Cookie Concert: 1st Wednesdays - Current Events

Current Events

The University of Houston Moores School of Music

Members of the UH Percussion Ensemble – Blake Wilkins, Director Concert Chorale – Betsy Cook Weber, director

WELCOME

Thank you so much for coming to our November Current Events Cookie Concert!

Our first and only other Current Events concert took place Fall of 2019. It was called Donald, Neither a Roast nor a Toast. People stayed away in droves. We performed songs about Russia, Hair, Beautiful Women, Money etc. I thought it was a non-offensive, fun and clever concert, and all fourteen people who attended seemed to enjoy it as well. In spite of the paltry crowd, I thought that an annual Current Events concert was a good idea, and then Covid hit, and we didn’t have any concerts for two years. So, welcome to our Second Current Events concert. Our themes this year include songs written about topics that are very much front of mind — Plague, Climate Change, Ukraine, and War. This music reminds us that, since the beginning of time, artists have reacted to the worlds around them. In this, nothing has changed, and there is nothing new under the sun.

PROGRAM

Stella caeli extirpate

Zach Hoover, v

Chase Gaines, conductor

Ukraine

Alïluya

Water Fountain

Water, Climate Change, Poverty

Michael Praetorius (1571 - 1621)

Yevhen Stankovych (b. 1942)

Nathaniel Brenner (b. 1983)

and Merrill Garbus (b. 1979)

Arr. Kristopher Fulton

Lauren Suchy, conductor

Earth Song Frank Ticheli (b. 1958)

Maddie Flake, conductor

War Veljo Tormis (b. 1930)

Raua Needmine (Curse Upon Iron)

Joseph Evans, tenor

Timothy Jones, baritone

Carlin Truong, shaman drum

Plague (Gregorian chant sung in times of pestilence)

Ein feste Burg

PROGRAM NOTES Current Events

PERFORMERS

The University of Houston Concert Chorale

Betsy Cook Weber, director

Andreea Mut, pianist

Carlin Truong, doctoral teaching assistant

Julian Díaz, student director

Julia Rose Arduino Franco Basili Hannah Bernosky

Bailey Bower

Zachary Brabston

Jadon Campos Sadie Chamberlain Tiffany Dawkins

Kaitlin DeSpain

Julian Diaz

Aidan Drury

Deborah Edquist * Travis Falknor

Madeline Flake Matthew Gabino Chase Gaines

Alana Glover

Aaron Gonzalez *

Dusan Grubisic

Ethan Ha

Mariam Haider

Sean Holshouser

Zachary Hoover *

Tasneem Islam * Noelia Jimenez Karen Lo Ariadne Lopez Ryan Ludwig Kennan Lukacs Kyle Maninantan Ethan Marfil Jordan Martinez Maddie May David Oluwo Chloe Owens Raymond Pappas Quinton Parmenter Jonatan Reyes Citlalli Reynoso Jyothsana Sajan Olivia Sanchez Rohin Scaria

Aubrey Seulean Keora Stevens Stephen Steward Lauren Suchy Angie Tovar Carlin Truong

* Section Leaders

PROGRAM NOTES Current Events

TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS

Stella caeli

Star of heaven, who nourished the Lord and rooted up the plague of death, which our first parents planted; May that star now deign to hold in check the constellations whose strife grants the people the ulcers of a terrible death.

Ein feste burg

A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon; He helps us free from every need that hath us now overtaken. The ancient evil foe bow means us deadly woe; Deep guile and his great might are his dread arms in fight; On Earth is not his equal.

Alïluya

Save us, O Son of God, Risen from dead [save us] who sing to Thee: Alleluia.

Earth Song

Sing. Be. Live. See… This dark stormy hour, The wind, it stirs The scorched earth Cries out in vain:

O war and power, You blind and blur. The torn heart Cries out in pain.

But music and singing Have been my refuge, And music and singing Shall be my light.

A light of song

Shining strong: Alleluia!

