TO LIFE! TO LOVE!
Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 5 at 3 p.m.
Christ Episcopal Church, 310 North K Street, Tacoma, WA
Northwest Repertory Singers Mission
To lift voices in song: creating art and fostering community through choral music.
The links below open in a new window:
Greetings from the Artistic Director
About Northwest Repertory Singers (NWRS)
About the NWRS Artistic Director and Collaborative Pianist
The content below differs from the paper program available at our concert. Below we include texts and translations. A PDF of the paper program, which includes donor recognition for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, is available here. A PDF of the English translations of the Liebeslieder-Walzer is available here.
PROGRAM
Measure Me, Sky!
Words: Leonora Speyer (1872–1956)
Music: Elaine Hagenberg (b. 1979)
Sponsored by Karen Short:
“To all the people in my life who have helped me appreciate the music!”
| Measure me, sky! Tell me I reach by a song Nearer the stars; I have been little so long. Horizon, reach out! Catch at my hands, stretch me taut, Rim of the world: Widen my eyes by a thought. Sky, be my depth, Wind, be my width and my height, World, my heart’s span; Loveliness, wings for my flight. |
Love’s Philosophy
Words: Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)
Music: Cecilia McDowall (b. 1951)
| The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the ocean, The winds of heaven mix for ever With a sweet emotion; Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine In one spirit meet and mingle. Why not I with thine?— See the mountains kiss high heaven And the waves clasp one another; No sister-flower would be forgiven If it disdained its brother; And the sunlight clasps the earth And the moonbeams kiss the sea: What is all this sweet work worth If thou kiss not me? |
Three Madrigals
Words: William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Music: Emma Lou Diemer (b. 1927)
1. O mistress mine, where are you roaming?
from Twelfth Night
| O Mistress mine where are you roaming? O stay and hear, your true love’s coming, That can sing both high and low. Trip no further pretty sweeting. Journeys end in lovers’ meeting, Every wise man’s son doth know. What is love, ’tis not hereafter, Present mirth, hath present laughter: What’s to come, is still unsure. In delay there lies no plenty, Then come kiss me sweet and twenty: Youth’s a stuff will not endure. |
2. Take, oh, take those lips away
from Measure for Measure
| Take, oh take those lips away, That so sweetly were forsworn, And those eyes: the breake of day, Lights that do mislead the Morn; But my kisses bring again, bring again, Seals of love, but sealed in vain, sealed in vain. |
3. Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more!
from Much Ado About Nothing
| Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more. Men were deceivers ever, One foot in sea, and one on shore, To one thing constant never. Then sigh not so, but let them go, And be you blithe and bonny, Converting all your sounds of woe Into hey nonny, nonny. Sing no more ditties, sing no more Of dumps so dull and heavy. The fraud of men was ever so Since summer first was leafy. Then sigh not so, but let them go, And be you blithe and bonny, Converting all your sounds of woe Into hey, nonny, nonny. |
Choral movements from Liebeslieder-Walzer, Op. 52
Words: Polydora, ed. Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800–1875)
Music: Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
(SATB = Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)
1. Rede, Mädchen | Tell Me, Dear Girl (SATB)
| Rede, Mädchen, allzu liebes, Das mir in die Brust, die kühle, Hat geschleudert mit dem Blicke Diese wilden Glutgefühle! Willst du nicht dein Herz erweichen, Willst du, eine Überfromme, Rasten ohne traute Wonne, Oder willst du, daß ich komme? Rasten ohne traute Wonne, Nicht so bitter will ich büßen. Komme nur, du schwarzes Auge, Komme, wenn die Sterne grüßen! | Tell me, dear girl, whom I love too much, Who has thrown into my cool heart, with just a look, These wild, hot feelings! Won’t you soften your heart? Do you want to remain a pious saint, Without sweet bliss? Or do you want me to come to you? Live without sweet bliss? I would never suffer so bitterly. But come, you dark-eyed beauty; Come when the stars are greeting. |
2. Am Gesteine rauscht die Flut | The Tide Rushes Over the Rocks (SATB)
| Am Gesteine rauscht die Flut Heftig angetrieben; Wer da nicht zu seufzen weiß, Lernt es unterm Lieben. | The tide rushes over the rocks, Driven violently; Those there, who don’t know how to sigh, Learn it from loving. |
