"BEHOLD A STAR"
Pacific Choirs Pacific Singers University Chorus Darita Seth, conductor Monica Adams, piano Patricia Grimm, piano Pacific Stocktones
Friday, December 1, 2023 7:30 pm Faye Spanos Concert Hall
40TH PERFORMANCE OF 2023–24 ACADEMIC YEAR
DECEMBER 1, 2023, 7:30 PM Keyboard Prelude City of Stars, from La La Land (2016; 2023)
Justin Hurwitz (b. 1985) arr. Darita Seth Monica Adams, Patricia Grimm, piano four hands
Solo Eternal Source of Light Divine (c. 1713; 2023)
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) arr. Seth
Ria Patel, soprano Yukina Shimokawa, trumpet Jamie Lue, Lizzie Mendoza, violins Abby Van de Water, viola Bailey Labrie, cello Pacific Singers Let Their Celestial Concerts All Unite, from Samson (1741–42; 2023) Jamie Lue, Lizzie Mendoza, violins Abby Van de Water, viola Bailey Labrie, cello
I Am Light (2013; 2021)
Combined Choirs
Handel arr. Seth
India.Arie Simpson (b. 1975) arr. Seth
Jake Scallan, guitar Magdalena Bowen, American Sign Language signer Stars (2011) Julianna Meneses, Katie Pelletier, sopranos
Ēriks Ešenvalds (b. 1977)
DECEMBER 1, 2023, 7:30 PM Ancient Nova (2009)
Pacific Singers Bell Souza, soprano Jasmin Hernandez, alto
Craig Courtney (b. 1948)
Solo Claude-Michel Schönberg Stars, from Les Misérables (excerpt) (b. 1944) (1980; 1985) Landon Horstman, baritone Pacific Singers Underneath the Stars (2003; 2017) Michael Megenney, tenor
University Chorus There Shall a Star, from Christus, op. 97 (1847; 2018) Jamie Lue, Lizzie Mendoza, violins Abby Van de Water, viola Bailey Labrie, cello Kumukutikutitap (1983) Huey Chan, sleigh bells Sam Perrego, conductor
Jingle Bells (1850)
Butterfly (2001; 2006)
Santa Baby (1953; 2019)
Community Sing-along
Kate Rusby (b. 1973) arr. Jim Clements
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) arr. James Leavitt
Ryan Cayabyab (b. 1954)
James Pierpont (1822–1893)
Pacific Stocktones Mia Makaroff, Anna-Mari Kähärä for Rajaton (b. 1970, b. 1963) Philip Springer (b. 1926) arr. Stephen Calgaro
DECEMBER 1, 2023, 7:30 PM The Christmas Song (1945)
Community Sing-along
University Chorus Light in the Hallway (2015; 2017)
Bell Souza, conductor
Robert Wells, Mel Tormé (1922–1998, 1925–1999)
Audra Mae, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi for Pentatonix (b. 1984, b. 1991, b. 1992) arr. Jacob Narverud
Rejoice with Exceeding Great Joy (1972; 1978) Molly Bolewski, conductor
River (1971; 2023)
Pacific Singers
Ian Orejana, tenor Jordan Yang, soprano
Lanny Wolfe (b. 1942) arr. Derric Johnson
Joni Mitchell (b. 1943) arr. Seth
When You Wish upon a Star (1939)
Leigh Harline (1907–1969) arr. Nancy Wertsch
Christmas Spiritual Medley (1993)
arr. Joseph Jennings
Juliette Frédière, soprano Lilac Robertson, bass Combined Choirs Glenn McClure, Wes Kennison One Sweet Little Baby (2004; 2006) (b. 1964, b. 1957) arr. Shawn Kirchner Silent Night (1818; 2010) Lilia Gracia, soprano Molly Bolewski, alto Jake Scallan, guitar
Franz Gruber (1787–1863) arr. Pamela Bertin
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS Handel: Eternal Source of Light Divine Eternal source Eternal source of light divine With double warmth thy beams display With double warmth thy beams display And with distinguished glory shine And with distinguished glory shine To add lustre to this day. — Ambrose Philips
Handel: Let Their Celestial Concerts All Unite Let their celestial concerts all unite Ever to sound His praise in endless morn of light. —Newburgh Hamilton
India Arie: I Am Light I am light I am not the things my family did. I am not the voices in my head. I am not the pieces of the brokenness inside. I am light I am light I’m not the mistakes that I have made Or any of the things that caused me pain. I am not the pieces of the dream I left behind. I am light —India.Arie Simpson
Ešenvalds: Stars Alone in the night On a dark hill With pines around me Spicy and still And a heaven full of stars Over my head White and topaz And misty red; Myriads with beating Hearts of fire
The aeons Cannot vex or tire; Up the dome of heaven Like a great hill I watch them marching Stately and still And I know that I Am honored to be Witness Of so much majesty. —Sara Teasdale
