Songs of the Season

Christmas with Choral Arts

Sunday, December 13, 2020 | 7:00 pm ET
Virtual Concert Hall

Scott Tucker, conductor
Brandon Straub, conductor
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, soloist
Jay D. Brock, director
Symphonic Chorus
Youth Choir
Brass Ensemble

#ChoralArtsDC

Program

O Magnum Mysterium

MORTEN LAURIDSEN (b. 1943)

Text & Translation

O magnum mysterium
Et admirabile sacramentum,
Ut animalia viderent Dominum
Natum jacentem in praesepio.
O beata Virgo, cuius viscera meruerunt
Portare Dominum Jesum Christum.
Alleluia.

O great mystery and wonderful sacrament,
That beasts should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger.
O blessed virgin, whose body
Was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia.

Production Credits:

Recorded at Songs of the Season in December 2019 at the John F. Kennedy for the Performing Arts

Ave Maria

Nathaniel Dett (1882 – 1943)

Text & Translation

Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave, ave dominus
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tuae, Jesus.
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Mater Dei
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Ora pro nobis
Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Nunc et in hora mortis
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Ave Maria

English Translation
Hail Mary, full of grace,
Mary, full of grace,
Mary, full of grace,
Hail, Hail, the Lord.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed,
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Thy womb, Jesus.
Hail Mary!
Hail Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Pray, pray for us;
Pray, pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death,
The hour of our death
The hour of our death,
The hour of our death
Hail Mary.

Production Credits

Audio and Video Editing by Arts Laureate
Christian Amonson, Owner
Robert Armstrong, Lead Engineer
Ben Schwartz, Senior Recording Engineer
Jonathan Galle, mixing engineer
Brian J. Isaac, Managing Director
Alison Fitzgerald, Project Manager
AJ Villanueva, video editor
Lara Mitofsky Neuss, audio editor

Don Oiche Ud I Mbeithil (The Night In Bethlehem)

TRADITIONAL
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, soloist

Text & Translation

Irish Text
Don oíche úd i mBeithil
beidh tagairt faoi ghréin go brách,
Don oíche úd i mBeithil
gur tháinig an Briathar slán;
Tá gríosghrua ar spéartha
‘s an talamh ‘na chlúdach bán;
Féach Íosagán sa chléibhín,
‘s an Mhaighdean ‘Á dhiúl le grá
Ar leacain lom an tsléibhe
go nglacann na haoirí scáth
Nuair in oscailt gheal na spéire
tá teachtaire Dé ar fáil;
Céad glóir anois don Athair
sa bhFlaitheasa thuas go hard!
Is feasta fós ar sa thalamh
d’fheara dea-mhéin’ siocháin!

English Translation
I sing of a night in Bethlehem
A night as bright as dawn
I sing of that night in Bethlehem
The night the Word was born
The skies are glowing gaily
The earth in white is dressed
See Jesus in the cradle
Drink deep in His mother’s breast
And there on a lonely hillside
The shepherds bow down in fear
When the heavens open brightly
And God’s message rings out so clear
Glory now to the Father
In all the heavens high
And peace to His friends on earth below
Is all the angels cry

Production credits 

Video shared with permission from Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh.

Bring a Torch

Traditional
Arr. Jason Michael Webb & Michael McElroy

Text

Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella, bring a torch, come swiftly and run.
Christ is born, tell the folk of the village Jesus is sleeping in his cradle.
O! how beautiful is the Mother. O! how beautiful is the son.
Good folk of the village, the Christ child to see
Hasten now hasten now
You will find him asleep in the manger.
Quietly come and whisper softly. Hush! Hush!
peacefully now he slumbers. Hush! Hush!
peacefully now he sleeps.
Emanuel.
Look upon the face of the Savior.
See him smile as he is dreaming. Gently he stirs and now awakens.
Oh! How he gazes. Oh how he sees!
Oh! how silently now he gazes. Oh! how silent the world
Enter his presence gaze upon
Enter with reverence into his presence.
For he sleeps in Mary’s keeping
Gaze upon him, Emanuel… See him sleeping in
Mary’s keeping what joy in his presence to dwell
Bring a torch Bring a torch
See them running the torches they bring……
Oh come worship the newborn King.
See him in his cradle come and worship the newborn King.
Send the word to all who will hear it.
Send the word that Jesus has come. For he brings with him
Joy and redemption. Let all the earth, rejoice in singing
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
There’s nobody like you, None come before you Jesus
We lift our hands and give you the highest praise.
We adore you, Jesus, we celebrate your name, Jesus
Come and praise Him, worship him, adore Him.
Hallelujah to the Father, Hallelujah to the son
Father, Hallelujah to the Son…
Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella
Bring a torch, come swiftly and run.
Bring a torch…….