Through darkness, pain and strife, I’ll Sing, Be, Live, See… Peace.

Water Fountain

No water in the water fountain, No side on the sidewalk. If you say Old Molly Hare, Watcha doin’ there?

Nothin’ much to do when you’re goin’ nowhere. Gotcha!

We’re gonna get the water from your house, your house.

No water in the water fountain.

No wood in the woodstock. If you say Old Molly Hare, Watcha doin’ there?

Nothin’ much to do when you’re goin’ nowhere. Gotcha!

We’re gonna get the water from your house, your house.

Nothing feels like dying like the drying of my skin and lawn.

Why do we just sit here while they watch us wither ‘til we’re gone?

I can’t seem to feel it,

I’ll kneel, the cold steel,

You will ride the whip, you’ll ride the crack, no use in fighting back.

You’ll sledge the hammer if there’s no one else to take the flak.

I can’t seem to feel it, I can’t seem to find it,

Your fist clenched my neck, we’re neck and neck..

No water in the water fountain

No phone in the phone booth.

If you say Old Molly Hare, Watcha doin’ there?

Jump back! Daddy shot a bear. Gotcha!

PROGRAM NOTES Current Events

We’re gonna get the water from your house, your house.

I saved up all my pennies and I gave them to this special guy

When he had enough of them he bought himself a cherry pie

He gave me a dollar, a blood-soaked dollar.

I cannot get the spot out, but it’s okay; it still works in the store.

Greasy man come and dig my well, Life without your water is a burning hell, Stuff me up with your homegrown rice, Anything make me look nice,

It is for my friends,

And a two-pound chicken tastes better with friends,

A two-pound chicken tastes better with two, And I know where to find you, So listen to the word I said, Let it sink into your head

A vertigo round and round and round Now I’m warm in your bed, How did I get ahead?

Woo! Thread.

Your fingers through my hair, Give me a dress, a give a thing a caress, Would-ja!

Listen to the words I say Sound like a floral bouquet

A lyrical round and round and round Okay take a picture it will last all day, Run, your fingers through my hair Do it til you disappear.

Gimme your head… No water in the water fountain

No side on the sidewalk…

Curse Upon Iron

Ohoi cursed, evil iron!

Flesh consuming, bone devouring, Spilling blood, devouring virtue!

Whither comes your cruel cunning, Haughtiness so overbearing?

Fie upon you, evil iron!

Your beginnings reek of malice. You have risen from villainy.

From above the earth appeared Fiery maidens in the heavens, Heavily with milk a-laden, Spilling milk upon the marshes.

Black, the liquid from one maiden, Turning into ductile iron. White milk flowing from the other, Tempered steel from this arising. From the third a crimson liquid, Cursed, rusty ore created.

Ohio curse, evil iron!

Then you were not high and mighty, Not so mighty, not so haughty, When you slumbered in the swampland When you suffered in the marshes.

Fie upon you, evil iron! Your beginnings reek of malice. You have risen from villainy.

Then a wolf came running hither, Bear a-rambling over yonder. Footprints stirring in the swampland, Traces from the swamp arising Giving rise to iron seedlings, In the shadows of the wolf prints In the traces of the bear tracks.

Ohio wretched child of bogland, Born of rust and milk of maidens! Tell me who made you so angry! Who set you to evil doings?

Death came riding through the marshes, Plague along the wintry byways, Til they found the iron seedlings Resting in the lowly swampland,

Finding seedling steel in swampland

Rusty iron in a boghole. Then, great death began to utter, Killer plague began intoing, In a pinegrove on a hillside,

PROGRAM NOTES Current Events

In a field behind the village, Far beyond the farmer’s granges. Here will be the fateful forging! Here a furnace I will fashion, Mighty fanning bellows anchor!

Here I’ll set the iron boiling!

Blast the rusty ore to flaming! Pound the iron full of fury!

Iron quaked and iron quivered, Quaked and quivered, tossed and trembled, When he heard the call for fire, Heard the iron’s angry summons.