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS Courtney: Ancient Nova Darkness upon darkness Darkness in the wheel of heaven turning Darkness deep within the darkness A spark born of the first creation burning. Turning, burning Far beyond the reaches of our sight Turning, burning Turning, burning Growing to a point of radiant white. In the eastern sky, the ancient promise In the eastern sky, a nova bright. Fragment of the night sky Bright as midday sun, Suspended in the heavens; Journey ended and begun. Fragment of the night sky, Bright as midday sun, Suspended in the heavens; Journey ended and begun. The star, a messenger eternal The star, luminary bright The star, banishing the darkness Light upon the way To lead us home. —Susan Bentall Boersma
Schönberg: Stars, from Les Misérables Lord let me find him That I may see him Safe behind bars I will never rest Till then, this I swear . . . This I swear by the stars. —Herbert Kretzmer
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS Rusby: Underneath the Stars O go gently. Underneath the stars I’ll meet you Underneath the stars I’ll greet you And there beneath the stars I’ll leave you Before you go of your own free will Go gently. Underneath the stars I’ll meet you Underneath the stars you left me I wonder if the stars regret me At least you'll go of your own free will Go gently. Here beneath the stars I'm landing I'm here beneath the stars not ending Why on earth am I pretending? I'm here again, the stars befriending They come and go of their own free will Go gently. —Kate Rusby
Mendelssohn: There Shall a Star There shall a star from Jacob come forth And a sceptre from Israel rise up. And dash in pieces princes and nations. There shall a star from Jacob come forth. How brightly shines the Morning Star With radiance gleaming from afar With light and comfort glowing! Thy Word, Jesus, Inly feeds us, truly leads us, Life bestowing. Praise, oh praise, Such love o’er flowing. —trans. William Bartholomew
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS Cayabyab: Kumukuti-kutitap Kumukuti-kutitap, bumubusi-busilak Ganyan ang indak ng mga bombilya Kikindat-kindat, kukurap-kurap Pinaglalaruan ang inyong mga mata
Twinkle Twinkle, shining snow white That’s how the Christmas lights dances Winking winking, shimmering lights Playing with your eyes.
Kumukuti-kutitap, bumubusi-busilak Ganyan ang in-dak ng manga bumbilya Kikindat-kindat, kukurap-kurap Pinaglalaruan ang inyong mga mata
Twinkle Twinkle, shining snow white That's how the stars shimmers Beating and Beating, hiccuping endlessly Crown it with a foil star.
Iba’t ibang palamuti Ating isabit sa puno Buhusan ng mga kulay Tambakan ng mga regalo
Different decorations Are hanged on the tree Shower it with colors Fill it with Christmas presents
Tumitibok-tibok, sumisinok-sinok 'Wag lang malunod, sasabihin
Beating and Beating, Hiccuping endlessly Don't just drown, and will say
(Pupulu-pulupot) Paikot nang paikot Koronahan ng palarang bituin Dagdagan mo pa ng kendi Ribbon eskoses at bonita Habang lalong dumadami Regalo mo'y dagdagan —Jose Javier Reyes
(coiling intensively) Turning around Crown it with a foil star. Add it with candies Scott Ribbons, how pretty As they multiply in numbers May your gifts also multiply —trans. unknown
Pierpont: Jingle Bells Dashing through the snow In a one-horse open sleigh O’er the fields we go Laughing all the way Bells on bobtails ring Making spirits bright What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight.
A day or two ago I thought I’d take a ride And soon, Miss Fanny Bright Was seated by my side. The horse was lean and lank Misfortune seemed his lot He got into a drifted bank And then we got upsot.
Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh . . . Hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh . . . Hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh In a one-horse open sleigh. —James Pierpont
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS Makaroff, Kähärä: Butterfly Sweet as the sound of my newformed wings I stretch them open, I let them dry I haven't seen this world before But I'm excused, I'm a butterfly Sweet as the touch of your newborn wings We fly in circles, we play with the sun We haven’t seen this world before So fair, so bright, so blue the sky Love me, love me on the leaves Before we say goodbye Love me, kiss me with the breeze You will be my lullaby Tomorrow I'll die, etc. Be my lullaby Love me, kiss me with your breeze Love me, love me on the leaves Love me, love me on the leaves Before we say goodbye Sweet as the wind as it gently blows The day away. And the night time comes Great are the wonders that silence shows I fall asleep and I dream of the sun And my butterfly.
