Volaré
Dr. Emily Pence Brown, conductor
Heather Goldman, collaborative pianist
Kourtney Hill, graduate assistant
Concentric Circles
Mothers of Daughters | Diana Lawrence (n.d.)
Mothers of daughters are daughters of mothers,
and have remained so in circles joined to circles,
since time began.
The Seal Lullaby | Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), Eric Whitacre (b. 1970)
Oh! Hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us,
And black are the waters that sparkled so green.
The moon, o’er the combers, looks downward to find us,
At rest in the hollows that rustle between.
Where billow meets billow, then soft be thy pillow,
Oh weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease!
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow swinging seas!
Pong Pong Piyangaw | Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan (n.d.)
Pong pong piyangaw
Imba taglinaw
Buskeg ilalom
No literal meaning
There it’s clear
Here it’s cloudy
Bloom | Philip E. Silvey (b. 1965)
Once April rouses earth from deep, silent slumber
and awakens the stirrings of the unopened bud.
Beauty, hidden for a time, duly ushers in the season,
reborn beauty, subtle and sublime,
a renaissance of new life in bloom.
Crocus and snowdrop, daffodil and lily
come to life at the surface of the groggy, gray ground.
Beauty, breaking, burgeoning, breath-taking
So brief a time, when the blossom is in its prime,
so brief a time, when the blossom will flourish in its overwhelming beauty, hidden for a time, duly ushers in the season,
reborn beauty, subtle and sublime,
a renaissance of new life in bloom.
Over Hill, Over Dale | William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Amy Beach (1867-1944)
Over hill, over dale
Thorough bush, thorough briar
Over park, over pale
Thorough flood, thorough fire
I do wander everywhere
Swifter than the moon's sphere;
And I serve the fairy queen
To dew her orbs upon the green
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours
In those freckles live their savours:
I must go seek some dew-drops here
And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear
Weird Sisters | Elizabeth Sylvia (b. 1974), Ellis Ludwig-Leone (b. 1989)
World Premiere
This project was funded in part by the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music at the College of Musical Arts of Bowling Green State University.
Where hast thou been, sister? –Macbeth
Since the night I was born I’ve I’ll
known howling at the moon, mixed kiss
yours with my own, crossed all times rhymes to
together by the born beards your beard
on our faces. Even when apart of hurt women’s
tales never tell and call
& so sisterhood snakes up us
the world of men, saying good lords
riddance of this
to each girl pulled world
from the tree like a pulpy ugly
plum, maybe mouthful of sour absurd
for the biter. Weird sisters pick wicked
our own women, don’t you know I’ve no
by the way our sunken bodies ready
suck up all the light, small as a nutshell spell
big as the moor, tying time in a bow, to know
not beautiful for any price but what
driving men mad exposing all the hidden woman
swords they make of words. is.
Program Note:
Weird Sisters is a setting of a poem of the same name by Elizabeth Sylvia, a tribute to the three witches from Macbeth. The structure of the poem is what first drew me to it— there is a violent rip right down the center of the page, splitting the text into two columns. The words on the left are organized into sensical, evocative sentences, while the text on the right is splintered into sharp little fragments of one or two words. On the page, it’s hard to know whether to read each line across left to right, or to read it as two separate poems. To me, the words on the left are an incantation, as if chanted around a bubbling cauldron, while the words on the right are the magic spell that emerges: the snaking bonds of sisterhood.
I have split the ensemble into a chorus, who sings the text on the left, and a soloist, who sings the text on the right, the lines weaving in and out of each other hypnotically. ~ Ellis Ludwig-Leone, composer
Out of Reach | Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot) (1819-1880), Rosa Elliott (n.d.)
Kourtney Hill, soloist
The world is great: the birds all fly from me,
The stars are golden fruit upon a tree
All out of reach: my little sister went,
And I am lonely.
The world is great: I tried to mount the hill
Above the pines, where the light lies so still,
But it rose higher: little Lisa went
And I am lonely.
The world is great: the wind comes rushing by.
I wonder where it comes from; sea birds cry
And hurt my heart: my little sister went,
And I am lonely.
The world is great: the people laugh and talk,
And make loud holiday: how fast they walk!
I'm lame, they push me: little Lisa went,
And I am lonely.