3. O die Frauen | Oh Women (TB)
| O die Frauen, o die Frauen, Wie sie Wonne tauen! Wäre lang ein Mönch geworden, Wären nicht die Frauen! | Oh women, oh women, How they delight! I would have become a monk a long time ago If it were not for women! |
4. Wie des Abends schöne Röte | Like the Lovely Blush of the Evening (SA)
| Wie des Abends schöne Röte Möcht ich arme Dirne glühn, Einem, Einem zu gefallen, Sonder Ende Wonne sprühn. | Like the lovely blush of the evening, I, a poor girl, would glow To please One, one special person, In bliss forever. |
5. Die grüne Hopfenranke | The Green Hops Vine (SATB)
| Die grüne Hopfenranke Sie schlängelt auf der Erde hin. Die junge, schöne Dirne, So traurig ist ihr Sinn! Du höre, grüne Ranke! Was hebst du dich nicht himmelwärts? Du höre, schöne Dirne! Was ist so schwer dein Herz? Wie höbe sich die Ranke Der keine Stütze Kraft verleiht? Wie wäre die Dirne fröhlich, Wenn ihr der Liebste weit? | The green hops vine, It winds down to the earth. The young, lovely girl, Her thoughts are so sad. Listen, green tendril! Why don’t you lift yourself up to the sky? Listen, lovely girl, Why is your heart so hard? How would the vine suspend itself If no support offers it strength? How will the girl be happy When her Love is far away? |
6. Ein kleiner, hübscher Vogel | A Small, Pretty Bird (SATB)
| Ein kleiner, hübscher Vogel nahm den Flug Zum Garten hin, da gab es Obst genug. Wenn ich ein hübscher, kleiner Vogel wär, Ich säumte nicht, ich täte so wie der. Leimruten-Arglist lauert an dem Ort; Der arme Vogel konnte nicht mehr fort. Wenn ich ein hübscher, kleiner Vogel wär, Ich säumte doch, ich täte nicht wie der. Der Vogel kam in eine schöne Hand, Da tat es ihm, dem Glücklichen, nicht and. Wenn ich ein hübscher, kleiner Vogel wär, Ich säumte nicht, ich täte doch wie der. | A small, pretty bird Took flight back to the garden; There was enough fruit there. If I were a pretty little bird I would not delay, I would do just as he. The malice of lime branches Lurks in the place; The poor bird could not escape. If I were a pretty little bird I would wait, I would not do as he. The bird landed in a lovely hand, And was safe there, That lucky thing! If I were a pretty little bird I would not delay, I would do just as he. |
8. Wenn so lind dein Auge mir | When Your Eyes Look at Me So Gently (SATB)
| Wenn so lind dein Aug mir Und so lieblich schauet – Jede letzte Trübe fliehet, Welche mich umgrauet. Dieser Liebe schöne Glut, Laß sie nicht verstieben! Nimmer wird, wie ich, so treu Dich ein andrer lieben. | When your eyes look at me so gently And gaze so sweetly, Every last disturbing cloud flies away. The beautiful glow of this love, Don’t let it vanish! Never will another love you as faithfully as I do. |
9. Am Donaustrande | On the Danube Shore (SATB)
| Wenn so lind dein Aug mir Am Donaustrande, da steht ein Haus, Da schaut ein rosiges Mädchen aus. Das Mädchen, es ist wohl gut gehegt, Zehn eiserne Riegel sind vor die Türe gelegt. Zehn eiserne Riegel – das ist ein Spaß! Die spreng ich, als wären sie nur von Glas. | On the Danube shore, there stands a house, There, a rosy girl looks out. The girl is guarded well; Ten bars of iron are placed in front of the door. Ten bars of iron, this is a fun game; I will blast them like they were made of glass! |
10. O wie sanft | Oh, How Gently (SATB)
| O wie sanft die Quelle sich Durch die Wiese windet! O wie schön, wenn Liebe sich, Zu der Liebe findet! | Oh, how gently the stream Winds through the meadow! Oh, how delightful, When Love itself finds love! |
11. Nein, es ist nicht auszukommen mit dem Leuten | No, You Can’t Get Along with People (SATB)
| Nein, es ist nicht auszukommen Mit den Leuten; Alles wißen so giftig Auszudeuten. Bin ich heiter, hegen soll ich Lose Triebe; Bin ich still, so heißts, ich ware Irr, aus Liebe. | No, you can’t get along With people; Everything they know Gets a toxic interpretation. If I’m cheerful, they say I Cherish loose morals; If I’m quiet, they say I’m going Crazy about love. |
12. Schlosser auf, und mache Schlösser | Locksmith, Go and Make Locks (SATB)
| Schloßer auf, und mache Schlößer, Schlößer ohne Zahl! Denn die bösen Mäuler will ich Schließen allzumal. | Locksmith, go and make locks, As many locks as you can; Then I will shut the evil mouths Altogether. |
13. Vögelein durchrauscht die Luft | The Little Bird Rushes through the Air (SA)
| Vögelein durchrauscht die Luft, Sucht nach einem Aste; Und das Herz ein Herz begehrts, Wo es selig raste. | The little bird rushes through the air, Looking for a branch; And your heart, a heart, a heart’s desire, Where there is blessed rest. |
