2016 vespers program -...

Northfield Mount HermonEmmanuel Church

15 Newbury Street, Boston

Christmas Vespers

2016

A digital CD recording of today’s performance, by LeGrandice Studios, will be available for $21 (including mailing).

Order forms are available at the door and by contacting the music program at 413-498-3281.

Program

PreludeBrandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major Johann Sebastian Bach Allegro (1685–1750)

The six Brandenburg Concertos were composed by J. S. Bach for His Royal Highness Christian Ludwig, the Margrave of Brandenburg, and dedicated to him in 1721. While Cöthen was a relatively small town with few cultural amenities, the Margrave himself was an accomplished musician who put his complete faith, and newly acquired orchestra, behind the talents of Bach. Each of the six concertos differs from the others in instrumentation and focus. Some are focused on soloists (Nos. 4 and 5) and others, like No.1, are focused on the group itself — the orchestra.

The Chamber Orchestra

Introit: Veni Emmanuel Ancient plainsongArranged by Sheila L. Heffernon

(b. 1954)

Yu-Jen Eugene Yen ’17, NMH afternoon

Alexander Kryuchkov ’17, NMH evening

Lachlan Miller ’17, Emmanuel Church, Boston

Vu Kevin Cap ’17, Chimes

The Concert Choir

Processional: Sing We Noel 19th-century French carolText translated by Arranged by Harvey B. Gaul Julia Crouse Houser (1866–1940) (1881–1945)

(The congregation is invited to stand and join in the singing.)

Dost thou remember the prophet of old,Who that most wondrous story told,How of a virgin pure and mildShould be born a perfect child?The seer spake true the virgin so fairA son from heaven doth declare.Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel.

Angels praise God in glorious strain,Mortals take up the glad refrain.Bright in the East, fair shining Star,Thou lead’st the wise men from afar.’Tis here He lies! Rejoice! Rejoice!In praise lift up a sounding voice!Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel.

Now let Hosannas ring o’er all the earth,Proclaim the infant Jesus’ birth!Spread the glad tidings of a Saviour found,With joy let ev’ry heart abound.Our Lord is born! Green garlands bring.We’ll crown the newborn infant King!Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel.

Opening Sentences Lee-Ellen Strawn, NMH Chaplain

The Holly and the Ivy Arranged by Sir Henry Walford Davies (1869–1941)

Allegra D’Virgilio ’18, Isabella DeHerdt ’17, Sekou Bolden ’18, Lois Bull ’19, Olivia Morrison ’18, Ian Lam ’17,

soloists, NMH afternoon

Shih-An Ethan Ho ’19, Grace Smith ’18, Jada Scotland ’19, Naomi Christiansen ’18, Charles Bonetti ’18, Boulo Achor ’18,

soloists, NMH evening

Laura Bertrand ’18, Sophie Jones ’18, Angela OÑate Gomez ’17, Dung Will Tran ’17, Ryan Yi ’18,

soloists, Emmanuel Church, Boston

This carol can be dated back to the 15th century in England. It was published in its modern form in 1911, by Cecil Sharp, in a collection of British carols. Sir H. Walford Davies, an English composer who studied under C. Hubert Parry, the composer of our school song, Jerusalem, did this arrangement. The text, which some scholars say dates back 1,000 years, tells of the birth of the Messiah, Jesus, while also foreshadowing his painful death, a death he suffered, Christians believe, to save humankind. The lyrics refer to two plants that are traditional Christmas decorations in England: the holly and the ivy. The holly has sharp points (like thorns) all around its edges; this symbolizes the Crown of Thorns that the Savior, Jesus, wore during the Passion. The berries of the holly plant are red; this represents the blood that Jesus will shed. The ivy intertwines with the holly, and has delicate white flowers, which represent purity. Both plants are evergreens; this symbolizes fidelity and eternal life in Christ. This carol is one of the most often performed carols in the British Isles.

The Concert Choir

Ave Maria Cecilia McDowall (b. 1951)

Hail Mary, full of grace,The Lord is with you.Blessed are you among women,And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinnersNow and in the hour of death. Amen.

Cecilia McDowall is an award-winning British composer whose choral and orchestral works are sung all over the world. She displays a rhythmic vitality and adventurous harmonic color in her compositions. The Ave Maria is the second of a set of Three Latin Motets, composed in 2003 for the Canterbury Chamber Choir, Kent, England. Ms. McDowall wrote, “The Ave Maria … is the most intimate in expression of the three [motets] and features a pair of laddering motifs, the one rising in close harmony … the other cascading down in chains of suspensions.” Like in the Holly and the Ivy, there is foreshadowing of the suffering Mary, the mother of Jesus, will endure when he is crucified. This is created in the very dissonant chords that happen throughout the piece.

