Well, the recordings of the Lessons and Carols performance are in, and the Ave Maria was easily the best song of the show. So to show off, I made an mp3 out of it and make it available here! Enjoy!
Sprint 2001 Emory Community Choir update: Dona Nobis Pacem is the piece, by one Ralph Vaughn Williams. Yep, just one piece. 40 minutes long... Also just one performance! April 25 at Glenn Memorial Church. That's a Wednesday, so plan now!
Sneak preview! Just using piano for the accompaniment, and the choir aah in the midi bank wasn't very impressive, but then it isn't supposed to replace your actually attending the event :-)
For the winter semester, 2000 at Emory I joined the Emory Community Choir in the interest of doing something musical while I looked around for trumpet gigs (without much success, I might add, though I haven't been looking terribly hard. Still, if you are looking for a trumpet player, or know someone who is...). On Dec 1 and 2, we had three performances at the Glenn Memorial Church (United Methodist) located on North Decatur Road in Atlanta, GA. This page provides the program information. The background picture on this page, by the way, was the picture on the printed program, in case you were wondering... :-)
For those pieces sung by the community choir, midi files of the songs are provided. These are NOT based upon recording of the actual event, but rather were input manually into Noteworthy Composer and exported as midis. They are intended merely to give you an idea of what we did, but believe me the real event was awesome and these midi files can't possibly do justice to it! I used the "choral aah" for the vocal parts, which isn't the best sound in the world, but I didn't want to tinker with the sounds much and that was the voice sound available in the default midi banks. Also note that some songs had more varied instrumentation than what I used (for example, the third movement of the "Gloria" I just left as piano, but in fact there was no piano at all, being organ and brass); this was simply because it was faster to do it this way, and I only have this music in my possession for a very limited amount of time. And I don't have every piece input cause I wasn't in the concert choir nor the brass ensemble, each of which had their own music. You'll have to contact Emory University directly if you want recordings of the ceremony (not available until next year, but I can highly recommend it :-) otherwise you'll have to content yourself with this. I have listed the lyrics for those songs sung by the community choir, as well as those for the congregational choir. Lyrics are in italics immediately after the title and composer of the song. If you find any typos or errors, please let me know!
Speaking personally, of all the music sung, my favorite was easily "Ave Maria". Sadly, I didn't get to sing that one... Of the music that I did sing, my favorite is probably the third movement of Rutter's "Gloria", though "A Star from Jacob Come Forth" was a lot of fun to sing, and "Still, Still, Still" was so very beautiful.
The choirs: The community choir had 34 soprano I's, 33 soprano II's, 48 Alto I's, 31 Alto II's, 19 Tenors and 34 Bass singers, for a total of 199 members! The concert choir sang with the community choir in all its music, in addition to having its own music. The concert choir had 14 sorpranos, 11 altos, 7 tenors and 11 bass singers, for a total of 43 members (these numbers are included in the community choirs numbers already).
On the instruments: Brad Hughley on organ; Deborah Thoreson on piano; Yvonne Toll, Phil Elkins, and Kevin Lyons on trumpet; Kathy Wood on French horn; Ed Nicholson, Joe Hughes, and Richard Brady on trombone; Eric Stiles on tuba; Michael Cebulski and Gene Lee on percussion.
The Director: Dr. Eric Nelson, director of choral studies at Emory
University. The list of honors and accolades is just long enough that
I am too lazy to type them all out... However, I can say he is a
fantasic musician, a wondeful teacher, and a brilliant conductor :-)
"We're not worthy! We're not worthy!" ;-)
And so, on with the show...
Hrmph... Well, I found some dangling notes in the Gloria, 3rd movement. Fixed them in NWC, listened to it in NWC and all was good. I exported the fixed version to a midi file, and listened to the midi file in WinAmp and all was good. Deleted the old midi file from the server before uploading the new one, and then listened to the one off the web page, and it still sounds like there is a dangling note or two in there. Very disturbing... I would post the .nwc file so you could see and hear for yourself, but that would probably break copyright laws. So I have no idea what it could be.