14. Sieh, wie ist die Welle klar | See How Clear the Ripples Are (TB)
| Vögelein durchrauscht die Luft, Sucht nach einem Aste; Und das Herz ein Herz begehrts, Wo es selig raste. | See how clear the ripples are As the moon looks down! You who are my Love, Love me again! |
15. Nachtigall, sie singt so schön | The Nightingale Sings So Beautifully (SATB)
| Nachtigall, sie singt so schön, Wenn die Sterne funkeln – Liebe mich, geliebtes Herz, Küße mich im Dunkeln! | The nightingale sings so beautifully When the stars twinkle. Love me, beloved heart, Kiss me in the dark! |
16. Ein dunkeler Schacht ist Liebe | Love Is a Dark Shaft (SATB)
| Ein dunkeler Schacht ist Liebe, Ein gar zu gefährlicher Bronnen; Da fiel ich hinein, ich Armer, Kann weder hören, noch sehn. Nur denken an meine Wonnen, Nur stöhnen in meinen Wehn. | Love is a dark shaft, A far too dangerous well; I fell in, poor me, And can neither hear nor see; I can only think on my pleasures And only groan in my pains. |
18. Es bedet das Gesträuche | The Bushes Tremble (SATB)
| Es bebet das Gesträuche, Gestreift hat es im Fluge Ein Vöglein. In gleicher Art erbebet, Die Seele mir erschüttert Von Liebe, Lust und Leide, Gedenkt sie dein. | The bushes tremble; A little bird Streaked them in flight. In the same way, My soul trembles, shaken by Love, Pleasure and Sorrow, As it thinks of your soul. |
-A brief pause-
Set Me As a Seal
Words: Song of Songs
Music: René Clausen (b. 1953)
Sponsored by Sandra McKee:
“To Papa Mac, Scott, Danette, Jon, Elene, Ralph, and all those who have gone before us. You are always in our hearts.”
| Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death. Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it. |
I Would Be True
Words and melody: Howard A. Walter (1833–1918)
Music: Undine Smith Moore (1904–1989)
Sponsored by Douglas Stensby
| I would be true, for there are those who trust me, I would be pure, for there are those who care, I would be strong, for there is much to suffer, I would be brave, for there is much to dare. I would be friend of all—the foe, the friendless, I would be giving and forget the gift. I would be humble, for I know my weakness, I would look up—and laugh—and love—and lift. |
This Little Light of Mine
Words: African American Spiritual
Music: Moses Hogan (1957–2003)
Caroline Allen, soprano
Jarred VandenBosch, baritone
Katie Devore, soprano
Melanie Schockow, soprano
| This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. All through the night, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. My God gave it to me. I’m gonna let it shine, children. In my home, All over the world, Let it shine. |
My Flame the Song
Words: Euan Tait (b. 1968)
Music: Kim André Arnesen (b. 1980)
Sponsored by Stephen Wightman:
“Thank you one and all, now and historically, for the joy and pleasure it is to prepare and perform music together. Although I will miss rehearsing with you in the future, it will be my pleasure to continue helping with concerts.”
| I give this flame, my flame the song, I pass it from my life to yours, It gathers strength, through names we’ve loved, You catch the flame and your name shines. The fragile flame held in the heart, It joins us all, love to love. The human voice, our flame the song, So fierce its flame it cries out love, Love gathering, love burning The life of music’s heart. We know the wounds, the tear of grief, The flame extinguished sudden dark, The silent voice, the empty road, The lives we love torn out by the roots. The fragile flame held in the heart, It joins us all, love to love. The human voice, our flame the song, So fierce its flame it cries out love, So far off, yet calling, To lives on distant shores. We gaze at love, love gazes back; See love’s tears burn on the ground, Love catches fire from our pain. Approaching and calling To lives that cry for song. We’re drawn to light, drawn to the heart, To this music, fire of song; Our fears transform, through music’s pain, To fire of life, compassion, flame. The fragile flame held in the heart, It joins us all, love to love. The human voice, our flame the song, So fierce its flame it cries out love. The fragile flame held in the heart, It joins us all, love to love. The human voice, our flame the song, So fierce its flame it cries out love Approaching and calling, A healing song of life. |
Contact NWRS
Get in touch: contact@nwrs.org
To subscribe to e-News, scroll down to the bottom of this page and complete the brief form.
Support NWRS
We welcome your generous gift to support our mission of music and community.