Wednesday
NOV 29 7:30 pm
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Cantus:
Three Tales of Christmas
This event is made possible through the generous support of the Lena M. Stranathan Chamber Music Fund.
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NOV 29 | Cantus: Three Tales of Christmas
Storytelling is a wondrous and meaningful part of the holiday season. In Three Tales of Christmas, Cantus reimagines beloved stories through familiar carols alongside new holiday classics. Featuring narrated passages from such classic holiday tales as A Christmas Carol, Gift of the Magi and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Three Tales of Christmas reminds us of the meaning and joy of the season with fresh perspective and just the right amount of nostalgia.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen English tradition Carol arr. David Willcocks (1915–2015) Leonard de Paur (1914–1998)
Repertoire
God rest ye merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay. Remember, Christ, our Savior Was born on Christmas day To save us all from Satan’s power When we were gone astray. O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy. From God our Heavenly Father A blessed Angel came; And unto certain Shepherds Brought tidings of the same: O tidings of comfort and joy, How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by Name. O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy. Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas All other doth deface. O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy. ____________________________________ Demon in my View Jeffrey T. Horvath Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common spring— From the same source I have not taken My sorrow—I could not awaken My heart to joy at the same tone— And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone— Then—in my childhood—in the dawn Of a most stormy life—was drawn From ev’ry depth of good and ill The mystery which binds me still— From the torrent, or the fountain— From the red cliff of the mountain— From the sun that ’round me roll’d In its autumn tint of gold— From the lightning in the sky As it pass’d me flying by— From the thunder, and the storm— And the cloud that took the form (When the rest of Heaven was blue) Of a demon in my view— ____________________________________ Make We Joy Now in this Feast Robert J. Powell (b. 1932) Make we joy now in this fest, In quo Christus natus est. (In which Christ is born.) Eya, eya. A Patre Unigenitus (The only begotten of the Father) Is through a maiden come to us: Sing we of Him and say “Welcome” Veni, Redemptor gencium. (Come, Redeemer of the nations.) Agnoscat omne seculum (Let every age perceive) A bright star made three kings to come, Him for to seek with their presents, Verbum supertum prodiens. (The high Word coming)
NOV 29 | Cantus: Three Tales of Christmas A solis ortus cardine (From the rising of the sun) So mighty a Lord is none as He: And to our kind He hath Him knit, Adam parens quod polluit.(Which father Adam defiled). Maria ventre concepit (Mary conceived in her womb) The Holy Ghost was aye her with, Of her in Bethlehem born He is, Consors paterni luminis. (Sharing the light of Father.) O Lux beata Trinitas (O Light of the Holy Trinity) He lay between an ox and ass, Beside His mother maiden free, Gloria Tibi Domine! (Glory to Thee, O Lord!) ____________________________________ Wassail English Carol arr. Erick Lichte (b. 1975) A Wassail! A wassail! all over the town, Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown; Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree; With the wassailing bowl, we’ll drink unto thee. Here’s to our horse, and to his right ear, God send our master a happy new year: A happy new year as e’er he did see, With the wassailing bowl I drink unto thee. So here is to Cherry and to his right cheek Pray God send our master a good piece of beef A good piece of beef that we may all see With the wassailing bowl, we’ll drink unto thee. Here’s to our mare, and to her right eye, God send our mistress a good Christmas pie; A good Christmas pie as e’er she did see, With the wassailing bowl I drink unto thee. So here is to Broad Mary and to her broad horn May God send our master a good crop of corn A good crop of corn that may we all see With the wassailing bowl, we’ll drink unto thee. ____________________________________ Love Came Down at Christmas David Dickau (b.1953) Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)
Page 24 Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine, Love was born at Christmas, Star and Angels gave the sign. Worship we the Godhead, Love Incarnate, Love Divine, Worship we our Jesus, But wherewith for sacred sign? Love shall be our token, Love be yours and love be mine, Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign. ____________________________________ Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Hugh Martin (1914–2011) Ralph Blaine (1914–1995) Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Let your heart be light, From now on your troubles will be out of sight. Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Make the Yuletide gay, From now on your troubles will be miles away. Here we are as in olden days, Happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us, Gather near to us once more. Through the years we all will be together, If the fates allow. Hang a shining star upon the highest bough, And have yourself a merry little Christmas now. ____________________________________ Ubi Caritas Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978) Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor. Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur. Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum. Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero. Amen. Where charity and love are, God is there. Christ’s love has gathered us into one. Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him. Let us fear, and let us love the living God. And may we love each other with a sincere heart. Amen. ____________________________________
Page 25 Joy to the World Traditional Hymn attr. George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) Isaac Watts (1674–1748) Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room, and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His love. ____________________________________ Thankful Heart Paul Williams (b. 1940) With a thankful, with a endless joy With a growing family, every girl and boy Will be nephew and niece to me, Will bring love, hope and peace to me. Yes, everyday will end and everyday will start With a grateful prayer and a thankful heart, With an open smile and with open doors I will greet welcome, and what’s mine is yours With a glass raised to toast your health. And a promise to share the wealth. I will sail a friendly course, file a friendly chart On a sea of love and a thankful heart. Life is like a journey Who knows when it ends?