The Select Women’s Ensemble

Hodie Christus Natus Est Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562–1621)

Today Christ is born; today the Saviour has appeared;Today the Angels sing, the Archangels rejoice;Today the righteous rejoice, saying: Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia!

Sweelinck, who probably never left his native area of Deventer (Amsterdam), was considered one of the greatest organists of his time. Most of the leading organists in northern Germany during his lifetime, and the next generation, were his pupils. He developed the organ fugue built upon one theme, and was the first to use the pedal as a fugal voice, a texture later perfected by Bach. His vocal music is freer in its use of rhythm and melody than that of his contemporaries, and is quite intricate. In this motet, the word “Hodie” (which means today) is announced in a homophonic call, as though the voices were all shouting for our attention. In between the calls, the rest of the text is set in complicated interwoven lines, creating an imitative, polyphonic texture.

The Northfield Mount Hermon Singers

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks George Frederick Handel Text by Nahum Tate (1652–1715) (1685–1759)


While shepherds watched their flocks by night,All seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down,And glory shone around, and glory shone around.

“Fear not,” he said for mighty dreadHad seized their troubled mindGlad tidings of great joy I bring To you and humankind, to you and humankind.To you, in David’s town this day, is born of David’s line,The Saviour who is Christ, the Lord,And this shall be the sign: and this shall be the sign.

The heavenly Babe you there shall find to human view displayed,All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, And in a manger laid, and in a manger laid.

Scripture Reading Luke 2:1–14

Jesus, God’s son, is born in the line of David in a humble manger in Bethlehem. His birth is announced by angels and

his first visitors are the shepherds in the field.

Hyun Min Woo ’17, Korean, Luke 2:1–7; Muriel Horvath, Swedish, Luke 2:8–14;

Peter Fayroian, Head of School, English, Luke 2:1–14, NMH afternoon

Eve Pomazi ’17, Hungarian; Peter Fayroian, Head of School, English,

NMH evening

Josie Weil ’17, Spanish; Peter Fayroian, Head of School, English,

Emmanuel Church, Boston

O Magnum Mysterium Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943)

O great mystery, and wondrous sacrament,That animals should see the new-born Lord lying in their manger!Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!

Born in the Pacific Northwest, Lauridsen served as a US Forest Service firefighter and lookout on an isolated tower near Mount St. Helens for several years before heading south to study composition in California. He has had a celebrated career as a composer and is now professor emeritus at the University of Southern California. His music has a mystical and devotional quality. In Lauridsen’s own words: “For centuries, composers have been inspired by the beautiful O Magnum Mysterium text with its juxtaposition of the birth of the newborn King among the lowly animals and shepherds. This affirmation of God’s grace to the meek and the adoration of the Blessed Virgin are celebrated in my setting through a quiet song of profound inner joy.” This piece was first performed in Los Angeles, December of 1994.

The Select Women’s Ensemble and the Northfield Mount Hermon Singers

Christmas Troika James Curnow(b. 1943)

A troika is a Russian sleigh drawn by three horses harnessed side by side. These iconic sleighs are capable of great speed and often produce feelings of exuberance for their riders. In Christmas Troika, Curnow deftly captures the feeling of wind-swept speed and holiday cheer!

Calvin Cheng ’17, percussion The Northfield Mount Hermon Chamber Orchestra

Il est né Arranged by Sir David Willcocks (1919–2015)

He is born the divine Christ child, Sound forth the oboes with pipes replying;He is born the divine Christ child, Sing we praise to the infant mild.

More than four thousand years on earth, Seers his advent were prophesying;More than four thousand years on earth, We awaited this joyous birth.

O what beauty and charm are thine, Heav’nly grace to our hearts supplying;O what beauty and charm are thine, O what sweetness thou Child divine!

In a manger thou deignst to be, Straw the bed whereon thou art lying;In a manger thou deignst to be, for a God, What humility!

Jesu, King, whom we bow before, Yet an infant all power denying;Jesu, King, whom we bow before, Rule our hearts and and evermore.

He is born the divine Christ child, Sound forth the oboes with pipes replying;He is born the divine Christ child, Sing we praise to the infant mild.

Sir David Willcocks is considered to be the most significant and celebrated 20th century choral conductor and organist in Britain. He was the organist and choirmaster at a number of the important music centers throughout England. He spent much of his life at King’s College, Cambridge, the source of the famous Nine Lessons and Carols that is broadcast every Christmas Eve throughout the world. Much of the music we hear in that service each year (such as the O Come All Ye Faithful, our recessional) was composed or arranged by Sir Willcocks. In addition to being a famous conductor and composer, he was a war hero who fought on the beach in Normandy. In this arrangement of the French carol, Sir Willcocks passes the tune from vocal part to vocal part, while the other lines provide a dance like accompaniment. The effect is a joyous rendition of this beloved carol.