Production Credits

Audio and Video Editing by Arts Laureate
Christian Amonson, Owner
Robert Armstrong, Lead Engineer
Ben Schwartz, Senior Recording Engineer
Jonathan Galle, mixing engineer
Brian J. Isaac, Managing Director
Alison Fitzgerald, Project Manager
Jason Friedman, video editor
Lara Mitofsky Neuss, audio editor

Wexford Carol

IRISH TRADITIONAL CAROL
Arr. John Rutter

Text

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done,
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas Day;
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass:
From ev’ry door repell’d, alas!
As long foretold, their refuge all
Was but an humble oxen stall.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;
To whom God’s angels did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear.
‘Prepare and go’, the angels said,
‘To Bethlehem, be not afraid;
For there you’ll find, this happy morn,
A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.’

With thankful heart and joyful mind
The shepherds went the babe to find,
And as God’s angel had foretold,
They did our Saviour Christ behold.
Within a manger he was laid,
And by his side the virgin maid,
Attending on the Lord of life,
Who came on earth to end all strife.

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done,
In sending his beloved Son.

Production Credits

Audio and Video Editing by Arts Laureate
Christian Amonson, Owner
Robert Armstrong, Lead Engineer
Ben Schwartz, Senior Recording Engineer
Jonathan Galle, mixing engineer
Brian J. Isaac, Managing Director
Alison Fitzgerald, Project Manager
Christopher Armijo, video editor
Krista Connelly, audio editor

Gloria

JOHN RUTTER (b. 1945)

Text & Translation

Glória in excélsis Deo
et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis.
Laudámus te,
benedícimus te,
adorámus te,
glorificámus te,
grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam

English translation:
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory

Production Credits

Audio and Video Editing by Arts Laureate
Christian Amonson, Owner
Robert Armstrong, Lead Engineer
Ben Schwartz, Senior Recording Engineer
Jonathan Galle, mixing engineer
Brian J. Isaac, Managing Director
Alison Fitzgerald, Project Manager
Kristine Slipson, video editor
Krista Connelly, audio editor

Bugler’s Holiday

LEROY ANDERSON (1908-1975)
Instrumental

Rise Up Shepherd and Follow

KILE SMITH (b. 1956)
World Premiere Commission

Text

There’s a star in the east on Christmas morn.
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
It will lead to the place where the Savior’s born.
Rise up, shepherd and follow!
If you take good heed to the angels’ words,
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
You’ll forget your flocks, you’ll forget your herds.
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
Leave your sheep and
Leave your lamb and
Leave your ewe and
Leave your ram and
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
Follow, follow,
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
Follow the star to Bethlehem!
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!

Oh, that star’s still shining this Christmas Day.
Rise, O sinner, and follow!
With an eye of faith you can see its ray.
Rise, O sinner, and follow!
It will light your way through the fields of frost,
Rise, O sinner, and follow!
While it leads through the stable to the shining cross.
Rise, O sinner, and follow!
Leave your father,
Leave your mother,
Leave your sister,
Leave your brother,
Rise, O sinner, and follow!
Follow, follow,
Rise, O sinner, and follow!
Follow the star to Bethlehem.
Rise, O sinner, and follow!
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!

Production Credits

Audio and Video Editing by Arts Laureate
Christian Amonson, Owner
Robert Armstrong, Lead Engineer
Ben Schwartz, Senior Recording Engineer
Jonathan Galle, mixing engineer
Brian J. Isaac, Managing Director
Alison Fitzgerald, Project Manager
Philip Snyder, video editor
Philipp Heim-Antolin, audio editor

O Come All Ye Faithful

TRADITIONAL
Arr. David Willcocks

Text

Verse 1
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;

Refrain
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Verse 2
God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo, he abhors
not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God,
Begotten, not created:

Refrain

Verse 6
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God
In the highest:

Refrain

Verse 7
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesu, to thee be glory giv’n;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing:

Refrain

Silent Night (Oíche Chiúin)

FRANZ GRUBER (1787–1863)

Featured Artists

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, solist
Michael Bard, guitar
Gerry Mulligan, guitar

Text & Translation

Verse 1
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.

