For the Beauty of the Earth
An Afternoon Concert with the Opera Philadelphia Chorus S U N DAY, M AY 2 2 Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church 3:00 P. M .
Opera Philadelphia Chorus Elizabeth Braden, Conductor Michael Lewis, Pianist Cookie Diorio, Narrator
Program Sunday, May 22, 2022 I. Sacred Songs O beautiful O graceful one… Stand to face me beloved and open out the grace of your eyes… -Sappho
“Invitation” Ave Verum Corpus
Mary Oliver Francis Poulenc
Ave Maria
Pax Ressler
“Drifting”
Mary Oliver
At the River, from Old American Songs, Set 2
Aaron Copland
Robin Bier, soloist “Praying”
Mary Oliver
For the Beauty of the Earth
Michael Bussewitz-Quarm II. Theatrical Songs I long and seek after… Someone will remember us I say even in a different time… -Sappho
“Song”
Sonia Sanchez
Pretty Women, from Sweeney Todd
Stephen Sondheim
The Worst Pies in London, from Sweeney Todd
Stephen Sondheim
Meghan McGinty, soloist “Two Haiku”
Sonia Sanchez
A Boy Like That/I Have a Love, from West Side Story
Paula Rivera and Evelyn Santiago, soloists
Leonard Bernstein
Say the Word, from The Mad Ones
Bree Lowdermilk Valerie Haber, soloist
“Short Poem”
Sonia Sanchez
Losing My Mind, from Follies
Stephen Sondheim Megan McFadden, soloist
“Haiku (for Sarah Vaughan)”
Sonia Sanchez
Send in the Clowns, from A Little Night Music
“Wild Geese”
III. Poetic Songs Moon has set and Pleiades: middle night, the hour goes by, alone I lie. -Sappho
Nocturne
Stephen Sondheim
Mary Oliver Eric Tuan
No Time Not to Love
Joan Szymko
“How I Go to the Woods”
Mary Oliver
Solitary Hotel, from Despite and Still, Op. 42,
Samuel Barber
Natasha Nelson, soloist Last Night the Rain Spoke to Me
Lori Laitman Jorie Moss, soloist
“Loneliness” The Silver Swan The Peace of Wild Things
Mary Oliver Michael Bussewitz-Quarm Joan Szymko
Program Notes For the beauty of the earth, For the joy of ear and eye For the glory of the skies, For the heart and mind’s delight
For the love which from our birth For the mystic harmony Over and around us lies. Linking sense through sound and sight. — Folliot Sandford Pierpoint
“Words, words. They’re all we have to go on.” Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Tom Stoppard “Music can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable.” – Leonard Bernstein Words and music are each wonderful, but the marriage of words and music is what makes the magic of singing. Today we explore how music and words join together to help us celebrate the sacred, experience joy and sorrow on the stage, and be moved by the loveliest poem set to music. We’ll sing of hope, contemplation, prayer, baking terrible pies, loss and of course, love. Every song on the program is a love song in some way, a chance to find and celebrate the beauty of the earth, to feel mystic harmony through words and music that will bring delight to the heart and mind. The voices we have chosen to lead us on this journey to search for love and beauty are composers and poets from the LGBTQIA+ community. Some are famous (Sondheim, Bernstein), some are local (Lowdermilk, Ressler), all are beautiful voices that have much to offer and to teach us. Speaking of beautiful voices, we are thrilled to welcome Cookie Diorio to read poetry of Mary Oliver and Sonia Sanchez. Cookie Diorio is a Philadelphia-based drag performer, a classically trained vocalist, a songwriter, an activist, a husband, mother of the House of Diorio, a music teacher and lover of all things sparkly. Cookie grew up in historic Auburn, NY with gospel in her ears, civil rights in her blood and a song in her heart. She trained at Ithaca College in the voice studio of Angus Godwin. She founded the giving project Art of the Heel, has produced many solo shows including the offBroadway one-night-only Fire In My Bones: A Gospel Jubilee (Kraine Theater, NYC), given a TEDx talk at Rosetree, had a musical takeover at The Barnes Foundation, and is an Associate Artist of the Bearded Ladies Cabaret. The first thing you’ll hear Cookie read is the poem “Invitation” by Mary Oliver. We are so glad that you didn’t walk by but are here for our performance. And while it may not mean everything or change your life, we hope it means something to you to be with us and listen to beautiful words and beautiful music.