—Mia Makaroff, Anna-Mari Kähärä
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS Springer: Santa Baby Santa ooo . . . Santa ooo Santa baby, just a-slip a sable under the tree for me Been an awful good girl Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight Santa baby, a fifty-four convertible too, light blue I'll wait up for you, dear Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight Think of all the fun I’ve missed Think of all the fellas that I haven’t kissed Next year, I could be just as good If you’ll check off my Christmas list Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that’s not a lot Been an angel all year Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex and checks Sign your “X” on the line Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight Come on Santa, hurry down tonight! Come and trim my Christmas tree With some decorations bought at Tiffany’s I really do believe in you Let’s see if you believe in me Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring I don’t mean on the phone Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight So hurry down the chimney tonight. —Joan Javits
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS Wells, Tormé: 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 like Eskimos 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 —Robert Wells, Mel Tormé
Mae, Hoying, Grassi: Light in the Hallway Close your eyes, lay your head down Now it’s time to sleep May you find great adventure As you lie and dream If you’re scared of the darkness I will calm your fear There’s a light in the hallway So you know I'm here So count your blessings every day It makes the monsters go away And everything will be okay You are not alone It makes the monsters go away And everything will be okay You are not alone You are right at home Goodnight, goodnight Goodnight, goodnight Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh —Audra Mae, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS Wolfe: Rejoice with Exceeding Great Joy Oh . . . When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy. O’er mountains and valleys, it led them each night. A star of most radiant light (radiant light) And so the wise men rejoiced as they journeyed afar To behold such a beautiful star. Oh . . . When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy, When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy. They rejoiced with exceeding great joy, Great joy, great joy. The star shone bright giving wondrous light. It led those three kinds to a holy child. Oh one bright day I saw in rich array Three mighty kings and all their court go marching, marching One bright day, these kings in rich array Beheld a star that shone from far away. They rejoiced with exceeding great joy, Great joy, great joy. We three kings of orient are . . . When they saw the star . . . Bearing gifts we traverse afar . . . They rejoiced with great joy . . . Field and fountain, moor and mountain . . . When they saw the star . . . Following yonder star, They rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Oh, oh . . . Star of wonder, star of night. Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to thy perfect light. Noel, noel, noel, noel. Born is the King of Israel. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy. —Lanny Wolfe
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS Mitchell: River It’s coming on Christmas They’re cuttin’ down trees Puttin’ up reindeer 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. Gonna make a lot of money Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on . . . Oh 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, 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 could skate away . . . 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, goodbye. It’s coming on Christmas They’re cuttin’ down trees Puttin’ up reindeer Singing songs of joy and peace Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on . . . —Joni Mitchell
When You Wish upon a Star When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you are Anything your heart desires Will come to you.
Fate is kind She brings to those who love The sweet fulfillment of Their secret longing.
If your heart is in your dream No request is too extreme When you wish upon a star As dreamers do.
