Pacific Choirs "Atmospheric Rivers"

Pacific Choirs

University Chorus

Darita Seth, conductor

Monica Adams, collaborative pianist

Pacific Singers

Darita Seth, conductor

Patricia Grimm, collaborative pianist

Sunday, September 24, 2023 2:30 pm

Faye Spanos Concert Hall

“ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS”

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023, 2:30 PM

Let the River Run (1988; 1989)

Huey Chan, shaker

Casey Kim, bongos

Matthew Kulm, congas

Combined Pacific Choirs

太湖船 Boat on Tai Lake (2013)

Hasina Torres, cello University Chorus

Carly Simon (b. 1943) arr. Craig Hella Johnson

An Wasserflüssen Babylon (before 1723) River (1971; 2023)

Hasina Torres, cello Molly Bolewski, conductor

Traditional Taiwanese arr. Reed Criddle

My Soul Is a River (2004)

Ian Orejana, tenor

Jordan Yang, soprano Pacific Singers

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

Joni Mitchell (b. 1943) arr. Darita Seth

University Chorus

Ben Allaway (b. 1958)

Water Night (1995)

Lament, from Earth Symphony (2022)

Rivers of Light (2014)

Alexis Bondoc, alto

Karlie Makhoul, alto

Landon Horstman, bass Pacific Singers

Eric Whitacre (b. 1970)

Jake Runestad (b. 1986)

Eriks Esenvalds (b. 1977)

More Waters Rising (2016)

Molly Bolewski, conductor University Chorus

I’ve Been in the Storm So Long (2006)

Elizabeth Neumeyer, alto

Michell Miracle, soprano Pacific Singers

Gather at the River (1864; 2017)

Christopher Penn, tenor

Walker Austin, bass

Mia Janosik, alto

Michael Megenney, tenor

Combined Pacific Choirs

Saro Lynch-Thomason (b. 1986) arr. Saunder Choi

Traditional Spiritual arr. Jeffery Ames

Robert Lowry (1826–1899) arr. Stacey Gibbs

Simon: Let the River Run

Let the river run

Let all the dreamers wake the nation

Come, the New Jerusalem Silver cities rise

The morning lights the streets that lead them

And sirens call them on with a song

It's asking for the taking

Trembling, shaking

Oh, my heart is aching

We're coming to the edge

Running on the water

Coming through the fog

Your sons and daughters

Traditional Taiwanese: 太湖船 Boat on Tai Lake

The green mountains and gleaming water are restfully still; A gust of wind blows on the surface of the lake. Row, oh row, forward, oh forward.

At dusk, there are few people out; The reflection of the moon on the surface of the water undulates. Row, oh row, forward, oh forward.

Water plants abound on the bank of Tai Lake; Breezes waft the fragrance of reeds and flowers. Row, oh row, forward, oh forward.

—Carly Simon

The setting sun is reflected in the water’s image and the moun-tains’ glow. The surface of the lake slightly shows the sail’s reflection. Row, oh row, forward, oh forward.

Bach:

An Wasserflüssen Babylon

In Babylon by water-streams

We sat in sorrow reeling; As Zion filled our thoughts and dreams, We wept with heartfelt feeling; We hanged aloft with heavy heart

The harp and organ's goodly art, Upon the willows mournful

That in that people's country stand; We suffered daily at their hand Abuse and slander scornful.

—Psalm paraphrase

Mitchell: River

It's coming on Christmas

They're cutting down trees

They're putting up reindeer

And singing songs of joy and peace

Oh, I wish I had a river

I could skate away on

But it don't snow here

It stays pretty green

I'm going to make a lot of money

Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene

I wish I had a river

I could skate away on

I wish I had a river so long I would teach my feet to fly

Oh, I wish I had a river

I could skate away on I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me

You know, he put me at ease

And he loved me so naughty

Made me weak in the knees

Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on

I'm so hard to handle

I'm selfish and I'm sad

Now I've gone and lost the best baby

That I ever had

Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on

I wish I had a river so long I would teach my feet to fly

Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on I made my baby say goodbye

It's coming on Christmas

They’re cutting down trees

They’re putting up reindeer

Singing songs of joy and peace

I wish I had a river

I could skate away on

—Joni Mitchell

Allaway: My Soul Is a River

My soul is a river windin’ thru a weary land. Let justice roll down like waters, righteousness like a mighty stream washing over thirsty land. and slander scornful.

