9 minute read
DIGITAL CONCERT: Hope Lives Here
2021-2022 SEASON
SPECIAL THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS CONCERT
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Anonymous Susan Boren Jay and Page Cowles Jack and Linda Hoeschler
Craig Ingalls, Professional Plating, Inc.
SPECIAL THANKS
Karl Benson Lise Houlton Art Kaemmer LeRoy Lehr, in memory of
Veronica Reed Anna Meek Alex Roberts Rodgers Classic Organs, Minneapolis
HOPE LIVES HERE
FEATURING: VocalEssence Chorus VocalEssence Ensemble Singers VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Minnesota Dance Theatre, Lise Houlton, artistic director Philip Brunelle, conductor G . Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor Orchestra
2021-2022 SEASON SPONSORS
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
ARTISTIC VISION STATEMENT
Our lives are all marked by significant events, moments that test our resolve and shape us for the future. Society has experienced an unimaginable disruption over the last nineteen months that has changed many of our ways of being, leaving us clinging to memories of days gone by while simultaneously leaning into a future filled with hope. Hope Lives Here provides artists and audience members alike with an opportunity to traverse the “seasons” of this ongoing pandemic. Using Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, the concert will provide a much needed space for contemplation and reflection as we embrace the emotions and experiences that many of us faced during this time. As you experience the concert, we invite you to consider the following questions that guided curatorial aspect of the content: • Where do you hear gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving in the music? • Where do feelings of lament and loss, anxiety and worry, or loneliness and isolation show up in the music and movement? • Are you reminded of political divisiveness? If so, where and when? • Do you hear and see images of the racial reckoning? • Are there moments that remind you of being surprised by joy? Are you reminded about new discoveries and silver linings that you discovered as we engaged with each other and the world in new and different ways? It is our hope that your reflection on these things, and so much more, will not only provide space for deep exhalation and catharsis, but that it might also inspire you to join us on our quest to listen louder, love more deeply, and lean into to the hope that lives here as we strive to create a world where people dwell together in unity. —G. Phillip Shoultz, III,
Associate Artistic Director
The Other Side World Premiere Kyle Pederson with additional lyrics and music by VESOTA (2021)
Ella Wright, Ricquelle Miles, Stephon Marcus, soloists Zaya Bates, spoken word artist
Chichester Psalms, Movement II*
Erin Tetter, Sylvia Morris, soloists Leonard Bernstein (1965)
Dame Tu Mano World Premiere
Anna Olivarez, Isa Benegas, soloists Julio Morales (2019)
Choreography for Chichester Psalms by Alexandar Hille. Choreography for Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (Four Seasons of Buenos Aires) by Elayna Waxse. *By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., Sole Agent for Leonard Bernstein Music Publishing Company LLC, publisher and copyright owner.
HOPE LINGERS ON
Lissa Schneckenburger, arr. Andrea Ramsey My mother, when love is gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on, My father, when peace is gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on, Refrain I will not hate, and I will not fear, In our darkest hour, hope lingers here,
My sister, when equality’s gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on,
My brother, with tolerance gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on, Refrain
My love, when honor is gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on,
My country, when justice is gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on, Refrain
CHICHESTER PSALMS, MOVEMENT I
Leonard Bernstein
Sung in Hebrew I.
Awake harps, great and small! I will rouse the dawn. Raise a shout for the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness and come before God’s presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are God’s people and the sheep of God’s pasture. Come unto these gates with thanksgiving, and into
God’s courts with praise. Be thankful unto God and bless that name, for the
Lord is good. God’s mercy is everlasting, whose truth endures to all generations. —Psalm 108, verse 2; Psalm 100, entire
THE OTHER SIDE
Kyle Pederson and VESOTA
I am here. Can you hear me calling out? For I’m weary now. I need help now. Can you hear me calling out? For I’m weary now.
On the other side, will we be the same on the other side? Or will you and I grow up through the pain? What have we heard? What have we seen? What have we learned? What does it mean?
On the other side of fear is when our dreams finally appear. On the other side of pain, we make sure they aren’t gone in vain. When disease took over, we became mundane from day to day. I’m breaking the chain, ‘cause no matter what you say, we won’t let Corona get in our way. (Rise up) Come on, get up on your feet and (Rise up) We’ll be shooting through the breeze, you’ll (Find us). With an eye to victory, ‘cause together we’re better than any powerful disease. No matter the weather, we won’t be admitting defeat. Birds of a feather, whenever we fall down on our knees. Guaranteed, it’s our reality, please believe, that soon, we are gonna be!
