Program (December 2022)


ILLUMINATIONS: HOLIDAY MUSIC FROM THE AMERICAS

Saturday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 18 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.


About the Concert

The links below open in a new window:

Greetings from the Artistic Director (December 2022)

About Northwest Repertory Singers (NWRS)

About the NWRS Artistic Director and Collaborative Pianist

NWRS roster (December 2022


The online content below differs from the paper program available at our concert. Below we include texts and translations and expanded sponsorship dedications. A PDF of the paper program, which includes donor recognition for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, is available here.


PROGRAM

This Endris Night

Words: 15th-century carol, England
Music: Sarah Quartel (b. 1982), Canada

Rebecca Corbaley, Bonnie Matterand, and Karen Short, handbells


This endris night I saw a sight,
A star as bright as day,
And ever among, a maiden sung,
“Lully, by by, lullay.”

This lovely lady sat and sang,
And to her child did say,
“My son, my brother, father dear,
Why liest thou thus in hay?”
“My sweetest bird, ’tis thus required,
Though I be king veray,
But nevertheless I will not cease
To sing ‘By by, lullay.'”

The child then spake whilst she did sing,
And to his mother did say,
“Yea, I am known as heaven-king
In crib though I be laid.
For angels bright down on me light;
Thou knowest ’tis no nay.
And for that sight thou may delight
To sing ‘By by, lullay.'”

Now sweet son, since it is so,
That all is at thy will,
I pray thee grant to me a boon,
If it be right and skill,
That child or man, who will or can,
Be merry on my day,
To bliss them bring and I shall sing,
“Lully, by by, lullay.”

Season of Light

Words and music: Jacob Narverud (b. 1986), United States

Sponsored by Christine Hall: “I dedicate this song to Kyle Haugen, our amazingly talented Artistic Director, for his leadership and dedication in keeping the NWRS light shining in the very dark pandemic time.  I am so grateful!  The line in the music that says, “we live in the memories, the season of light,” makes me think of all the time the NWRS sang apart/virtually, and all the time we sang together with masks on. I kept thinking, “I can’t wait until we can sing together unburdened by the masks, when our true sound can shine again.” During our fall retreat, it was appropriate that Season of Light was the first song that we sang in this beautiful sanctuary. At that very moment when I heard our sound for the first time together without masks I literally broke down and wept…so grateful for being surrounded by my NWRS family and enveloped with this gorgeous sound.  I am deeply thankful to Kyle for getting us through the darkness to the light.” 


Come sit by the fire and share stories of old,
Bright visions of time and of wonders we’re told.
Surrounded by comfort and stillness of night,
We live in the memories of the season of light.

Come join in the cheer of the fresh falling snow,
where wonder and radiance set hearts all aglow.
For a moment on Earth all that’s wrong turns to right
and we’re warm in e spirit of the season of light.

Stars I Shall Find

Words: Sarah Teasdale (1884–1933), United States
Music: Victor C. Johnson (b. 1978), United States


There will be rest, and sure stars shining
Over the roof-tops crowned with snow,
A reign of rest, serene forgetting,
The music of stillness holy and low.

I will make this world of my devising
Out of a dream in my lonely mind.
I shall find the crystal of peace, above me,
Stars I shall find.

The Huron Carol

Words: Jean de Brébeuf (1593–1649), Canada
Translation: Jesse E. Middleton (1872–1960), Canada
Melody: 16th-century folk song, France
Setting: Dan Forrest (b. 1978), United States

Katie Devore, soprano


Jesous Ahatonhia. [Jesus in born.]

‘Twas in the moon of winter-time
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wandering hunter heard the hymn:

Refrain:
“Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.”

Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender Babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapp’d His beauty round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high. Refrain

O children of the forest free,
O sons of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and heaven
Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy. Refrain

Mary Had a Baby

Words and melody: 19th-century African American spiritual
Setting: Roland Carter (b. 1942), United States

Karin Bean, soprano


Mary had a baby.
Oh, my Lord!
Where was he born?
Born in a manger low.
What did they call him?
Some call him one thing,
But I’ll call him another.
Some say Immanuel.
I’ll call him Sweet Little Jesus Boy.
He is called King Jesus.
Wonderful Counselor.
Mighty God.
Everlasting Father.
He’s the Prince of Peace.

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Words and melody: 19th-century African American spiritual
Setting: Roland Carter

Erica Schlecht, soprano

Melanie Schockow, soprano


Refrain:
Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills an ev’ry where;
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is a’born.