NOV 29 | Cantus: Three Tales of Christmas Yes, and if you need to know the measure of a man, You simply count his friends. Stop and look around you The glory that you see Is born again each day, don’t let it slip away. How precious life can be. With a thankful heart that is wide awake I do make this promise with every breath I take Will be used now to sing your praise. And beg you to share my days With a loving guarantee That even if we part I will hold you close in a thankful heart. ____________________________________
20-minute Intermission ____________________________________ Noel Nouvelet French Carol arr. Michael McGlynn (b. 1964) Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici; Dévotes gens‚ rendons à Dieu merci; Chantons Noël pour le Roi nouvelet; Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons ici! Quand je m’éveillai et eus assez dormi. J’ouvris les yeux, vis un arbre fleuri Dont il sortait un bouton merveilli. Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons ici! D’un oiselet après le chant ouïs, Qui aux pasteurs disait : Partez d’ici ! En Bethléem trouverez l’angelet, Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons ici! Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel! Glory to God! Now let your praises swell! Sing we Noel for Christ, the newborn King, Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel! When I awoke and had slept enough. I opened my eyes and saw a tree in flower Which there emereged a marvelous bud. Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel! From a small bird after its chirping, Who said to the shepherds, “Go from here!” In Bethlehem, you will find the little lamb, Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel!
NOV 29 | Cantus: Three Tales of Christmas Silver and Gold Johnny Marks (1909–1985) Silver and gold, silver and gold Ev’ryone wishes for silver and gold How do you measure its worth? Just by the pleasure it gives here on earth? Silver and gold, silver and gold Mean so much more when I see Silver and gold decorations On ev’ry Christmas tree. Silver and gold, silver and gold Wise men brought gifts to the manger I’m told Mary was humbled to see, shepherds and King there on bended knee. Silver and gold, silver and gold Filling the world with their lights Silver and gold how the shimmer On every Christmas night. ____________________________________ In The Bleak Midwinter Gustav Holst (1874–1934) In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan; Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago. Heaven cannot hold Him Nor earth sustain, Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter A stable-place sufficed The Lord God Almighty — Jesus Christ. Angels and Archangels May have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim Thronged the air; But only His Mother In her maiden bliss Worshipped the Beloved With a kiss.
Page 26 What can I give Him, Poor as I am? — If I were a Shepherd I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man I would do my part, — Yet what I can I give Him, — Give my heart. ____________________________________ Lo, How a Rose E’er Bloomin German Carol arr. Cantus Lo, how a rose e’er blooming, From tender stem hath sprung. Of Jesse’s lineage coming, As men of old have sung; It came, a flow’ret bright, Amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night. Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, aus einer Wurzel zart, wie uns die Alten sungen, von Jesse kam die Art Und hat ein Blümlein bracht mitten im kalten Winter, wohl zu der halben Nacht. O flower, whose fragrance tender, With sweetness fills the air, Dispel with glorious splendor, The darkness everywhere; True man, yet very God, From sin and death now save us, And share our every load. ____________________________________ The Three Kings Healey Willan (1880–1968) Laurence Housman (1865–1959) “Who knocks tonight so late?” the weary porter said. Three kings stood at the gate, each with a crown on head. The serving man bowed down, the Inn was full, he knew. Said he, “In all this town is no fit place for you.” A light in the manger lit; there lay the Mother meek.
Page 27 This place is fit. Here is the rest we seek. Come, come. They loosed their latchet strings, so stood they all unshod “Come in, come in, ye kings, and kiss the feet of God.” ____________________________________ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Chris Foss (b. 1983) Clement Clarke Moore (1799–1863) ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! “Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
NOV 29 | Cantus: Three Tales of Christmas As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly! He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”