Evensong
Westminster Choir
Donald Nally, conductor
Maxwell Brey, graduate assistant conductor
Christian Gray Johnson, graduate assistant conductor
Kerry Heimann, organ
October 12, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
801 State Street
Trenton, NJ 08618
Evensong
Oh, the leaky boundaries of man-made states! How many clouds float past them with impunity; how much desert sand shifts from one land to another; how many mountain pebbles tumble onto foreign soil in provocative hops! – “Psalm” (excerpt) Wisława Szymborska (trans. Stanisław Barańczak and Clare Cavanagh)
Program
The choir enters and sings from the West end of the nave.
Introit
Funeral Ikos (1981)
John Taverner (1944-2013)
Why these bitter words of the dying, O brethren, which they utter as they go hence? I am parted from my brethren. All my friends do I abandon, and go hence. But whither I go, that understand I not, neither what shall become of me yonder; only God, who hath summoned me, knoweth. But make commemoration of me with the song: Alleluia.
But whither now go the souls? How dwell they now together there? This mystery have I desired to learn, but none can impart aright. Do they call to mind their own people, as we do them? Or have they forgotten all those who mourn them and make the song: Alleluia.
We go forth on the path eternal, and as condemned, with downcast faces, present ourselves before the only God eternal. Where then is comeliness? Where then is wealth? Where then is the glory of this world? There shall none of these things aid us, but only to say oft the psalm: Alleluia
If thou hast shown mercy unto man, O man, that same mercy shall be shown thee there; and if on an orphan thou hast shown compassion, the same shall there deliver thee from want. If in this life the naked thou hast clothed, the same shall give thee shelter there, and sing the psalm: Alleluia.
Youth and the beauty of the body fade at the hour of death, and the tongue then burneth fiercely, and the parched throat is inflamed. The beauty of the eyes is quenched then, the comeliness of the face all altered, the shapeliness of the neck destroyed; and the other parts have become numb, nor often say: Alleluia
With ecstasy are we inflamed if we but hear that there is light eternal yonder; that there is Paradise, wherein every soul of Righteous Ones rejoiceth. Let us all, also, enter into Christ, that all we may cry aloud thus unto God: Alleluia.
– Words from The Order for the Burial of Dead Priests translated from the Greek by Isabel Hapgood.
A short organ voluntary is heard as the Choir moves to the Chancel.
The Preces (2020) Elizabeth Kimble Alastair Stewart, cantor
Cantor: O Lord, open thou our lips.
Choir: And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Cantor: O God, make speed to save us.
Choir: O Lord, make haste to help us.
Cantor: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; Choir: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Cantor: Praise ye the Lord.
Choir: The Lord’s name be praised. – Psalm 48: 8-9, 118: 25
Psalm 137 (chant)
George Mursell Garrett (1837-1897)
1 By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept : when we remembered thee, O Sion.
2 As for our harps, we hanged them up : upon the trees that are therein.
3 For they that led us away captive required of us then a song, and melody in our heaviness : Sing us one of the songs of Sion.
4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song :
in a strange land?
5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem : let my right hand forget her cunning.
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth : yea, if I prefer not Jerusalem in my mirth.
7 Remember the children of Edom, O Lord, in the day of Jerusalem : how they said, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground.
8 O daughter of Babylon, wasted with misery : yea, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us.
9 Blessed shall he be that taketh thy children : and throweth them against the stones.
– Coverdale Psalter (1535)
The audience is invited to stand and join in singing the hymn
HYMN
God is love, let heav’n adore him
ABBOT’S LEIGH Cyril Taylor (1907-1991) The hymn is located on the printed handout.
The audience is seated for the Lessons and Canticles
FIRST LESSON
Super flumina Babylonis (1687)
Michel-Richard Delalande (1657-1726)
Mvt. 1 Super flumina Babylonis Psalm 137:1 The words to the psalm verse may be found above.
CANTICLE
Magnificat: Westminster Service (1957) Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He hath showed strength with his arm he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed 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.
– Luke 1:46-55, Book of Common Prayer, 1662
SECOND LESSON
Babylon, mvt. 3 from Babylon (2018)
Sarah Rimkus (b. 1990)
Psalm 137:1 The words to the psalm verse may be found above.