This is a message to the people that we’re all standing equal. Ain’t no take back, ‘less you can give back the lives that you took, but you can’t, no retract Ain’t no retract, ‘specially not a kneecap. Bust into her house and everybody oversees that. Tired of the cop slack, tired of the talk back. All black lives matter, three states, all facts. (Rise up) Time to stop the bigotry, we’ll (Rise up) Ain’t no cage, we got the key, you’ll (Find us). With our fists up, feet down stomping out a melody that will create surround sound. Waves going everywhere, message going from here to there I’ll see you there, but you better make sure that your voice is up. Everybody screaming “Black Lives Matter!” so that they know it’s us! I will find you, stand beside you. I will meet you, see you be there—on the other side! —Kyle Pederson and VESOTA
CHICHESTER PSALMS, MOVEMENT II
Leonard Bernstein
Sung in Hebrew II.
The Lord is my shepherd, I will lack nothing. He will make me lie down in green pastures, He will lead me to calm waters. My soul will frolic. He will guide me among righteous circles To honor His name.
Even if I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no harm, For You are with me. Your rod and Your staff— They comfort me.
Why do the heathens assemble and the peoples plot vain things? The kings of the earth take their stand and the regents intrigue together Against the Lord and against the Lord’s anointed: Saying, let us break the cords of their yoke, and shake off their ropes from us. God that sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord mocks us! You will set a table for me in full view of my enemies, You anointed my head with oil. My cup is full. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for many years to come. —Psalm 23 entire; Psalm 2, verses 1-4
DAME TU MANO (GIVE ME YOUR HAND) Julio César Morales Pineda
Sung in Spanish
Give me a voice and fearlessly I will shout, Give me a reason and I will fight for it, Give me eyes to see what you see, For, as you can see, nobody wants to share anymore. Give me a feeling An inspiration, So I can know that I’m not alone,
Give me ears to hear your voice, Tell me that there’s nothing to fear. Give me your hand to place over my heart. —Julio César Morales Pineda, translated by Katie Villaseñor
CHICHESTER PSALMS, MOVEMENT III
Leonard Bernstein
Sung in Hebrew III.
O Lord, my heart did not grow tall nor my eyes look with superiority Thinking I am bigger and more important than I am. But I have taught myself to be contented. My soul is like a child weaned from its mother, Like a weaned child am I in my spirit. O Israel, wait for the Lord now and forever.
How good and how pleasant it is, That people sit together. Amen. —Psalm 131, entire; Psalm 133, verse 1
THE PROMISE OF LIVING, from The Tender Land
Aaron Copland
The promise of living with hope and thanksgiving Is born of our loving our friends and our labor. The promise of growing with faith and with knowing Is born of our sharing our love with our neighbor. The promise of living, the promise of growing Is born of our singing in joy and thanksgiving.
Give thanks there was sunshine, give thanks there was rain, Give thanks we have hands to deliver the grain. O let us be joyful, O let us be grateful to the Lord for his blessing.
The promise of ending in right understanding Is peace in our own hearts and piece with our neighbor. The promise of living, the promise of growing The promise of ending is labor and sharing and loving. —Horace Everett
The Minnesota Dance Theatre and School has been a leader in performing, teaching and celebrating the art of dance for more than five decades. Since its founding in 1962 by choreographer, teacher and producer Loyce Houlton, it has created legendary and iconic masterworks ranging from classic to contemporary dance. Now under the direction of Lise Houlton, a former member of the American Ballet Theatre and Stuttgart Ballet, Minnesota Dance Theatre and School remains a vital contributor to the development of the next generation of dancers with extensive training curriculum. www.mndance.org
MDT COMPANY Brennan Benson Katelyn Boche Kaitlyn Deyo Elissa Fonseca Sarah Jordan Jared Kelly Jacob Lewis Gates Northrup Adrián Pastén Solana Temple Zachary Tuazon
BALLET MASTER Carlie Clemerson
SAVE THE DATES FOR LIVE HOLIDAY MUSIC!
WELCOME CHRISTMAS
Sat, Dec 11, 2021, at 4 PM and 7:30 PM Plymouth Congregational Church, MPLS Sun, Dec 12, 2021, at 4 PM Roseville Lutheran Church, Roseville
BACH’S CHRISTMAS ORATORIO
Fri, Dec 3, 2021, 7:30 PM Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis
ALEXANDER HILLE choreographer KYLE PEDERSON composer
Scan QR Code for full biographies
ORCHESTRA
ELECTRIC BASS Erik Yates
TIMPANI Erik Barsness
PERCUSSION Josh Carlson David Hagedorn Paul Hill
DRUM SET Brian Kendrick HARP Sarah Grudem Min Kim
ORGAN Mary Jo Gothmann
PIANO Kyle Pederson