I beg of you, do not walk by without pausing to attend to this rather ridiculous performance. It could mean something. It could mean everything. It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote: You must change your life.
Photo by Dave DiRentis
Texts & Translations Ave Verum Corpus Music by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) Text attributed to Pope Innocent VI (c. 13th Century) Sung in Latin. English Translation: Hail true body of Christ, Born of the Virgin Mary Having truly suffered, was sacrificed On the cross for humankind. Ave Maria Music by Pax Ressler (b. 1989) Text Traditional Christian Prayer Sung in Latin. English Translation: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, Now and at the hour of our death. At the River, from Old American Songs, Set 2 Music by Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Hymn Tune and Text by Robert Lowry (1826-1899) Shall we gather by the river, Where bright angel’s feet have trod, With its crystal tide forever Flowing by the throne of God? Yes, we’ll gather by the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river, Gather with the saints by the river That flows by the throne of God. Soon we’ll reach the shining river, Soon our pilgrimage will cease, Soon our happy hearts will quiver With the melody of peace. Yes, we’ll gather by the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river, Gather with the saints by the river That flows by the throne of God. For the Beauty of the Earth Music by Michael Bussewitz-Quarm (b. 1971) Text by Folliot Sandford Pierpoint (1835-1917) For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies. For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light. Refrain: Lord of all to thee we raise This, our joyful hymn of praise. For the joy of ear and eye For the heart and mind’s delight For the mystic harmony Linking sense through sound and sight. For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth, and friends above, For all gentle thoughts and mild.[Refrain] For thy church, that evermore lifteth holy hands above, offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love. For thyself, best gift divine, to the world so freely given, peace on earth and joy in heaven. [Refrain] Pretty Women, from Sweeney Todd Music and Text by Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021) Arranged for Chorus by John Leavitt (b. 1956) Pretty women… fascinating… sipping coffee, dancing… pretty women are a wonder. Sitting in the window or standing on the stair something in them cheers the air. pretty women… silhouetted… stay within you, glancing… stay forever, breathing lightly… pretty women! Blowing out their candles or coming out their hair, even when they leave they still are there. They’re there, at their mirrors letter writing, weather-watching, how they make a man sing! Proof of heaven as you’re living yes, pretty women! Here’s to pretty women!
Worst Pies in London, from Sweeney Todd Music and Text by Stephen Sondheim A customer! Wait, what’s your rush? What’s your hurry? You gave me such a fright, I thought you was a ghost Half a minute, come here, sit, sit you down, sit All I meant is that I haven’t seen a customer for weeks Did you come here for a pie, sir? Do forgive me if me head’s a little vague What is that? But you think we had the plague
No denyin’ times is hard, sir Even harder than the worst pies in London Only lard and nothing more Is that just revolting All greasy and gritty? It looks like it’s molting And tastes like, well, pity A woman alone with limited wind And the worst pies in London.
From the way that people keep avoiding No, you don’t Heaven knows I try, sir! But there’s no one comes in even to inhale
A Boy Like That/I Have a Love, from West Side Story Music by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) Text by Stephen Sondheim A boy like that who’d kill your brother, Forget that boy and find another, One of your own kind, Stick to your own kind!
Right you are, sir, would you like a drop of ale? Mind you, I can’t hardly blame them These are probably the worst pies in London I know why nobody cares to take them
A boy like that will give you sorrow, You’ll meet another boy tomorrow, One of your own kind, Stick to your own kind!
