The Choral Hour

erforming rts

Paul T aylor

Company

Photo by Laura Halzack

Note from the Director

On behalf of our performers, I am pleased to invite you to the Fall Choral Hour. Titled At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners, it invokes the well-known poem by John Donne and inspired the musical theme for this concert: our world is a wide place and much more vast and full of possibility than the imagined boundaries that are imposed upon it. Our lives are inherently intermingled with others, and that is something that we celebrate in the musical offerings of this concert.

Music that represents this multiplicity includes music from many cultures. Jabula Jesu is a Zulu folk song that is both energizing and also embracing of the layering of musical ideas to create an intricate texture of rhythm and melody throughout that is representative of South African styles. Salmo (Psalm) 150 is with dramatic flair by Brazilian composer Ernesto Aguiar and incorporates the vibrant rhythms associated with the culture. Paruparong Bukid is a Filipino folk song arrangement where the choir’s voices provide the active accompaniment that would normally be played by an instrument. The Jewish hymn Hine Ma Tov beautifully conveys perfectly the simple text “ how good it is for people to dwell together in unity.” Each choir will also present music from the classical tradition with a Psalm setting by Baroque composer and Bach contemporary Georg Telemann and folk songs by Romantic composer Franz Schubert.

A multiplicity of North American traditions is celebrated through song as well. University Chorale will perform a new and sensitive setting of the American hymn Will the Circle Be Unbroken, which invokes feelings of community and the hope for a better tomorrow in this life and the next. Canadian

composer Sarah Quartel’s original song Wide Open Spaces has a folk-like style to it that speaks to the joy of exploring the world and exploring one self. Eric Whitacre has become one of the most beloved American composers of the last 30 years, and his Lux Aurumque perfectly showcases his ability to embrace complex harmonies to beautiful effect. American poet Sara Teasdale’s poem There Will Be Rest has become a favorite for composers to set to music, and Elaine Hagenberg’s recent version is a stunningly beautiful companion to the captivating lyrics, invoking the quiet beauty that may be found in our world and in ourselves.

The choirs will combine for two songs: Hope by Ysae M. Barnwell, of the renowned female gospel acapella group Sweet Honey of the Rock, uses simple melodic ideas given to each section of the choir and woven together musically to create a unique and powerful message of advocacy and humanity. Carly Simon’s popular song Let the River Run is inspiringly arranged for choir by Craig Hella Johnson of the premiere choral ensemble Conspirare; in his arrangement, he also layers the choir into moments of separate activity that culminates in the singing of the main theme together in a powerful moment of solidarity and unity.

I would like to thank the faculty of the Department of Music and Theater for their support and collaboration and the guest student instrumentalists who have worked with us on this concert and enhanced our performance today with their talent. I also thank the administrative staff of The Performing Arts Center for their countless hours of work and preparation to make this concert possible. We could not do it without all of you!

Michael Lister Visiting Professor of Music University at Albany

CHORALE

Salmo 150………………………………Ernesto Aguiar (b. 1961)

Laudate Dominum in sanctis eius.

Laudate eum in firmamento virtutis eius.

Laudate eum in virtutibus eius.

Laudate eum secundum multitudinem magnitudinis eius.

Laudate eum in sono tubae.

Laudate eum in psalterio et cithara.

Laudate eum in timpano et choro.

Laudate eum in chordis et organo.

Laudate eum in cymbalis jubilationis Omnis spiritus laudet Dominum. Laudate Dominum, Alleluia!

Praise the Lord in his sacred places, praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts, praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet, praise him with the psaltery and the harp. Praise him with the timbrel and the dance, praise him with strings and pipes.

Praise him with high-sounding cymbals, praise him with cymbals of joy.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, Alleluia!

Der Tanz (The Dance)………………Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Es redet und träumet die Jugend so viel, von Tanzen, Galoppen, Gelagen, auf einmal erreicht sie ein trügliches Ziel, da hört man sie seufzen und klagen.

Bald schmerzet der Hals, und bald schmerzet die Brust, verschwunden ist alle die himmlische Lust, "Nur diesmal noch kehr' mir Gesundheit zurück!"so flehet vom Himmel der hoffende Blick!

Youth talks and dreams so much Of dances, gallops, and parties; Suddenly it reaches a false goal, Then we hear it sigh and complain.

Soon the throat hurts, and soon the chest hurts, Lost is the heavenly delight. "Just this time, health, come back to me!" Thus pleads from heaven the hopeful glance.

Hine ma tov uma na'im Shevet achim gam yachad.

How good and pleasant it is For brothers & sisters to sit together.