Emilie Beals, Mackenzie Berry, Emma Clark, Skylar Derthick, Sarah Febonio, Emily Huguenin, Sarah Vawdrey, soloists
CANTICLE
Nunc dimittis: Westminster Service Howells
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.
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.
– Luke 2:29-32, Book of Common Prayer, 1662
The Responses Kimble
Cantor: The Lord be with you.
Choir: And with thy spirit.
Cantor: Let us pray.
Cantor: O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
Choir: And grant us thy salvation.
Cantor: O Lord, save the State.
Choir: And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
Cantor; Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.
Choir: and make thy chosen people joyful.
Cantor: O Lord, save thy people.
Choir: And bless thine inheritance.
Cantor: Give peace in our time, O Lord.
Choir: Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.
Cantor: O God, make clean our hearts within us.
Choir: And take not thy holy Spirit from us. Amen.
A moment of silence is observed as choir members move to the crossing.
ANTHEM
Stateless (2019) David Lang (b. 1957)
Nathan Anderson, Mackenzie Berry, Grace Comeau, Alexa Farah, Ben Kirk, Daniel Piver, Gavin Springer, Julia Wilder, soloists
I left my family I left my house I left my sons and daughters my heart and my eyes will dwell with them forever and so I came to this land what can I tell you about this land? the more sacred the space the greater the devastation even in its destruction it is a good land we are all refugees here we found some ruins of a house built on pillars of marble with a marble dome we volunteered to fix the house we built a temple there many people come from all across the land they come to see what happened here those of us who have seen the land destroyed let us see the land restored and you, my children may you deserve all that is good in this world – words by the composer, after a letter by Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194–1270)
The audience is invited to stand and join in singing the hymn
HYMN
Fold to your heart your sister and your brother INTERCESSOR C. Hubert H. Parry (1848-1918)
The hymn is located on the printed handout.
The audience is seated for the Benediction
BENEDICTION
Democracy Robert Maggio (b. 1960) Kevin Catalon, Emma Clark, Daniel Piver, Julia Wilder, soloists
My friends: I well remember that while I sat in my study in the White House, preparing to talk with the people of the United States, I had before my eyes the picture of al l those Americans with whom I was talking.
I saw the workmen in the mills, the mines, [in] the factories; the girl behind the counter; the small shopkeeper; the farmer doing his spring plowing; the widows and the old men wondering about their life's savings.
Frankly and definitely there is danger ahead danger against which we must prepare. Let us no longer bind ourselves to the undeniable fact that the evil forces are already within our own gates. They try to divide our people, to divide them into hostile groups and destroy our unity and shatter our will.
I would ask no one to defend a democracy which in turn would not defend everyone in the nation.
We must be the great arsenal of democracy.
– President Franklin D. Roosevelt, address to the nation, December 29, 1940
About the Artists
WESTMINSTER CHOIR
“The Gold standard...”- American Record Guide
Setting the standard for choral excellence since 1920, when it was founded by John Finley Williamson in Dayton, Ohio, Westminster Choir is composed of undergraduate and graduate students at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. From well before millions first heard the choir in Walt Disney’s Fantasia. with Leopold Stokowski conducting, the choir has thrilled audiences around the world and in American concert halls with its singularly unique sound and artistry. The legendary conductor Joseph Flummerfelt led the ensemble from 1971-2004, bringing it to a new level of exposure and renown.
Westminster Choir has toured extensively, holding residencies at Il Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy, Spoleto USA, in Charleston, SC, the Festival International de Colmar in France, and numerous appearances in Asia and all across the United States.
Westminster Choir has been recording choral masterworks for nine decades. Recordings by Flummerfelt of Brahms, American Folk Songs, and Christmas music have been audiophile favorites for decades.
Praised by The New York Times for its “full-bodied, incisive singing,” Westminster Choir is hailed as one of the nation’s finest choral ensembles. Singing in this world-renowned choir is at the core of the only choral college in the world. For graduate students in choral conducting, it is the central experience which has molded generations of conductors. Music-Making and compelling artistry at the highest levels are the hallmark of this 100-year musical legacy.
This season, Westminster Choir is conducted by Visiting Professor in Choral Studies, Donald Nally, known especially for his work in opera and as America’s leading commissioner of new works for choir.