—Amos 5:24 and Ben Allaway

Whitacre: Water Night

Night with the eyes

Of a horse that trembles in the night Night with eyes of water

In the field asleep is in your eyes

A horse that trembles is in Your eyes of secret water. Eyes of shadow-water, Eyes of well-water, Eyes of dream-water. Silence and solitude, Two little animals moon-led, Drink in your eyes,

Drink in those waters. If you open your eyes, night opens doors of musk, The secret kingdom of the water opens Flowing from the center of the night. And if you close your eyes, A river, a silent and beautiful current, fills you from within Flows forward, darkens you Night brings its wetness to beaches in your soul

—Octavio Paz, adapted Eric Whitacre, trans. Muriel Rukeyser

Runestad: Lament, from Earth Symphony

Sleep now my children, now your days are done. Nevermore shall you adore the setting of the sun. Sleep now, forever, lofted in time. No seraphim to rouse thee, no carillons to chime.

Mirabilia! Never shall I dare to dream a dream so bright.

—Todd Boss

Esenvalds: Rivers of Light

winter night, the sky is filled with symphony of light, the sky is flooded with rivers of light. the doors of heaven have been opened tonight. from horizon to horizon misty dragons swim through the sky, green curtains billow and swirl, fastmoving, sky-filling, the tissues of gossamer. nothing can be heard.

Light shakes over the vault of heaven,

its veil of glittering silver changing now to yellow, now to green, now to red. it spreads in restless change, into waving, into many-folded bands of silver.

it shimmers in tongues of flame, over the very zenith it shoots a bright ray up until the whole melts away as a sigh of departing soul in the moonlight, leaving a glow in the sky like the dying embers of a great fire

—Sámi folk songs and writings of Candace Savage, Kari Kaila, Charles Francis Hall, William Reed, and Fridtjof Nansen

Thomason: More Waters Rising

There are more waters rising, this I know.

They will find their way to me. There are more fires burning, this I know.

There are more mountains falling, this I know.

I will wade through the waters, this I know.

When they find their way to me. I will walk through the fires, this I know. I will rebuild the mountains, this I know. There are more waters rising, this I know.

They will find their way to me.

—Saro Lynch-Thomason

Traditional Spiritual: I've Been in the Storm So Long

I've been in the storm so long. I've been in the storm so long, children. I've been in the storm so long. Oh, give me little time to pray. Oh, let me tell my mother how I came along.

Lowry: Gather at the River

Shall we gather at the river, Where bright angel feet have trod; With its crystal tide forever Flowing by the throne of God?

Yes, we'll gather at the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river; Gather with the saints at the river That flows by the throne of God.

On the margin of the river, Washing up its silver spray, We will walk and worship ever, All the happy golden day.

Oh, give me little time to pray. With a hung down head and an aching heart. Oh, give me little time to pray.

Ere we reach the shining river, Lay we ev'ry burden down; Grace our spirits will deliver, And provide a robe and crown.

Soon we'll reach the shining river, Soon our pilgrimage will cease; Soon our happy hearts will quiver With the melody of peace.

—Robert Lowry

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Cambodian-American conductor, haute-contre, and composer, Darita Seth was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He is founder, president, and director of Choral Audacity, a chamber choir advocating for QBIPOC voices. Currently, Seth is interim director of choral studies at University of the Pacific.

Seth's prior conducting credits include: director of music at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Long Beach, California; director of music at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Danville, California; associate director of the Danville Girls Chorus, associate director of the Cantabella Children’s Chorus; and interim director of the Grammy Award–winning Pacific Boychoir Academy.

In 2016 Seth concluded his tenure with Chanticleer, the Grammy Award–winning San Francisco–based men’s vocal ensemble and is currently a member of the Grammy Award–winning Los Angeles Master Chorale. A Sigma Alpha Iota distinguished member, he has made appearances as guest soloist with the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony, Light Chamber Choir, Reconciliation Singers Voices of Peace, and the Philippine Saringhimig Singers.

An active choral clinician, Seth has presented at conferences on topics such as "Nurturing and Embracing Ethnic Diversity within the Choral Ensemble," "Mysteries of the Countertenor Voice," "The Aging Voice," and "How To Change Your Church’s Singing Culture."

Seth holds a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from Capital University’s Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from California State University–Long Beach.

Outside of music and teaching, Seth enjoys cooking meals from his proud Cambodian-American heritage, weightlifting, traveling with his partner, and being a dog-dad to his American dingo, Remy Martin.

Patricia Grimm currently serves as organist at Fremont Presbyterian Church in Sacramento. At Pacific she teaches sight singing, collaborative piano, and serves as a collaborative pianist. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in sacred music from Duquesne University, a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Kent State University, and a Master of Music degree in collaborative piano from the Hartt School of Music.

Monica Adams holds a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from University of the Pacific. She studied piano with Frank Wiens, voice with William Whitesides, George Buckbee, and John DeHaan, and conducting with William Dehning and Robert Halseth. She has been a collaborative pianist at Pacific since 1995.