Hine Ma Tov…………………………..……Traditional Hebrew arr. Neil Ginsberg Bryan Fonder, violin Camille McCalla, conductor

R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel, arr. Paul Rardin

Small Group: Taylor Dykeman, Mattea Kallner, Ryleigh Rapp, Maggie Rowles, Shainne Sawicz, Abigail Simon

Quartel (b. 1982)

Zulu Folk Song arr. Stephen Hatfield

Small Group: Kierra Foster-Bagley, Mattea Kallner, Romy John Abraham

Haley Boom, Jared Harmon, Allison Keefe, Jean-Paul Klem

UALBANY CHAMBER SINGERS

At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners…………..……Williametta Spencer (b. 1927) Poem: John Dunne

At the round earth's imagin'd corners, blow Your trumpets, angels, and arise, arise From death, you numberless infinities Of souls, and to your scatter'd bodies go; All whom the flood did, and fire shall o'erthrow, All whom war, dearth, age, agues, tyrannies, Despair, law, chance hath slain, and you whose eyes Shall behold God and never taste death's woe. But let them sleep, Lord, and me mourn a space, For if above all these my sins abound, 'Tis late to ask abundance of thy grace When we are there; here on this lowly ground Teach me how to repent; for that's as good As if thou hadst seal'd my pardon with thy blood.

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)

Bryan Fonder, violin 1 Amanda Sue, violin 2 Joseph Regan, cello

Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes; laudate eum, omnes populi. Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia ejus, et veritas Domini manet in aeternum. Alleluia.

O praise the Lord, all people; praise him, all ye nations. For his merciful kindness is ever more towards us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Alleluia.

Lux Aurumque……………………………Eric Whitacre (b. 1970) Lux, calida gravisque pura velut aurum et canunt angeli molliter modo natum.

Light, warm and heavy as pure gold and the angels sing softly to the new born baby.

Hagenberg (b. 1979)

Paru- parong bukid na lilipad-lipad Sa tabi ng daan papaga pagaspas Isang bara ang tapis Isang dangkal ang manggas Ang sayang de kola Isang piyesa ang sayad.

May payneta pa siya; Uy! May suklay pa mandin; Uy! Naguas de ojetes ang palalabasin Haharap sa altar at mananalamin At saka lalakad nang pakendengkendeng.

I just saw a butterfly, flitting and floating by; waiting by the main trail, fluttering in the air. Sari wrapped around her, sleeves as wide as my palm, Skirt’s a trifle oversized, ends dragging on the ground.

Her hair held with a pin; Oh! Her hand twirling a comb; Oh! Decorated half slip, drawing others to peep. Then she faces the stage, ogling her own image, She comes and teases us, hips swaying like a duck.

COMBINED CHOIRS

M. Barnwell (1946) Christina Rust, soloist

Simon (b. 1945) arr. Craig Hella Johnson

Haley Boom, Allison Keefe, Jean-Paul Klem

Photo by Gary Gold

UAlbany Chamber Singers

Soprano

Brittany Clarke

Helena Danzinger

Camille McCalla Kathleen Miller Chizi Okieche Alyssa Rouchon Alto

Candace Erni Bria Knox Christina Rust Jillian Sharp Alexandria Sisti Lucy Skidmore Briana Start Samantha Streeter Tenor

Evan Belkin Nathan Gillespie Chai Kam Jara Manatan Emmanuel Nwade

Alen Stupar

Bass

Chris Carmack Eitan Goldmeer Jean-Paul Klem Bruce Konopa Ben Pasternack Richard Serafin

Soprano

Tamarja Anderson

Taylor Dykeman

Carla Ellis

Kierra Foster-Bagley Jackie Harris Fiona Hernandez

Mattea Kallner

Fatou Mbaye Kyra McDevitt Shianne Sawicz

Darjeiry Tapia Briana Start-Schwartz Alto Michaela Adam

Kaitlyn Bisig

Kaeci Charles Dana Cierniak Isabelle Depuyt

Puja Goobardhan Lizzie Gurwitz

Ziona Adelaide Osei-Gyimah Ryleigh Rapp Josie Rosado

Maggie Rowles Grace Sayward

Abigail Simon

Theodora Sinis

Katrina Siriban Samantha Streeter

Jordene Wynter Sarah Wiedmer

Tenor

Romy John Abraham Jared Harmon Stephen Kapalczynski Lee Smith Nam Ta Bass

Andrew Calvacca Chris Carmack Will Carroll Eitan Goldmeer Charles Hornstein Gabriel Kitt Clairvens Lapointe Zeke Motzer

Joey Schiano

HOUSE POLICIES

Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the management and its staff.

use of photographic or recording devices of any kind during this performance is strictly prohibited.

There is no food or drink allowed in the theatres, nor is smoking allowed in UAlbany buildings.

avoid disrupting the performance, kindly disable any noise making electronic devices you may have with you.

Please take time to note the location of the fire exits nearest to you. In the event of an emergency, an announcement will be made from the stage. Please proceed to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion.

Created and produced by the University

Museum,

Institute

Arts Center in collaboration with WAMC Public Radio,

popular series features

figures

a variety of artistic disciplines in conversation about their creative inspirations, their craft and their careers. “Roundtable” host Joe Donahue conducts live on-stage interviews followed by a Q&A with the audience.

erforming rts enterPAC university at albany State University of New York

Urban Bush

September 20 & 21at 7:30pm

October 6 at 7:30pm

Dance

The

October 21 at 8pm

Performing Arts Center November 13 at 7:30pm

Arts Center January 27 at 7:30pm

Ballet

The

February 17 at 8pm Paul Taylor Dance Company The

March 4 at 8pm

The

March 18 at 7:30pm

The

April 22 at 8pm

Sinopoli

The

May 13 at 8pm

Troy, Albany, Schenectady and SaratogaSprings,NY