Will The Circle Be Unbroken | traditional Appalachian, J. David Moore (n.d.)
Alejandro Goenaga, conductor
Madeline Yarbro, Isabella Olzak, Macy Strauss, soloists
Will the circle be unbroken by and by, Lord, by and by,
There’s a better home a waitin’ if we try, Lord, if we try.
I was singing with my sisters, I was singing with my friends
And we all can sing together, cause the circle never ends.
I was born down in the valley where the sun refused to shine
But I’m climbing up to the highland, gonna make that mountain mine!
~~~intermission~~~
University Men's Chorus
Richard Schnipke, conductor
C.J. Capen, pianist
Alejo Goenaga & Aaron Roos, graduate assistant conductors
Ad Amore | Lee Kesselman
Italian:
Quello infinito e ineffabil bene
chè là suè, così corre ad amore
com’ a lucido corpo raggio vene.
English Translation:
That Goodness, infinite and ineffable,
Which is above, runs toward Love,
As light comes to polished bodies
Hanacpachap Cussicuinin | Juan Perez Bocanegra (c. 1598-1631), arr. Eugene Rogers
Charles Ligus, Nate Black and CJ Capen, percussion
Quechuan:
Hanacpachap cussicuinin,
Huarn cacta muchas caique.
Yupairuru pucocmallqui,
Runa cunap suyacuinin.
Callpannacpa quemicuinin,
Huaciascaita.
Uryarihuai muchascaita
Diospa rampan Diospamaman
Yurac tocto hamancaiman
Yupascalla, collpascaita
Huahuaiquiman suyuscaita
Ricuchillai.
English Translation:
Heaven's joy!
A thousand times shall we praise you.
O tree bearing thrice-blessed fruit,
O hope of humankind,
helper of the weak,
Hear our prayer!
Attend to our pleas,
O column of ivory, Mother of God!
Beautiful iris, yellow and white,
receive this song we offer you;
come to our assistance,
show us the fruit of your womb.
When Music Sounds | Connor J. Koppin (b. 1991)
When music sounds, gone is the earth I know,
And all her lovely things even lovelier grow;
Her flowers in vision flame, her forest trees
Lift burdened branches, stilled with ecstasies.
When music sounds, out of the water rise
Naiads whose beauty dims my waking eyes,
Rapt in strange dreams burns each enchanted face,
With solemn echoing stirs their dwelling-place.
When music sounds, all that I was I am
Ere to this haunt of brooding dust I came;
And from Time's woods break into distant song
The swift-winged hours, as I hasten along.
Mis on inimene? (What is human?) | Pärt Uusberg
Estonian:
Mis on inimene?
Kas ingli vari?
Või igatsushüüd
hingeühtsuse poole?
Igaüks meist on pill,
Läbi mille võrratuid vise vilistab Jumala tuul:
Hoia, küll siis hoitakse
English Translation:
What is human?
The shadow of an angel?
Or a cry of yearning
towards a union of souls?
Each of us a pipe
For God’s wind to whistle:
Take care, then you are cared for.
Ave Maria | Franz Biebl (1906-2001)
Logan Gutierrez, Jake Grafitti and Seth Foth, soloists
Latin:
Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae,
Et concepit de Spiritu sancto.
Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum,
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Maria dixit:
Ecce ancilla Domini,
Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
Ave Maria...
Et verbum caro factum est
Et habitavit in nobis.
Ave Maria...
Sancta Maria, mater Dei,
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus.
Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis
Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen.
English:
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
and she conceived by the Holy Spirit
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Mary said:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
be it unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary...
The Word was made flesh,
and dwelt among us.
Hail Mary...
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Selections from The Magic Flute | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Prof. Keith Phares, soloist
Aaron Roos, conductor
No. 10. Sarastro Aria and Chorus of Priests
O Isis and Osiris,
Favor this noble pair with wisdom’s light!
Grant them your aid in their endeavor,
Lead them to find the path of right!
Let them be strong against temptation;
But if they fail in their probation,
Do not their virtue need deny.
Take them to your abode on high.
No. 18. Chorus of Priests
O Isis and Osiris! Sacred wonder!
The gloomy night by light is rent asunder.
The noble youth through suffering recreated.
Shall be to holy office consecrated.