Ohio cursed, evil iron!

Then you were not high and mighty, Not so mighty, not so haughty!

Moaning in the blazing furnace, Whining under beating anvils.

Moaning in the blazing furnace, Whining under beating anvils. Droned the old man on the oven Grounded the greybeard from the furnace:

Iron stretches out like tallow, Dripping down lille oozing spittle,

Flowing from the blazing furnace, Seeping from the scalding fire. Obliterate, render hopelessly impotent, Render hopelessly impotent,

Killing, killing, with steel and iron! Killing, steel and iron, chromium, Titanium, uranium, plutonium and multitudes of elements.

Steel and iron, chromium, Titanium, uranium, plutonium and multitudes of elements so…

Ohio cursed, evil iron!

Sword, begetter of all warfare! Golden guardian of the swamp ore, Steel that’s kith and kin to evil.

Fie upon you, evil iron! You and I are from the same seed, From the same earth we have sprouted.

From the same good soil we harken,you and I, we share this planet, Bound to share the earth together, Earth that will us all recover, Earth enough for all, forever.

2022-2023 MOORES SOCIETY

As of 28/9/2022

The Moores Society is the philanthropic volunteer organization for the Moores School of Music. Moores Society members and donors promote community awareness and provide funding for scholarships and special projects. Moores Society members receive invitations to concerts and special events held throughout the year.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Darlene Clark, President Jackie & Malcolm Mazow, Immediate Past Presidents

Donna Shen, Vice President Membership Nancy Willerson, Correspondig Secretary Meg Boulware, Opera Production Council Chair

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Rita Aron

Ann Ayre

Meg Boulware

Terry Ann Brown

Sheila Aron Christopher Bacon

Philamena Baird

Chris Becker

Tom Becker

Susan Binney Ann Boss Nancy Bowden

Zarine Boyce

Robert Chanon Anna Dean

Vicky Dominguez

Ann Faget

Kelli Fein Debbie Feuer

Cathy Coers Frank Joyce Frassanito

Mary Fusillo

Elia Gabbanelli

Frank Geider, MS DDS

Carla Burns

Cheryl Byington Donna Shen

Rhonda Sweeney

BOARD OF ADVISORS

2022-2023

Diane and Harry Gendel

Mariglyn & Stephen Glenn Beatrice and Gregory Graham Deb Happ

Ellen & Alan Holzberg Gladys Hooker

Janis Landry

Cora Sue and Harry Mach Karinne McCullough

Mary Ann McKeithan

Cathy McNamara Jennifer Meyer

Celia Morgan

Jo and Joseph Nogee Kitten and Ron Page Kusum Patel

Fran Fawcett Peterson Carroll R. Ray Jan Rhodes

Carol Lee Robertson

Ann Tornyos Betty Tutor

Bob & Mary Ann Wilkins Beth Wolff

Lillie Robertson Minette Robinson Heidi Rockecharlie Kathi Rovere

Donna Scott and Mitch Glassman Helen Schaffer Donna Shen Satoko and Anthony Shou Nancy Strohmer Susan Thompson

Virginia and Gage Van Horn

Barbara Van Postman

Carol and Carl Vartian

Nancy Willerson

Phyllis Williams

Cyvia Wolff

Jo Dee Wright Gay Yellen

2022-2023 MOORES SOCIETY

As of 28/9/2022

‑DIRECTOR LEVEL ($1,000)

Robin Angly & Miles Smith

Rita & Jeffrey Aron

Alan Austin & David A. White

Ann & Jonathan Ayre

Christopher Bacon & Craig Miller Olga & Gerardo Balboa

Susan & Michael Bloome

Meg Boulware & Hartley

Hampton Terry Ann Brown Keith Butcher

Roxi Cargill & Peter Weston Cheryl & Carl Carlucci

Robert Chanon Lydia & James Chao Darlene Clark & Edwin Friedrichs

Timothy Doyle & Robert Royall, II Ann Faget

Carla Burns Helen Davis

Geraldine Gill Nancy & Carter Hixon

Thomas Blocher

Dru & Richard Davis Joyce & John Frassanito Rachel & Howard Frazier Beatrice & Gregory Graham