Verse 1 (Irish)
Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé,
Cách ‘na suan dís araon,
Dís is dílse ‘faire le spéis
Naoín beag gnaoigheal
ceananntais caomh
Críost, ‘na chodhladh go séimh.
Críost, ‘na chodhladh go séimh.

Verse 2
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!

Verse 6
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Production Credits

Audio and Video Editing by Arts Laureate
Christian Amonson, Owner
Robert Armstrong, Lead Engineer
Ben Schwartz, Senior Recording Engineer
Jonathan Galle, mixing engineer
Brian J. Isaac, Managing Director
Alison Fitzgerald, Project Manager
Justin Patterson, video editor
Natalie Groom, audio editor

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809–1847)

Arr. David Willcocks

Text

Verse 1
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn 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 host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Refrain
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.

Verse 2
Christ, by highest heav’n adored,
Christ the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come
Offspring of a virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the God-head see,
Hail th’incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Refrain

Production Credits:

Recorded at Songs of the Season in December 2019 at the John F. Kennedy for the Performing Arts

Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah)

GEORGE FREDERICH HANDEL (1685–1759)

Text

Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah!

The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever and ever,

King of kings, and Lord of lords,
And He shall reign,
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings, forever and ever,
And Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah!

Production Credits:

Recorded at Songs of the Season in December 2019 at the John F. Kennedy for the Performing Arts

Jingle Bells

JAMES PIERPONT (1822–1893)
Arr. David Willcocks

Text

Verse 1
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh,
O’er the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;

Bells on bobtail ring,
Making spirits bright;
What fun it is to ride, and sing
A sleighing song tonight. Hey!

Refrain
Jingle, bells, Jingle, bells
Jingle all the way;
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!
Repeat

Verse 2
Now the ground is white;
Go it while you’re young,
Take the girls tonight,
And sing this sleighing song.

Just get a bob-tailed nag,
Two-forty for his speed;
Then hitch him to an open-sleigh
And crack! you’ll take the lead.

Meet the Artists

Scott Tucker, Conductor
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, soloist
Brandon Straub, conductor
Jay D. Brock, director
Choral Arts Symphonic Chorus

Symphonic Chorus

Scott Tucker, conductor

Lynda Adamson
Julie Ciamporcero Avetta
Brooke Bartolome
Kaylee Boalt
Ashley B. Boam
Susan G. Boggs
Alison Cooper
Abigail Corbett
Shannon Corey
Dana Crepeau
Gloria DeCoste
Kate Fernandez
Julie Gilmore
Amity Hall
Marie Hyder
Jennifer Leach
Lisa Stechschulte Lowe
Heather MacDonald
Rebecca Mullen
Katherine S. Myer
Jenny Nordstrom
Alexandra Normile
Julia Preseau
Diane Shapiro Richer
Erika Rissi
Sally Robinson
Elizabeth Romig
Bethann Siegel
Lisa Sommers
Carolyn Sowinski
Katie Spitzel
Margaret A. Stromecki
Amanda Thorne
Cathryn Wanders
Nadine Wethington
Bonnie Williams
Carolyn Wise
Julie Wommack

Petia Antova
Barbara Barry
Marty Brown
Patricia A Byram
Michelle Cho
Jan Clayberg
Karen Coda
Katherine Degreef
Sarah Penniston-Dorland
Karen Doyne
Cynthia Dunbar
Karen Florini
Barbara Gardner
Coleen Gatehouse
Ariel Gold
Kate Goodrich
Karen Hopper
Cindy Jensen
Anne B. Keiser
Joyce Korvick
Lucy Newton
My-Van Nguyen
Margaret Nice
Rebecca Nielsen
Ellen Platts
Laura S. Pruitt
Joan Reinthaler
Diedre Robinson
Cindy Speas
Joyce Stephansky
Kandie Stroud
Alex Swartsel†
Lizabeth Tankersley
Christa Teemer
Michelle Tiller
Emily Townsend
Nancy Witherell
Virginia Yates