His heart is bold, And pure his mind,
Soon, will the gods be satisfied.
There’s a Meeting Here Tonight | Bob Gibson, Alex Hassilev and Glenn Yarbrough, arr. Cantus
Ben Tittl and Andy Norbuta, soloists
There is a meeting here tonight!
Well there's a meeting here tonight
There's a meeting here tonight
I can tell by your friendly face
There's a meeting here tonight
Well I went down in the valley one day
met old Satan on my way
What do you reckon old Satan did say?
He said, Turn back, young man
You're too young to pray.
Satan got mad and I am glad
Lost a soul he thought he had
Satan is a liar and a conjuror too
You better watch out brother he'll conjure you
Well there's a meeting here tonight
There's a meeting here tonight
I can tell by your friendly face
There's a meeting here tonight
Grace | arr. Mark Hayes (b. 1953)
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
I once was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And that same grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour when I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already safely come;
This grace hath brought me safe thus far
And surely grace will lead me home.
I shall go home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the glorious sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than since the day we first begun.
Loch Lomond | arr. Jonathan Quick (b.1970)
Matthew Steele, soloist
Kourtney Hill, conductor
By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond,
Where me and me true love were ever wont to gae,
On the bonnie bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.
Oh ye’ll take the high road, an’ I’ll take the low road,
An’ I’ll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.
‘Twas then that we parted, In yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond,
Where deep in purple hue the Highland hills we view,
And the moon comin’ out in the gloamin’.
Oh ye’ll take the high road, an’ I’ll take the low road,
An’ I’ll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.
The wee birdies sing and the wild flowers spring,
And in sunshine the waters lie sleeping.
But the broken heart will ken nae second spring again,
And the world knows not how we are grieving.
Oh ye’ll take the high road, an’ I’ll take the low road,
An’ I’ll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.
I’ll Be On My Way | Shawn Kirchner (b. 1970)
Aaron Roos, baritone
Federico Orlando, violin
Hayley Currin, cello
Ryan Spiess, double bass
Charles Ligus, percussion
When I am gone, don’t you cry for me,
Don’t you pity my sorry soul.
What pain there might have been will now be past
And my spirit will be whole.
I’ll be on my way
I’ll have left my feet of clay upon the ground
I will be glory bound
I’ll be on my way
When I am gone, please forgive my wrongs
That I might have done to you;
There’ll be no room regrets up there,
High above, way beyond the blue.
I’ll be on my way
I’ll have laid my frown and all my burdens down
I’ll be puttin’ on my crown,
I’ll be on my way.
When I am gone, don’t you look for me
In the places I have been;
I’ll be alive, but somewhere else,
I’ll be on my way again!
I’ll be on my way,
I will lift my wings and soar into the air,
There’ll be glory ev’rywhere,
I’ll be on my way!
Traditional Songs of the BGSU Men's Chorus
Brothers, Sing On! | Edvard Greig (1843-1907), arr. Howard D. McKinney
Come and let our swelling song
Mount like the whirling wind,
As it meets our singing throng,
So Blithe of heart and mind
Care and sorrow
now be gone
Brothers,
sing on!
Forward Falcons! | Wayne Bohrnstedt, Gilbert Fox, & Edith Ludwig Bell, arr. Will Baughman (b. 1993)
Aaron Roos, conductor
Forward Falcons!
Fight for victory.
BGSU!
Show our spirit.
Make them fear it.
Fight for ol’ BG
Forward Falcons!
Make the contest keen.
Hold up the fame
Of our mighty name
And win for Bowling Green
When all is but a memory
Of the bygone days
We’ll remember them always,
Those good ol’ by gone days
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Zoomba
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Ze
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Zoomba
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Ze
Roll along you BG warriors
Roll along and win for BGSU!
Alma Mater | Edith Ludwig Bell (1929-1988), arr. John M. Hyde
Alma mater hear us
As we praise thy name.
Make us worthy sons and daughters
Adding to thy fame.
Time will treat you kindly
And some years from now you’ll be
Ever dearer to our hearts,
Our University
From the halls of Ivy
Over to the campus scene,
Chimes ring out with gladness
For our dear Bowling Green.
When all is but a memory
Of the bygone days,
Hear our hymn dear Alma mater
As thy name we praise.
