummer, although she wrote it as a carol.
I hope you will find the juxtaposition of such creativity uplifting and thought-provoking. Psalms interpreted by Bernstein are given a very different flavour by Rutter.
We would like to dedicate the chorale from the end of Hymn to the Creator of Light (part 3 of Rutter’s The Gift of Life) in memory of our dear friend, Denzil Jarvis. Denzil was a loyal, supportive member of GCU for 44 years. After leaving London, she continued to attend our concerts, and she will be sadly missed by her many GCU friends.
Jack Apperley, Music Director
The Gift of Life
John Rutter (1945 - present)
Composer, conductor, and arranger (mainly of choral music), John Rutter founded The Cambridge Singers who have recorded this work. It was first performed in 2015 at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas.
He wrote the six movements of The Gift of Life to reflect and celebrate different facets of the miracles of creation and of life. The third canticle, Hymn to the Creator of Light, was originally written in 1992 but reworked by Rutter and included to show darker, mystical harmonies, evoking strong emotion, while exploring themes of light and nature. “Emotion for me is an integral part of all art. It’s a release; it’s an affirmation of our humanity. The gift of each day is precious.”
Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda
Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934)
Holst lived most of his life in Hammersmith, London, pioneering unsentimental music at St. Paul’s School for Girls, composing, and arranging. His most famous composition was The Planets.
A vegetarian and teetotaller, his fascination with the great Indian religious sagas led to him learning Sanskrit, and in 1908 he composed these four choral hymns translating the text himself.
This endris night
Sarah Quartel (1982 - present)
Quartel is a Canadian choral composer and teacher, who grew up singing in choirs and surrounded by music. She has a fresh, light approach, weaving together complex layers of sounds in her works.
Endris is the old word for ‘recently past’ or ‘other.’ This other night (in preference to ‘that other night’) grammatically fuses past and present. Quartel chose a 15th century poem about the Virgin Mary and her baby Jesus and set it to music.
Chichester Psalms
Leonard Bernstein (1918 - 1990)
With his intellectual brilliance, humanity, warmth, volatility and humour, Bernstein worked hard to create a rich artistic life where he was much in demand. As music director of the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and a regular guest conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernstein found it a constant struggle to find the time to compose.
Still reeling from the impact of the assassination of his friend President Kennedy, he took a sabbatical in 1964, which coincided with an invitation from the Rev. Walter Hussey, Dean of Chichester Cathedral, to compose a work for their festival. ‘A setting of Psalm 2 …. many of us would be delighted if there was a hint of West Side Story about the music.’ Chichester Psalms is the result.
Rutter: The Gift of Life
1. O all ye works of the Lord
O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye waters that be above the firmament, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye showers and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye winds of God, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye dews and frosts, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye frost and cold, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye ice and snow, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever
O ye light and darkness, ye lightnings and clouds: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O let the earth bless the Lord: yea, let it praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye mountains and hills, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye green things upon the earth, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye wells, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye seas and floods, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O let Israel bless the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
(Canticle of the Three Holy Children, from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, (Gloria in excelsis Deo)
Praise him, all creatures here below, Praise him above, ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
(Traditional doxology)
2. The tree of life
The tree of life my soul hath seen, laden with fruit, and always green; The trees of nature fruitless be compared with Christ the apple tree. This beauty doth all things excel; by faith I know, but ne’er can tell The glory which I now can see in Jesus Christ the apple tree.
The tree of life . . .
For happiness I long have sought, and pleasure dearly I have bought; I missed for all, but now I see ’tis found in Christ the apple tree. I’m wearied with my former toil, here I shall sit and rest awhile; Under the shadow I will be of Jesus Christ the apple tree.
The tree of life . . .
This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, it keeps my dying faith alive; Which makes my soul in haste to be with Jesus Christ the apple tree. The tree of life . . .
(Joshua Smith, New Hampshire, 1784)
3. Hymn to the Creator of Light
Glory be to thee, O Lord, glory be to thee, Creator of the visible light, the sun’s ray, the flame of fire. Creator also of the light invisible and intellectual, that which is known of God, the light invisible. Glory be to thee, O Lord, glory be to thee, Creator of the light, for writings of the law, glory be to thee, for oracles of prophets, glory be to thee, for melody of psalms, glory be to thee, for wisdom of proverbs, glory be to thee, experience of histories, glory be to thee, a light which never sets.
God is the Lord, who hath showed us light.
(Lancelot Andrewes (1555–1626), tr. Alexander Whyte)
Light, who dost my soul enlighten; Sun, who all my life dost brighten; Joy, the sweetest man e’er knoweth; Fount, whence all my being floweth. From thy banquet let me measure, Lord, how vast and deep its treasure; Through the gifts thou here dost give us, As thy guest in heaven receive us.