When I was a seeker,
I sought both night and day.
I asked the Lord to help me,
and he showed me the way. Refrain

He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian
I am the least of all. Refrain

Shepherds lay a’watching
Their flock on starry night.
An angel of the Lord came
And shone a holy light. Refrain

Fantasy for organ on ANTIOCH (Joy to the World)

Melody: c. 19th century, England
Setting: Emma Lou Diemer (b. 1927), United States

Kyle S. Haugen, organ


-A brief pause-


I Saw Three Ships

Words and melody: 18th-century carol, England
Setting: Audrey Snyder (b. 1953), United States


I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three?
On Christmas day…  

Our Savior Christ and his lady
On Christmas day…

Pray whither sailed those ships all three?
On Christmas day…

Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas day…  

And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas day…

A la Nanita Nana (from Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest)

Words: Juan Francisco Muñoz y Pabón (1866–1920), Spain
Melody: José Ramón Gomis (1856–1939), Spain
Setting: Conrad Susa (1935–2013), United States


A la nanita nana, nanita ea, nanita ea,
mi niño tiene sueño, bendito sea, bendito sea.

A la nanita nana, nanita ea, nanita ea,
mi niño tiene sueño, bendito sea, bendito sea.

Fuentecita que corre clara y sonora,
ruiseñor que en la selva cantando llora:
calla mientras la cuna se balancea,
a la nanita nana, nanita ea.
Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby -by
my baby’s sleepy, bless him, bless him.

Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby -by
my baby’s sleepy, bless him, bless him.

Little spring bubbling clear and loud,
nightingale singing plaintively in the forest:
keep quiet while the cradle rocks to and fro,
lullaby, lullaby, lullaby -by.

I Will Light Candles this Christmas

Words: Howard Thurman (1899–1981), United States
Music: Kim André Arnesen (b. 1980), Norway

Sponsored by Karen Short
in memory of Rev. Jon Short,
and those who we remember
and whose light was gone too soon.


I will light Candles this Christmas,
Candles of joy despite all the sadness,
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,
Candles of courage for fears ever present,
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,
Candles of love to inspire all my living,
Candles that will burn all year long.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart.

The Gift

Words: Tony Vincent Isaacs, United Kingdom
Melody: 19th-century Shaker melody, United States
Setting: Bob Chilcott (b. 1955), United Kingdom


In the gift we deliver, in the gift we receive
Is the living spirit Mary did conceive,
The royal gift of love, incandescent flame,
Is given to all mankind in his name.

Joy, joy it is our true delight
To give and receive on this wondrous night.
A boy child to Mary is born
And his light will shine on beyond the dawn.

Night of Wonder

Words: Paul E. Hoffman (b. 1956), United States
Music: Karen E. Black (b. 1960), United States


What have we to ponder on this night of wonder?
Bethlehem’s stillness, starry night.
Gentle snow, world shimm’ring bright.
Still our minds that we might gently think on this.
Beauty, Wonder.
Ponder this; ponder hope.

What have we to ponder on this night of wonder?
Mary, Joseph’s dauntless faith.
Infant one ordained for grace.
Still our souls that we, as they, will think on this.
Faith and grace.
Ponder this; ponder love.

What have we to ponder on this night of wonder?
Angels’ chorus, shepherd’s awe.
Sacred space, yet cattle stall.
Tune our hearts that they may sing and think on this.
Timeless gift.
Ponder hope. Ponder love.

Night of Silence

Words and music: Daniel Kantor (b. 1960), United States
Setting: Daniel Kantor and John Ferguson (b. 1941), United States
“Silent Night”
Words: Joseph Mohr (1792–1848), Austria
Translation: John F. Young (1820–1885), United States
Melody: Franz Gruber (1787–1863), Austria


Cold are the people, winter of life.
We tremble in shadows this cold endless night.
Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping,
Flowers that will echo the sunrise.
Fire of hope is our only warmth.
Weary, its flame will be dying soon.

Voice in the distance, call in the night,
On wind you enfold us, you speak of the light.
Gentle on the ear you whisper softly
Rumors of a dawn so embracing.
Breathless love awaits darkened souls,
Soon will we know of the morning.

Spirit among us, shine like the star.
Your light that guides shepherds and kings from afar.
Shimmer in the sky so empty, lonely,
Rising in the warmth of your Son’s love.
Star unknowing of night and day, Spirit we wait for your loving Son.

When directed, please join the choir to sing:

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!

¡Fum, Fum, Fum!

Words and melody: c. 16th-century carol, Catalonia
Setting: Conrad Susa


On December five and twenty,
Fum, Fum, Fum!
For the love of us is giv’n
The holy Infant, son of Hea’vn.
Of the Virgin, Joseph’s bride,
To all the earth good will betiding,
Fum, Fum, Fum!

Little birds from out the forest,
Fum, Fum, Fum!
All your fledglings leave behind,
Go seek the Savior, Savior kind.
Come and build a lovely nest,
To warm the lovely baby bless’d.
Fum, Fum, Fum!

Little stars up in the heavens,
Fum, Fum, Fum!
If you see the Baby cry,
O, do not answer with a sigh!
Rather, lighten up the sky
With heaven’s beams of radiant brightness.
Fum, Fum, Fum!

Contact NWRS

Get in touch: contact@nwrs.org

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