Like a bolt out of the blue Fate steps in and sees you through When you wish upon a star Your dreams come true. —Ned Washington
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS Jennings: Christmas Spirituals Medley There’s a star on the east on Christmas morn Rise up shepherd and follow. It’ll lead to the place where the Savior’s born. Rise up shepherd and follow. Leave your sheep and leave your lambs. Rise up shepherd and follow, follow. Leave your ewes and leave your rams. Rise up shepherd and follow. There was no room found in the inn. It is the star of Bethlehem. For Him who was born free from sin. It is the star of Bethlehem. Behold that star, behold that star up yonder. Behold that star. It is the star of Bethlehem. Rise up shepherd and follow. Sweet little Jesus boy, they made you be born in a manger. Sweet little holy child, didn’t you know who you was? It was poor little Jesus, born on a Christmas. Laid in a manger, I ask you wasn’t that a pity and a shame? What month was my Jesus born in? Last month of the year. Now was it January? No, no! February? No, no! March, April, May? No, no, no! June, July, August, September, October, November But the twenty-fifth a day of December Well, the last month of the year. Children go where I send thee. How shall I send thee? One for the little bitty baby. Born of the Virgin Mary. Wrapped in swaddlin’ clothin’ Layin’ in a manger
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS Well, he was born in Bethlehem. Well, children go go go, yes go! Go tell it on the mountain Over the hills and ev’rywhere Go tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born. Jesus Christ is born. —Traditional
McClure, Kennison: One Sweet Little Baby O Mary, shining glory! The Lord smiles upon you. What a blessing is this little baby That you brought to our world O all for the love of one sweet little baby O all for the love of one sweet baby child O all for the love of one sweet little baby We have come so far. O a good old man named Simeon said, “I’m never gonna rest till I see that Messiah child and hold him to my breast.” O all for the love of one sweet little baby O all for the love of one sweet baby child O all for the love of one sweet little baby We have come so far. Many gonna speak against you child They’ll crucify all that’s true. And your mother Mary she will bear a pain That will pierce her heart through O all for the love of one sweet little baby O all for the love of one sweet baby child O all for the love of one sweet little baby We have come, we have come . . . (continued)
TEX TS AND TRANSL ATIONS O Jerusalem, your children are so tired of war. My Lord, it’s time to walk with your children once more O all for the love of one sweet little baby O all for the love of one sweet baby child O all for the love of one sweet little baby We have come, we have come so far. Oo . . . oo. O all for the love of one sweet little baby We have come, we have come so far. All for the love Of a sweet little baby. —Glenn McClure, Wes Kennison
Gruber: Silent Night Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night. Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia, Christ the Saviour is born Christ the Saviour is born! Silent night, holy night. Son of God love’s pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face With dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth Jesus Lord, at Thy birth. Silent night, holy night. Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace. —trans. John Freeman Young
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. 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. 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.
PACIFIC CHOIRS Pacific Singers A select, mixed-voice chamber choir who collaborate with the University Chorus for two choralconcerts each semester and perform at major university events and ceremonies. They also work with the University Symphony Orchestra and the Stockton Symphony to perform major choral and orchestral pieces.
Sopranos I
Kailey Diggs* Ria Patel Charlie Price Bell Souza
Sopranos II
Juliette Frédière Shannon Lyons ^ Michelle Miracle Sam Perrego ^ Jordan Yang
Altos I
Jasmin Hernandez Katie Pelletier Stella Mahnke Karlie Makhoul
Altos II
Molly Bolewski*† Alexis Bondoc Mia Janosik Elizabeth Neumeyer
Tenors I
Leo Hearl Michael Megenney*
Tenors II
Ian Orejana Christopher Penn
Basses I
Landon Horstman Austin Nie Ryan Vang
Basses II
Walker Austin, Lilac Robertson Sevastian Schlau*
*section leader †assistant conductor ^choral assistants
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 Emma Bradley Lilia Casaro Rachael Cross, Miranda Duarte* Judy Kim Isabelle Knittle Rebecca Mahon Julianna Meneses Olivia Navarro Olivhea Ross Sydney Zucco
Altos
Abrefi Adubofour Gabby Campitelli Huey Chan Jinling Li Grace Liaw Celena Lopez Jas Lopez* Zoie Macapanpan* Claire Petersen Vanessa Vazquez-Bartolo Clarice Yoon
Tenors
Patrick Bartholomy Jordan Hendrickson* William Giancaterino Davis Robinson
Basses
Walker Austin*, Bronson Burfield Chaz Cisneros Jake Scallan Joseph Schwartz Alejandro Villalobos *section leader
PACIFIC CHOIRS Pacific Stocktones A student-run a cappella group that is open to everyone by audition. Auditions are held each fall. Annual activities include an EP release, singing Valentines, and other performances throughout the school year.
Sopranos I
Altos II
Basses I
Sopranos II
Tenors I
Taryn Brown Macy Hirota
Leo Hearl* Matthew Miramontes
Basses II
Altos I
Tenors II
*executive board member
Emma Bradley Ava Crotti
Olivhea Ross Stella Mahnke*
Andie Reposa* Zoie Macapanpan
Landon Horstman Ian Orejana*
William Giancaterino Austin Nie
Daniel Hui* Seth Neves*
Pacific Voice and Choral Faculty Daniel Ebbers, program director Eric Dudley Robin Fisher James Haffner Darita Seth Jonathan Latta, ensembles program director
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Coming soon . . . Dec. 4, 7:30 pm, Recital Hall Varied Ensembles III Dec. 5, 7:30 pm, Recital Hall Pacific Composers Recital View a digital version of this program at issuu.com/MusicatPacific.
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