(J. Franck (1618–77), tr. Catherine Winkworth (adapted)
4. O Lord, how manifold are thy works
O Lord, how manifold are thy works: in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches.
Thou cover’dst it with the deep like as with a garment: the waters stand in the hills.
He sendeth the springs into the rivers: which run among the hills.
All beasts of the field drink thereof: and the wild asses quench their thirst.
Beside them shall the fowls of the air have their habitation: and sing among the branches.
He bringeth forth grass for the cattle: and green herb for the service of men.
The trees of the Lord also are full of sap: even the cedars of Libanus which he hath planted; Wherein the birds make their nests: and the fir-trees are a dwelling for the stork.
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats: and so are the stony rocks for the conies.
The lions roaring after their prey: do seek their meat from God.
The sun ariseth, and they get them away together: and lay them down in their dens.
Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour until the evening.
O Lord, how manifold are thy works: in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches.
The glorious Majesty of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
(from Psalm 104)
For all the gifts of God’s creation fashioned by his mighty hand:
Earth and heaven, and all things living springing up at his command;
To God on high be endless glory, praise and honour to his Name, Who was, and is, and ever shall be, through eternity the same.
How rich and fair his works of nature, bird and beast and tree and flower;
All that lives, and has its being under God’s almighty power!
To him who reigns in endless glory, praise and honour to his Name, Who was, and is, and ever shall be, through eternity the same. Amen.
(John Rutter)
5. The gift of each day
The gift of each day rising out of darkness: the promise of light and the birth of new life, the dawn of new hope and a new beginning, if we turn to the light; The gift of each day stirring all around us: the sights of the earth, and sea, and sky, Forever fresh as the day we first saw them, forever new as creation’s first day. Domine, gratias agimus tibi; Lord God, we give you thanks, blessing, and praise. Behold creation, so filled with miracles, Benedictus es, benedictus es, Domine. The gift of each day has been freely granted: the gift of creation in glory revealed.
We thank you, Lord, for all its blessings, we thank you, Lord, for the gift of each day, your good gift of each day, we thank you, Lord, for the gift of each day.
(John Rutter)
6. Believe in life
Believe in life as a stream ever flowing; Believe in life as a tree ever growing: The tree of life, with its branches high in the sky and its roots so deep in the earth. Believe in hope as a flame ever burning; Believe in hope, like the springtime returning; Believe in hope, lift your eyes up unto the hills, whence comes our help from the Lord, the Lord who made the heaven and earth. Every step that you take could start a journey, All the strangers you meet could turn to friends. If you open your eyes new worlds will arise if you just believe in your life, believe in your hopes, believe in your dreams. The stream rolls onward; all things must pass. Our earthly days are short, all flesh as grass, But through all ages long since time began, There stands the tree of life, God’s sign to man. (John Rutter)
The tree of life my soul hath seen, laden with fruit, and always green; The trees of nature fruitless be compared with Christ the apple tree. Amen. (Joshua Smith, New Hampshire, 1784)
I N T E R V A L
Holst: Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda
Hymn to the Dawn
Hear our hymn O Goddess, rich in wealth and wisdom, Ever young yet ancient, true to Law Eternal Wak’ner of the song birds, ensign of th’Eternal, Draw thou near O Fair one, in thy radiant Chariot. Bring to her your off’ring, humbly bow before her, Raise your songs of welcome, as she comes in splendour.
Hymn to the Waters
Flowing from the firmament forth to the ocean
Healing all in earth and air, never halting.
Indra, Lord of Heav’n formed their courses, Indra’s mighty laws can never be broken.
Cleasing waters flow ye on, hasten and help us.
Lo, in the waters, dwelleth One, Knower of all on earth and sea, Whose dread comand no man may shun. Varuna, sovran Lord is He. Onward ye waters onward.
Cleansing waters, flow ye on, hasten and help us. Dance in the bright beams of the sun.
Obey the ruler of the sky
Who dug the path for you to run.
Flowing from the firmament . . .
Hymn to Vena (The sun rising through the mist)
Vena comes born of light, he drives the many colour’d clouds onward
Here, where the sunlight and the waters mingle
Our songs float up and caress the new-born infant, Vena comes. The child of cloud and mist appeareth on the ridge of the sky, He shines on the summit of creation
The hosts proclaim the glory of our Common Father, Vena comes.
He hath come to the bosom of his beloved, smiling on him, She beareth him to highest heav’n. With yearning heart On thee we gaze, O gold-wing’d messenger of mighty Gods. Wise men see him in their libations
As the sacrifice mounts to the eternal heights, Mingling with our solemn chant.
He stands erect in highest heav’n,
Clad in noble raiment, arm’d with shining weapons, Hurling light to the farthest region, Rejoicing in his radiant splendour.