Elad Ben-Menashe

Felicia Brooks

Richard Kummins

Nicole Kenley-Miller & Andy

Sylvia Farb Debbie Feuer

Mariglyn & Stephen Glenn Marita & David Glodt

John Goode & Janwin Overstreet Goode Susan & Sean Gorman

Maureen Higdon

Gary Hollingsworth & Ken Hyde Ellen & Alan Holzberg Monzer Hourani

Linda Katz

Sharon & Robert Lietzow

Jay Marks

Jack & Michelle Matzer Jackie & Malcolm Mazow Paula & Robert Mendoza

Shirley E. Rose

Jane Ross Kathi & William Rovere

PARTNER LEVEL ($500)

Sophia & Keith James Helen Mann Susan & David Morris Charles Rinehart

PATRON LEVEL ($250)

Deborah Happ & Richard Rost

Gladys Hooker Therese Kosten

Karinne & William McCullough Nancy & Hans Strohmer

FRIEND LEVEL ($120)

Miller Connie Lewis Kenneth Proctor

Michael Taksa

Rosamund & David Rowan

Fayez Sarofim

Jane & Richard Schmitt Donna & Tim Shen Melanie Sonnenberg Rhonda & Donald Sweeney

Vita Taksa

Ann Tomatz

Ann Tornyos

Betty & Jesse Tutor, Jr. David Voll

Betsy Cook Weber & Fredric Weber

Bob & Mary Ann R. Wilkins

Andrea & Carl Wilson

Irena Witt

Beth Wolff

Jo Dee & Cliff Wright

Virginia & Gage Van Horn Johanna & Richard Wolfe

Elissa Taylor Andrea Turner

Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff

Gay Yellen & Don Reiser

Debra Witter & Scott Chase Cheryl Worley

Lawrence Zomper

MOORES SCHOOL OF MUSIC

ABOUT THE MOORES SCHOOL

Moores School of Music

The University of Houston’s Moores School of Music (MSM) is one of the leading comprehensive music schools in the nation. Its remarkable faculty — of internationally recognized performers, composers, and scholars — outstanding student body, modern facilities, and broad range of programs make MSM the natural choice for nearly 600 students annually. The school’s commitment to academic excellence and the highest performance standards has ensured its role as a vital resource in the educational and cultural life of Houston and beyond.

Moores Society

The Moores Society is the philanthropic volunteer organization for the Moores School of Music. Moores Society members and donors promote community awareness and provide funding for scholarships and special projects. Moores Society members receive invitations to concerts and special events held throughout the year. Please visit uh.edu/kgmca/music/moores-society.

For more information, please contact Emily Wolfe, Patrons Relations and Communications Coordinator, at mooressociety@uh.edu or 713.743.8036.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE

Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts

The Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts at the University of Houston is a dynamic home of creativity and collaboration in one of America’s most artistically vibrant and culturally diverse cities. Bringing together the performing and visual arts entities at the University of Houston, the college has the ability to harness the power of the arts to ultimately impact our world. Our award-winning, internationally distinguished faculty provides top-quality instruction to the talented, emerging student artists from more than 30 programs of study. The Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts seeks to positively impact the community and to empower our students to use their talents to change the world.

Giving to the Arts

Please support emerging artists at the University of Houston's Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts. Your gift enables KGMCA students and educators to create, collaborate, and transform Houston’s cultural landscape. Your gift makes a difference.

• Please visit https://giving.uh.edu/gift. To give directly to the Moores School of Music, please visit uh.edu/ kgmca/music/giving

• For more information contact Emily Wolfe, Patron Relations and Communications Coordinator, at ewolfe@uh.edu or 713.743.7732

KATHRINE G. MCGOVERN COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

uh.edu/kgmca/about/news Box Office at 713.743.3388