The Northfield Mount Hermon Singers

Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day Arranged by John Rutter (b. 1945)

John Rutter, also an Englishman, is considered to have inherited Sir David Willcocks’ mantle. Rutter is a prolific choral composer, whose works are sung throughout the world. He created a professional choir in England (the Cambridge Singers) to continue the tradition of superb English choral singing. He compiled and edited four books of Christmas carols with Sir Willcocks. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, an old English carol, is probably from the medieval period, and was likely part of a mystery play. The text of the carol is in the first person, the voice of Jesus, sharing his life story. There are many more verses that tell of his baptism, temptation, Passion, death and resurrection. Rutter chose to set only the verses that celebrate the birth of Christ. The reference of Christ’s life being a “dance” was later used by the Shakers in the words for The Lord of the Dance. This tune has been set by many famous composers: Gustav Holst, Igor Stravinsky, John Gardner, as well as Sir David Willcocks.

The Select Women’s Ensemble

Ukrainian Bell Carol Mykola Leontovych Arranged by Paul Jacobson (b. 1957) (1877–1921)

Mykola Leontovych was a conductor, ethnomusicologist, and the most well-known composer of the Lysenko school of Ukrainian music — early-20th- century compositions based on authentic folk songs, or melodies with distinct Ukrainian characteristics. His most famous works are unaccompanied choral miniatures like Carol of the Bells (Shchedryk), the tune upon which this arrangement is based. The principal melody comes from a traditional Ukrainian folk chant associated with the coming new year in pre-Christian Ukraine and later associated with the Feast of Epiphany in January.

The Chamber Orchestra

Scripture Reading John 1:1–5

Julia Robertson ’18, French; Olivia Morrison ’18, Mandarin and English,

NMH afternoon

Aran Zecha ’18, French; Xiaoxian Lily Lin ’17, Spanish and English,

NMH evening

Angela OÑate Gomez ’17, French and English,

Emmanuel Church, Boston

Lullaby Dan Forrest Text by Charles Anthony Sylvestri (b. 1965) (b. 1978)

Dan Forrest has been described by the NY Concert Review as having “an undoubted gift for writing beautiful music … that is truly magical.” His critically acclaimed Requiem for the Living (2013) has quickly become his best-known work, with performances around the world, and his Jubilate Deo (2016) has received similar critical acclaim. Forrest holds a doctoral degree in composition from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in piano performance. This Lullaby was originally entitled Basque Lullaby, a setting of an anonymous lullaby text. He received so many requests to make a Christmas version of the piece that he asked Charles Anthony Silvestri, a poet who is a frequent collaborator with composer Eric Whitacre, to write a text that would make the piece appropriate for the Christmas season.

The Concert Choir

Joy to the World George Frederick Handel Text by Isaac Watts (1674–1748) (1685–1759) Arranged by Lowell Mason (1792–1872)


Joy to the world! the Lord is come:Let earth receive her King;Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,And heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing,And heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns: Let all their songs employ;While fields and floods,Rocks, hills and plains,Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,Repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,And makes the nations proveThe glories of His righteousness,And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love,And wonders of His love.

Scripture Reading Isaiah 40:5

Chi Hang Kee ’17, Cantonese; Ozioma Ikejiani ’18, Igbo; Subin Lee ’17, Korean and English,

NMH afternoon

Roda Mohamed ’17, Somali; Net Natchanun Phonthiptokun ’17, Thai;

Talia Rasiel ’17, Hebrew and English, NMH evening

Yuna Kim ’17, Korean and English, Emmanuel Church, Boston

And the Glory of the Lord, from Messiah Handel

Handel’s most lasting achievement was the creation of the English oratorio, a sacred choral and orchestral composition usually centered on a story from the Bible. It is interesting that this creation came about almost accidentally. Handel loved opera and theater. His operas repeatedly failed, however, due partly to the Bishop of London’s intervention against stage performance. The middle class, the bulk of concertgoers, appreciated familiar Bible stories treated in epic style. As each oratorio became more successful, Handel turned to this form to support himself financially. Messiah, his most famous oratorio, was written between August 22 and September 14, 1741. It was first performed in Dublin, Ireland.

The Concert Choir and the Chamber Orchestra

Scripture Reading Isaiah 9:6

Ama Edozien ’17, German; Lila Jacobs ’17, Arabic and English,

NMH afternoon

Julian Kinney ’17, Hungarian; Abigail Maymi ’18, Spanish and English,

NMH evening

Yu-Jen Yen ’17, Mandarin and English, Emmanuel Church, Boston

For Unto Us a Child Is Born, from Messiah Handel


Hallelujah Chorus, from Messiah Handel


Advent Prayer Lee-Ellen Strawn

Adeste Fideles J.F. Wade’s Cantus Diversi, 1751Latin, 18th century Arranged by Sir David Willcocks (1919–2015)


Adeste fideles; laeti triumphantesVenite, venite in Bethlehem,Natum videte, Regem angelorum:Venite adoremus, Dominum.