Jeff Ashford
Leroy R. Barnes
Jonathan Blocksom
Colin Brown
Luke Capizzo
John Clewett
Jeff Dauler
David Flaxman
Daniel Forbes
Jerry Haggin
Edward Hoover
Karl Jensen
Paul Nooney, Jr
Daniel Kaufman
Tony Lee
Michael McKeon
Byron V. Peters
Rob Porter
Jonathan Rajaseelan
David Robinson
Dileep Srihari
Robert Stansbery
Rob Vogel

Charles Cerf
Michael Cook
Neil R. Ericsson
David Freeman
Gregg Grisa
Eric Holmes
George Krumbhaar
Douglas M. Lapp
Todd Leeuwenburgh
Michael Lincoln††
Clarke Maylone
Douglas McAllister
Daniel Perkes
Nathan Perriello
Dennis Reece
Roberto Sada
Sam Strike
William Theuer
Art Tiller
Rob Vonderhaar
Jim Weinstein
Christopher Wilde
Ray Williams

† President
†† Vice-President

Youth Choir

Brandon Straub, conductor

Arya Balian
Lydia Danas
Grace Fisher
Bella Guagenti
Claudia Hull
Madeline Jensen
Julia Messenger
Sabina Perry
Mary Pelson
Georgie Williams
Caelan Wommack
Meghan Wommack

Liza Harold
Noah Milad
Annie Phan
Anya Trudeau
Kathleen Whatley

William Barbee

Matthew Carey
Gaston Finger
Max Howard
Mark MacGuidwin

Brass Ensemble

Terry Bingham, Trumpet
Andrew Boylan, Trumpet
Christian Ferrari, Trumpet
Christian Hinkle, Trumpet

Rick Lee, Horn

Gus Mitchell, Trombone
Adam McColley, Trombone

Jon Voth, Tuba

Tom Dell’Omo, Percussion

Peter Soroka, Timpani

Michael Bard, Guitar

Board and Staff

Lexy B. Kessler, Chair
Craig Miller, Vice Chair
Barbara Rossotti, Secretary
Anne B. Keiser, Treasurer
Nadine Wethington, Immediate Past Chair
Laura S. Pruitt, Of Counsel / Advisor to Committees

Julie Ciamporcero Avetta
Suzanne S. Brock
Charles Cerf
Tad Czyzewski, Executive Director *
David Flaxman
Karen Florini
Matthew Garber
Sue Goodhart
Elke Gordon
Edward Hoover
Craig Miller
Emily Riffle
Diane Schaefer
Nicholas Smith
Liz Tankersley
Scott Tucker, Artistic Director*
Alex Swartsel, Chorus President*
Ashley Wilson

John Adams
Dr. Ysaye Maria Barnwell
Mrs. W. Tapley Bennett, Jr.
James Conlon
John Corigliano
Christoph Eschenbach
Denyce Graves
Marta Casals Istomin
Bobby McFerrin
Leontyne Price
Samuel Ramey
Helmuth Rilling
Leonard Slatkin
John Williams

Scott Tucker, Artistic Director
Tad Czyzewski, Executive Director
April Angilletta, Associate Director of Communications
Joe Aubry, Artistic and Production Associate
Caryn Fraim, Deputy Director
Caitlin Gompf, External Communications Coordinator
Whitney McColley, Artistic Manager
Brandon Straub, Associate Conductor and Pianist

Special Thanks To

Embassy of Ireland, USA

Ambassador Dan Mulhall and Mrs. Greta Mulhall
Ms. Emer Rocke, Deputy Head of Mission
Mr. Ragnar Almqvist, Media, Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs Officer
Mr. Finbar Brown, Food and Agriculture Counsellor
Ms. Sarah Keating, Vice Consul, Consulate of Ireland, Chicago
Ms. Emily Speelman, Research Assistant, Public Policy
Ms. Norma Ces, Assistant to the Ambassador

Quartet
Heather MacDonald, soprano
My-Van Nguyen, alto
Ed Hoover, tenor
Will Theuer, bass

Falls Church Episcopal
The Jensen Family

Season Sponsors

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