I should know, I make ‘em, but good? No! The worst pies in London Even that’s polite the worst pies in London If you doubt it, take a bite
A boy who kills cannot love, A boy who kills has no heart. And he’s the boy who gets your love And gets your heart. Very smart, Maria, very smart!
Is that just disgusting? You have to concede it It’s nothing but crusting Here, drink this, you’ll need it The worst pies in London And no wonder with the price of meat What it is? When you get it? Never Thought I’d live to see the day Men’d think it was a treat Findin’ poor animals Wot are dyin’ in the street Mrs. Mooney has a pie shop Does a business but I notice somethin’ weird Lately all her neighbors’ cats have disappeared Have to hand it to her, wot I calls Enterprise poppin’ pussies into pies! Wouldn’t do in my shop Just the thought of it’s enough to make you sick And I’m tellin’ you, them pussycats is quick
A boy like that wants one thing only, And when he’s done, he’ll leave you lonely. He’ll murder your love; He murdered mine. Just wait and see! Oh no, Anita, no! It isn’t true, not for me, It’s true for you, not for me. I hear your words And in my head I know they’re smart, But my heart, Anita, Knows they’re wrong And my heart Is too strong, For I belong To him alone, to him alone. One thing I know: I am his, I don’t care what he is. I don’t know why it’s so, I don’t want to know.
Oh no, Anita, no, You should know better! You were in love - or so you said. You should know better . . . I have a love, and it’s all that I have. Right or wrong, what else can I do? I love him; I’m his, And everything he is I am, too. I have a love, and it’s all that I need, Right or wrong, and he needs me, too. I love him, we’re one; There’s nothing to be done, Not a thing I can do But hold him, hold him forever, Be with him now, tomorrow And all of my life! When love comes so strong, There is no right or wrong, Your love is your life.
I don’t know why I tremble When you reach for my hand. I didn’t know how to love Until you swept me away. I wanna love. I wanna ride. I want to be the girl There by your side. Just tell me when, Just tell me how. Tell me I’m ready now. Today. Losing My Mind from Follies Music and Text by Stephen Sondheim The sun comes up, I think about you. The coffee cup, I think about you. I want you so, it’s like I’m losing my mind. The morning ends, I think about you. I talk to friends, and think about you, And do they know, it’s like I’m losing my mind.
Say the Word from The Mad Ones Music by Bree Lowdermilk (b. 1982) Text by Kait Kerrigan (b. 1981) Sometimes when I look at you, I don’t know why you’d wait. School girl in a little world Who learns everything late. I’ve always had all the answers Now I don’t have a clue
All afternoon, doing every little chore The thought of you stays bright. Sometimes I stand in the middle of the floor Not going left, not going right.
Some nights when the clouds are thick, And the wind starts to blow. I stare out my window Wondering where I will go. I turn the light out Under the covers all I think of is you. Just you.
I want you so, it’s like I’m losing my mind. Does no one know, it’s like I’m losing my mind.
Say the word And I just might listen. Say the word, And you might get your way. Loving you should be easier But say the word, And I might have to stay. Meanwhile there’s so many things That I don’t understand.
I dim the lights, and think about you. Spend sleepless nights, and think about you. You said you loved me, or were you just being kind? Or am I losing my mind?
Send in the Clowns, from A Little Night Music Music and Text by Stephen Sondheim Arrange for Chorus by Mac Huff (b. 1955) Isn’t it rich? Are we a pair? Me here at last on the ground You in mid-air Send in the clowns Isn’t it bliss? Don’t you approve? One who keeps tearing around One who can’t move Where are the clowns? Send in the clowns
Just when I stopped Opening doors Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours Making my entrance again with my usual flair Sure of my lines No one is there Don’t you love farce? My fault, I fear I thought that you’d want what I want Sorry my dear But where are the clowns? Send in the clowns Don’t bother They’re here Isn’t it rich? Isn’t it queer? Losing my timing this late In my career Where are the clowns? There ought to be clowns Well, maybe next year Nocturne Music by Eric Tuan (b. 1990) Text by Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) “Tonight I Can Write,” Poem XX from Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair Sung in Spanish. English translation: Tonight I can write the saddest lines. Write, for example, “The night is starry and the stars are blue and shiver in the distance.” The night wind revolves in the sky and sings. Tonight I can write the saddest lines. I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too. During nights like this one I held her in my arms. I kissed her again and again under the endless sky. She loved me, sometimes I loved her too. How could one not have loved her great still eyes.