Donald Nally, conductor
Kerry Heimann, organ
Christian Gray Johnson and Maxwell Brey, graduate assistant conductor
Gregory Stout and Tyler Weakland, collaborative keyboardists
Nidhi Advani, Columbus, NJ
Nathan Anderson, Dickson, TN
Emilie Beals, Carlisle, PA
Mackenzie Berry, Frederick, MD
Maxwell Brey, Tallahassee, FL
Kevin Catalon, Fords, NJ
Emma Clark, Danville, PA
Grace Comeau, Bristow, VA
Maya Cooper, Fairfax, VA
Skylar Derthick, Camas, WA
Alexa Farah, Northvale, NJ
Sarah Febonio, Flemington, NJ
Claire Fritz, Elizabethtown, PA
Emily Huguenin, Howell, NJ
Grisha P. Ivanov, Brooklyn, NY
Christian Gray Johnson, Covington, GA
Ben Kirk, Lumberton, NJ
Duomi Liu, Beijing, China
Juliana Rappaport, Frederick, MD
Annie McCasland, Potomac, MD
James Moyer, Yardley, PA
Daniel J. Piver, East Hampton, NY
Katelyn Reinhard, Fort Wayne, IN
Abby Rose, Perkasie, PA
Ricky Sazon Salazar, Queens, NY
Gavin Springer, Belmar, NJ
Alastair Stewart, Quebec, Canada
Arseniy Vasilyev, Moscow, Russia
Sarah Vawdrey. Teaneck, NJ
Julia Wilder, Carmel, NY
We thank the clergy, staff, and congregation of Trinity Episcopal Church, Trenton, for hosting our first concert of the season.
About Rider University & Westminster Choir College
Located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Rider University is a private co-educational, student-centered university that emphasizes purposeful connections between academic study and real-world learning experience. Rider prepares graduates to thrive professionally, to be lifelong independent learners, and to be responsible citizens who embrace diversity, support the common good, and contribute meaningfully to the changing world in which they live and work.
The College of Arts and Sciences is dedicated to educating students for engaged citizenship, career success, and personal growth in a diverse and complex world. The college cultivates intellectual reflection, artistic creativity, and academic maturity by promoting both broad academic inquiry and in-depth disciplinary study, while nurturing effective and ethical applications of transferable critical skills. The College consists of four schools: the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Communication, Media, and Performing Arts, the School of Science, Technology, and Mathematics, and Westminster Choir College.
Culturally vibrant and historically rich, Westminster Choir College has a legacy of preparing students for thriving careers as well-rounded performers and musical leaders on concert stages, in schools, universities, and churches, and in professional and community organizations worldwide. Renowned for its tradition of choral excellence, the college is home to internationally recognized ensembles, including the Westminster Symphonic Choir, which has performed and recorded with virtually all of the major orchestras and conductors of our time. In addition to its choral legacy, Westminster is known as a center for excellence in musical pedagogy and performance.
Rider University gratefully acknowledges the generous support of: Richard and Heather Frye-Ginsberg & Michael T. '89 and Susana Santaguida '89 Gummel for their support of our Rider Friend of the Arts patron program.
Upcoming Performances
WESTMINSTER FACULTY RECITAL SERIES: RITMOS Y RAÍCES
Sunday, October 13, 4 p.m.
Gill Chapel
WESTMINSTER FACULTY RECITAL SERIES: BEHIND THE MUSIC...STORIES AND SONGS
Friday, October 18, 7:30 p.m.
Gill Chapel
WORLD SINGING DAY COMMUNITY SING
Saturday, October 19, 12:30 p.m.
Bart Luedeke Center Patio
CAPITAL PHILHARMONIC OF NEW JERSEY –
AMERICAN STORIES: OPENING NIGHT! FEATURING
WESTMINSTER SYMPHONIC CHOIR
Performing Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (Suite)
Saturday, October 19, 7:30 p.m.
Patriots Theater at the War Memorial 1 Memorial Dr, Trenton, NJ 08608
WESTMINSTER JUBILEE SINGERS: MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE
Sunday, October 20, 3 p.m.
Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville 2688 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648
RENT
Friday, October 25, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 26, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 27, 2 p.m.
Bart Luedeke Center Theater
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON UPCOMING PERFORMANCES, SUBSCRIPTION AND PATRON PROGRAM OPTIONS, VISIT RIDER.EDU/ARTS.