University Chorus

A large, mixed chorus collaborating with other choirs for two performances each semester and performing both a cappella and choral-orchestral works in a wide variety of genres.

Sopranos

Magdalena Bowen, BM Vocal Performance, ’27

Emma Bradley, BM Music Therapy, ’24

Lilia Casaro, BM Music Therapy, ’24

Miranda Duarte,* BM Music Composition, ’26

Judy Kim, BM Piano Peformance, ’24

Isabelle Knittle, BM Music Education, ’24

Rebecca Mahon, BM Music Therapy, ’25

Julianna Meneses, BA Ethnic Studies, ’25

Olivia Navarro, MS Speech-Language Pathology, ’25

Sam Perrego, BM Music Education, ’24

Olivhea Ross, BM Music Therapy, ’27

Sydney Zucco, BS Mechanical Engineering, ’25

Altos

Abrefi Adubofour, BS Psychology, ’25

Gabby Campitelli, BM Music Therapy, ’23

Huey Chan, BM Music Therapy, ’25

Jinling Li, BM Music Management, ’23

Grace Liaw, BM Music Therapy, ’24

Celena Lopez, BA Political Science, ’25

Jasmin Lopez,* BM Music Education, ’27

Zoie Macapanpan,* BM Music Therapy, ’26

Claire Petersen, BS Bioengineering, ’25

Vanessa Vazquez-Bartolo, BM Music Therapy, ’24

Clarice Yoon, BS Pre-Dentistry, ’25

*section leader

Tenors

University Chorus continued

Bronson Burfield, BM Music Education, ’27

Jordan Hendrickson,* BM Music Composition, ’25

William Giancaterino, BA Music, ’26

Davis Robinson, BM Piano Performance, ’26

Basses

Walker Austin,* BM Music Education, ’27

Patrick Bartholomy, BS Computer Engineering, ’28

Chaz Cisneros, BM Music Composition, ’24

Jake Scallan, BM Music Therapy, ’24

Joseph Schwartz, BM Music Education, ’27

Alejandro Villalobos, BM Music Education, ’27

A select, mixed-voice chamber choir who collaborate with University Chorus for two choralconcerts each semester and perform at major university events and ceremonies. They also work with University Symphony Orchestra and the Stockton Symphony to perform major choral and orchestral pieces.

Sopranos I

Kailey Diggs,* BM Vocal Performance, ’24

Ria Patel, BM Vocal Performance, ’25

Charlie Price, BM Music Education, ’24

J. Bell Souza, BM Music Education, ’24

Sopranos II

Juliette Frediere, BM Vocal Performance, ’24

Shannon Lyons, BM Music Therapy, ’25

Michelle Miracle, BA Music, ’26

Jordan Yang, BM Vocal Performance, ’24

Altos I

Jasmin Hernandez, BS Psychology, ’26

Katie Pelletier, BM Vocal Performance, ’26

Stella Mahnke, BM Music Therapy, ’25

Karlie Makhoul, BS Pre-Pharmacy, ’27

PACIFIC CHOIRS

Pacific Singers continued

Altos II

Molly Bolewski,*+ MM Music Education, ’24

Alexis Bondoc, BM Music Therapy, ’24

Mia Janosik, BM Vocal Performance, ’25

Elizabeth Neumeyer, BM Vocal Performance, ’27

Tenors I

Michael Megenney,* BM Vocal Performance, ’25

Lorenzo Murillo^

Christopher Penn, BM Piano Performance, ’25

Tenors II

Leo Hearl, BM Music Therapy, ’25

Ian Orejana, BM Music Composition, ’26

Basses I

Landon Horstman, BM Music Education, ’27

Austin Nie, BS Music Industry, ’27

Ryan Vang^

Basses II

Andrew Hathaway^

Timothy Mascarinas^

Lilac Robertson, BM Music Composition, ’24

Sevastian Schlau,* BSCOMP–Computer Science, ’26

Pacific Voice and Choral Faculty

Daniel Ebbers, program director

Eric Dudley

Robin Fisher

James Haffner

Darita Seth

Jonathan Latta, ensembles program director

*section leader +assistant conductor

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Coming

Sep. 29, 7:30 pm, Recital Hall

Faculty Recital

Ann Miller, violin

Sonia Leong, piano

Sep. 30, 7:30 pm, Concert Hall

University Symphony Orchestra and Pacific Jazz Ensemble

Oct. 3, 7:30 pm, Recital Hall

Faculty Recital

Kyle Bruckmann, oboe

Oct. 11, 7:30 pm, Recital Hall

Guest Artist Brian Schuldt, cello