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, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;Glory to God, in the highest:O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,Jesus to Thee, be glory giv’n.Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Stille Nacht Franz Grüber(1787–1863)

Alexis Portnoy ’17, NMH afternoon

Martha Kenyon ’17, NMH evening

Yuna Kim ’17, Emmanuel Church, Boston

Postlude Craig K. Sandford, organ•

NORTHFIELD MOUNT HERMON CONCERT CHOIR

Sheila L. Heffernon, conductorCraig K. Sandford, accompanist

Allegra D’Virgilio ’18, Lachlan Miller ’17, Alexis Portnoy ’17, managers Laura Bertrand ’18, Eliminator of Confusion

Soprano Amanda AaltoLillian Belletete ‡Laura Bertrand ‡Caroline BrownKa Wing Kelly CaoAmelia Chalfant 1Roxane ChopinNaomi ChristiansenAllegra D’Virgilio ‡Lila FlynnNatalie FosterSonia HernandezMegan Hrinda 1Lila Jacobs 1Sophie Jones 1Elyse KassaChaewon Carrie Kim 1Yuna Kim ‡Stacia Kolodziejski Anna Martin 1Olivia MorrisonÁngela Oñate Gomez 1Alexis Portnoy ‡Ellinore Todd Long

AltoZio Haven AhnBente BechtoldLucinda BrockLois Bull ‡Vu Kevin Cap ‡Jillian Crane-MauzyIsabella DeHerdt 1Grace DonahueSydney Dukor-JacksonAma Nnoli Edozien 1Anna KennedyMartha Kenyon 1Anna Leckie 1Danielle NasoffTalia RasielElizabeth RiehsMira Sachdeva 1Jada ScotlandGrace SmithAlthea TierneyJosephine WeilCamryn Williams 1Ashley WrisleyEmerson YoungerIrene Zhang

TenorSekou Bolden ‡Lane Henry ‡Drake HuntPhilip KimAlexander Kryuchkov ‡Tayhee Lee ‡Jacob Mehl ‡Taishu TozawaDung William Tran ‡Yu-Jen Eugene Yen ‡

BassBoulo Achor ‡Yuxuan Billy BaoCharles Bonetti ‡James BurtonSamuel CalmanEli CarrollJames DeMaillyDevon HaiglerShih-An Ethan HoIan Lam ‡Lachlan Miller ‡Nishan ParikhGunther Read ‡Benjamin Van WinkleRyan Yi

‡ NMH Singer1 Select Women’s Ensemble

AfternoonLena Carr ’18

Sonya Green ’18Kirill Chan ’18

Ethan Foster ’18

EveningHeidi Leeds ’18

Leighlani Sanchez ’18Ben Hamilton ’18

Adrian Eastmond ’18

NORTHFIELD MOUNT HERMON CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Steven Bathory-Peeler, conductor Lucy Desmond ’18, manager

USHERS

AfternoonRoss Damon ’17

Benjamin Davis ’17Emma Lindale ’17

Chellandra Samuels ’17

EveningShannon Duffy ’17

Christopher Heist ’17Ilya Hora ’17

Wayne Sampson Jr. ’17

CANDLELIGHTERS

ViolinNashely AlvarezRintaro FukasawaChi Hang Kevin Kee, concertmasterKyung Ho Joseph KwonMona Zhang

ViolaHannah CallaghanMichael HuHung-Wei Garia LuNoah Scott

CelloClaire Fishman

BassDorian Pousant

PercussionCalvin Cheng

trumpetDara Adams-Smith Miles Kaming-Thanassi

This program has been funded

through the generosity of John Pflug ’56

and the Pflug Concert Fund.

s p e c i a l t h a n k s

To Laurel Edson ’05 and Jay Ward ’68, Head Ushers; to Gail Doolittle ’89, Gretchen Licata, and their crew for their tireless efforts; to Dining Services; to Tom Bloom and the crew from London for the luminaries; to Margaret Hodgin and the residents of MacKinnon for letting us take over their living room as a robing area; to Laura Carbonneau ’06 and Laurel Edson ’05, and the Advancement Office for their help with the alumni programming; to Sue Rhenow, Pam Lierle, Harry van Baaren, and Communications staff for their work on the program; and to Glenn Minshall, who, for many years, has documented this service and all we do at Northfield Mount Hermon with his exquisite photography and videography.

2016 vespers program -...

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