Tonight I can write the saddest lines. To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her. To hear the immense night, still more immense without her. And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture. What does it matter that my love could not keep her. The night is starry and she is not with me. This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance. No Time Not to Love Music by Joan Szymko (b. 1957) Text by Deena Metzger (b. 1936) There are those who are trying to set fire to the world, We are in danger, There is time only to work slowly, There is no time not to love. There is time only to love boldly There is no time for fear, No time not to love. There are those who are trying to mend the world. (added verse, Szymko) Solitary Hotel from Despite and Still, Op. 41 Music by Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Text by James Joyce (1882-1941) Solitary hotel in mountain pass Autumn. Twilight. Fire lit In dark corner young man seated Young woman enters Restless. Solitary. She sits She goes to window. She stands She sits. Twilight. She thinks On solitary hotel-paper she writes She thinks. She writes. She sighs Wheels and hoofs. She hurries out He comes from his dark corner He seizes solitary paper He holds it towards fire Twilight. He reads. Solitary What? In sloping, upright and backhands Queen’s hotel, Queen’s hotel, Queen’s ho-...
Last Night the Rain Spoke to Me Music by Lori Laitman (b. 1955) Text by Mary Oliver (1935-2019) Last night the rain spoke to me slowly, saying, what joy to come falling out of the brisk cloud, to be happy again in a new way on the earth! That’s what it said as it dropped, smelling of iron, and vanished like a dream of the ocean into the branches and the grass below. Then it was over. The sky cleared. I was standing under a tree. The tree was a tree with happy leaves, and I was myself, and there were stars in the sky that were also themselves at the moment at which moment my right hand was holding my left hand which was holding the tree which was filled with stars and the soft rain – imagine! imagine! the long and wondrous journeys still to be ours. Constructing the Net Music by Jon Irabagon (b. 1979) Text by Jennifer Beattie (b. 1979) I thought of you, yesterday the way your smile, your laugh is— From thousands of miles away we touch in those places where the net is knotted together we have tied some of the knots.
In our luckiest and most crushing moments we may find ourselves, here the knots pressing into the fine tissues of our shoulder blades our Spirits thrown arms-wide against the net Which is just to say: Please hold my hand sometimes this is infinity we’re talking about here The Silver Swan Music by Michael Bussewitz-Quarm Text Attributed to Orland Gibbons (1583-1625) The silver swan, who living had no note, When death approached, unlocked his silent throat; Leaning his breast against the reedy shore, Thus sung his first and last, and sung no more: “Farewell, all joys; Oh death, come close mine eyes; More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise.” The Peace of Wild Things Music by Joan Szymko Text by Wendell Berry (b. 1934) When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Performers Opera Philadelphia Chorus Elizabeth Braden, Conductor Michael Lewis, Pianist
Jennifer Beattie Robin Bier Veronica Chapman-Smith Natalie Esler Julie-Ann Green Valerie Haber Alyson Harvey Megan McFadden Meghan McGinty Jessica Moreno
Jorie Moss Jessica Mary Murphy Natasha Nelson Ellen Grace Peters Aimee Pilgermayer Christine Nass Paula Rivera-Dantagnan Evelyn Santiago Cecelia Snow Amy Spencer
Acknowledgments Cookie Diorio, Narrator Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church Rev. Jason R. Ferris, Pastor and Head of Staff Rev. Rebecca Blake, Pastor of Christian Education Tom Faracco, Director of Music Lani Cole-Mitchell, Church Administrator Nate Mitchell, Sexton Hannah Johnson, Youth & Children’s Coordinator
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