Hymn of the Travellers (The God invoked in this hymn is the Guide of travellers along the roads of this world and along that leading to the next.)
Go thou on before us, guide us on our way, Mighty One. Make our journey pleasant, never let us stray.
Wonder-worker hearken, come in thy splendour, come in thy mighty pow’r.
Trample on the wicked, all who would oppose, Mighty One. Drive away the robber, drive away our foes.
Wonder-worker hearken, come in thy splendour, come in thy mighty pow’r.
As we journey onward, songs to thee we raise, Mighty One. Thou didst aid our fathers, guard us all our days.
Wonder-worker hearken, come in thy splendour, come in thy mighty pow’r.
Feed us and inspire us, keep us in thy care, Mighty One.
Lead us past pursuers unto meadows fair.
Wonder-worker hearken, come in thy splendour, come in thy mighty pow’r.
(Gustav Holst)
Quartel: This endris night
This endris night I saw a sight a star as bright as day, And ever among, a maiden sung, ‘Lul-ly, by by, lul-lay’
This lovely lady sat and sang, and to her child did say, ‘My son, my brother, father dear why liest thou in hay? My sweetest bird is thus required, though thou be king veray, veray, But nevertheless I will not cease to sing “By by, lul-lay, lul-lay”’.
The child then spake whilst she did sing, and to his mother did say, ‘Yea, I am known as Heaven-King in crib though I belaid, belaid. For angels bright down on me light; thou knowest ’tis no nay.’ And for that sight thou may delight to sing, “By by, lul-lay”’.
Now sweet son, since it is so, that all is at thy will, I pray thee grant to me a boon, if it be right and skill, That child or man, who will or can, be merry on my day, To bliss them bring and I shall sing, “Lul-ly, by by, lul-lay, Lul-ly, by by, lul-lay”’. (15 Century, anon.)
Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
Psalm 108, vs. 2, Psalm 100 Urah, hanevel, v’chinor!
A’irah shachar!
Hari’u l’Adonai kol ha’arets.
Iv’du et Adonai b’simcha.
Bo’u l’fanav bir’nanah.
D’u ki Adonai Hu Elohim. Hu asanu, v’lo anachnu.
Amo v’tson mar’ito.
Bo’u sh’arav b’todah, Chatseirotav bit’hilah, Hodu lo, bar’chu sh’mo.
Ki tov Adonai, l’olam chas’do, V’ad dor vador emunato
Psalm 23
Adonai ro’i, lo echsar. Bin’ot deshe yarbitseini, Al mei m’nuchot y’nahaleini, Naf’shi y’shovev, Yan’cheini v’ma’aglei tsedek, L’ma’an sh’mo.
Gam ki eilech
B’gei tsalmavet, Lo ira ra, Ki Atah imadi.
Shiv’t’cha umishan’techa
Hemah y’nachamuni.
Ta’aroch l’fanai shulchan
Neged tsor’rai
Dishanta vashemen roshi
Cosi r’vayah.
Ach tov vachesed
Yird’funi kol y’mei chayai, V’shav’ti b’veit Adonai
L’orech yamim.
Psalm 2, vs. 1-4
Lamah rag’shu goyim
Ul’umim yeh’gu rik?
Yit’yats’vu malchei erets, V’roznim nos’du yachad Al Adonai v’al m’shicho.
N’natkah et mos’roteimo, V’nashlichah mimenu avoteimo. Yoshev bashamayim Yis’chak, Adonai
Yil’ag lamo!
Psalm 131
Adonai, Adonai
Lo gavah libi, V’lo ramu einai, V’lo hilachti
Big’dolot uv’niflaot Mimeni.
Im lo shiviti
V’domam’ti, Naf’shi k’gamul alei imo, Kagamul alai naf’shi.
Yachel Yis’rael el Adonai Me’atah v’ad olam.
Psalm 133, vs. 1
Hineh mah tov, Umah naim, Shevet achim Gam yachad. Amen.
TRANSLATION
Psalm 108, vs. 2, Psalm 100 Awake, psaltery and harp: I will rouse the dawn!
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord, He is God. It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff They comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me In the presence of mine enemies, Thou anointest my head with oil, My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy Shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Psalm 2, vs. 1-4
Why do the nations rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His anointed.
Saying, let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens Shall laugh, and the Lord Shall have them in derision!
Psalm 131
Lord, Lord, My heart is not haughty, Nor mine eyes lofty, Neither do I exercise myself In great matters or in things Too wonderful for me. Surely I have calmed And quieted myself, As a child that is weaned of his mother, My soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord From henceforth and forever.
Psalm 133, vs. 1
Behold how good, And how pleasant it is, For brethren to dwell Together in unity. Amen.
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