The Prelude
Brass choir: Canzon Primi Toni, No. 1 by Giovanni GabrieliThe Processional Carol
Community Choir: Once in Royal David's City by H.J Gauntlett Solos by Susan Walker (Dec 1) and Kathyrn Blumenthal (Dec 2). Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bad. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child. He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall. With the poor, and mean, and lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour holy. And through all his wondrous childhood He would honour and obey, Love, and watch the lowly maiden, In whose gentle arms he lay; Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as he. For he is our childhood's pattern, Day by day like us he grew, He was little, weak and helpless, tear and smiles like us he knew; And he feeleth for our sadness, And he shareth in our gladness. And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love, For that child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above; And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone. Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see him; but in heaven, Set at God's right hand on high; When like stars his children crowned All in white shall wait around.The Bidding Prayer
The Invitatory
Community Choir: Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light From Christmas Oratorio by J.S. Bach Break forth, O beautrous heav'nly light And usher in the morning; Ye shepherds, shrink not with afright, But hear the angel's warning. This Child now weak in infancy, Our confidence and joy shall be. The pow'r of Satan breaking, Our peace eternal making.The First Lesson:
Genesis 3:8-15 "God declares in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent's head." Concert Choir: Adam Lay Ybounden by Boris Ord Community Choir: Gloria in Excelsis Deo from Gloria by John Rutter Gloria in exceslis Deo. Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam.The Second Lesson:
Genesis 22:15-18 "God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." Concert Choir: Rorate Coeli by Giovanni Pieluigi da PalestrinaThe Third Lesson:
Isaiah 9:2-7 "Christ's birth and Kingdom are foretold by Isaiah." Concert Choir: Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus by Matthew Armstrong Community Choir: Domine Deus, Rex Coelestis from Gloria by John Rutter Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.The Fourth Lesson:
Micah 5:2-4 "The prophet Micah foresees the glory of little Bethlehem." Congregational Carol: O Little Town of Bethlehem (Ralph Vaughan Williams arrangement) O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; The hope and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angel's keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on Earth! O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!The Fifth Lesson:
Luke 1:26-33 "The Angel Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary." Concert Choir (men only): Ave Maria by Franz Biebl Community Choir: There shall a Star from Jacob come forth by Felix Mendelssohn There shall a star from Jacob come forth, and a Sceptre from Israel rise up, And dash in pieces Princes and Nations. How brightly beams the morning star! With sudden radiance from afar With light and comfort glowing! Thy Word, Jesus, inly feeds us, Rightly leads us, Life bestowing, Praise, oh priase such love o'er flowing!The Sixth Lesson:
Matthew 1:18-25 "Matthew tells of Christ's holy birth" Community Choir: Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day by John Gardner Tomorrow shall be my dancing day: I would my true love did so chance To see the legend of my play, To call my true love to my dance: Sing O my love, O my love, my love, my love; This have I done for my true love. Then was I born of a virgin pure, Of her I took fleshly substance; Thus was I knit to man's nature, To call my true love to my dance: Sing O my love, O my love, my love, my love; This have I done for my true love. In a manger laid and wrapped I was, So very poor this was my chance, Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass, To call my true love to my dance: Sing O my love, O my love, my love, my love; This have I done for my true love. Then afterwards baptized I was; The Holy Ghost on me did glance, My Father's voice heard from above, To call my true love to my dance: Sing O my love, O my love, my love, my love; This have I done for my true love. For my true love!The Seventh Lesson:
Luke 2:8-16 "The shepherds go to the manger." Concert Choir: Shepherds, What is this Lovely Fragrance? French traditional carol Community Choir: African Noel arranged by Andre J. Thomas Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel, Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel, Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel, Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel, Sing we all Noel, Sing we all Noel, Sing we all Noel, Sing we all Noel, Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel, Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel, Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel, Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel, Sing we all Noel, Sing we all Noel, Sing we all Noel, Sing we all Noel, Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel, Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel, O Come, ye people, gather here To hear the news of good cheer. The King of Kings, the Lamb of God is born to day in Bethlehem Sing Noel, Sing Noel, Noel, Noel, Sing Noel, Sing Noel, Noel, Noel, Oh sing Noel, Noel, sing Noel, Noel, sing... (spoken): Noel!The Eighth Lesson:
Matthew 2:1-11 "The visit of the Wise Men and the flight into Egypt." Community Choir: Quoniam, Tu Solus Sanctus from Gloria by John Rutter Quoniam tu solus Sanctus. Tu solus Dominus, To solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe. Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.The Ninth Lesson:
John 1:1-14 "St. John unfolds the Great Mystery of the Incarnation." Congregational Choir: O Come, All Ye Faithful by Adeste Fideles O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him, born the King of angels; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, O, sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above. Glory to God, in the highest; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Yea, Lord we greet Thee, born this happy morning. Jesu, to Thee be glory giv'n. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!The Collects for Christmas
The Recessional Carol
Congregational Choir: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Felix Mendelssohn Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King; Peace on Earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled." Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th' angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King." Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord; Late in time, behold him come, Offspring of the virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th' Incarnate Deity! Please as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King." Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings, Mild He lays His glory by, Born that we no more may die, Born to raise the sons of Earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King."The Benediction
The Choral Response
Community Choir: Still, Still, Still/Silent Night Arranged by John Purifoy and Ruth Elaine Schram Still, still, still is whispered through the chill, While Mary's singing softly and lowly to the Infant meek and Holy. Still, still, still is whispered through the chill. Sleep, sleep, sleep, The angel's vigil keep; While Mary takes Him to her breast, and bids Him close His eyes and rest. Sleep, sleep, sleep, The angel's vigil keep; 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.
