MessiahMessiahThe Winkleigh Singers

CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2019PROGRAMME

The Winkleigh Singers

The Winkleigh Singers is a Registered Charity Number 1171218 — Hon. Patron: Sir Richard Stilgoe

Messiah G F HandelSinfonyComfort ye, comfort ye my peopleEv’ry valley shall be exaltedAnd the glory of the Lord shall be revealedThus saith the Lord, the Lord of HostsBut who may abide the day of His comingAnd He shall purify the sons of LeviBehold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a SonO thou that tellest good tidings to ZionFor behold, darkness shall cover the earthThe people that walked in darkness For unto us a Child is bornPifaThere were shepherds abiding in the fieldAnd lo, the angel of the Lord came upon themAnd the angel said unto them: Fear notAnd suddenly there was with the angelGlory to God in the highestRejoice greatly, O daughter of ZionThen shall the eyes of the blind be openedHe shall feed His flock like a shepherdHis yoke is easy, and his burthen is lightHallelujah!

Carols:* Once in Royal David’s City * Joy to the world Ding Dong Merrily on High* Sussex Carol Nativity Carol* It came upon a Midnight Clear In dulci jubilo* Unto us is born a son The Three Kings* O come, all ye faithful* Please join in these carols. You’ll find the words

later on in this programme.

Sinfony: OrganAccompagnato: TenorComfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplish’d, that her Iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness; prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:1-3) Song: TenorEv’ry valley shall be exalted, and ev’ry mountain and hill made low; the crooked straight, and the rough places plain. (Isaiah 40:4)ChorusAnd the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:5)Accompagnato: BassThus saith the Lord, the Lord of Hosts; Yet once a little while and I will shake the heav’ns and the earth, the sea and the dry land: And I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come. (Haggai 2:6-7) The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.(Malachi 3:1)Song: AltoBut who may abide the day of His coming, and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire. (Malachi 3:2)

ChorusAnd He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:3)Recitative: AltoBehold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)Song: Alto and ChorusO thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain. O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, behold your God! (Isaiah 40:9)O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, Arise, shine, for thy Light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:1)Accompagnato: BassFor behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60:2-3)Song: BassThe people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2)ChorusFor unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son

Messiah George Frederick Handel (1685 - 1759) Libretto selected from scripture by Charles Jennens (1700 - 1773)

is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)Pifa: OrganRecitative: SopranoThere were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. (Luke 2:8)Accompagnato: SopranoAnd lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. (Luke 2:9)Recitative: SopranoAnd the angel said unto them: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)Accompagnato: SopranoAnd suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: (Luke 2:l3)ChorusGlory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men. (Luke 2:14)Song: SopranoRejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout,

O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh unto thee; He is the righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen. (Zecharaiah 9:9-10)Recitative: AltoThen shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing. (Isaiah 35:5-6)Aria: AltoHe shall feed His flock like a shepherd; and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him that are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Isaiah 40:11, Matthew 11:28-29)ChorusHis yoke is easy, and his burthen is light.(Matthew 11:30)ChorusHallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah! (Revelation 19:6, 11:15, 19:16)

Wine and soft drinks will be available before the concert and during the interval.Mince pies are with the compliments of The Winkleigh Singers. Please help yourselves!

SoloOnce in royal David’s city Stood a lowly cattle-shed Where a mother laid her Baby In a manger for his bed; Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

Choir only 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.

AllAnd through all his wondrous childhoodHe would honour and obey,Love and watch the lowly maiden,In whose gentle arms he lay;Christian children all must beMild, obedient, good as he.

For he is our childhood’s pattern, Day by day like us he grew; He was little, weak, and helpless, Tears 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;Where like stars his children crownedAll in white shall wait around.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every 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 world, the Saviour reigns! Let all their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and

plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Sussex CarolHigh voicesOn Christmas night all Christians sing, To hear the news the angels bring, Low voices On Christmas night all Christians sing, To hear the news the angels bring – AllNews of great joy, news of great mirth, News of our merciful King’s birth. Low voices Then why should men on earth be so sad, Since our Redeemer made us glad, High voices Then why should men on earth be so sad, Since our Redeemer made us glad, All When from our sin he set us free, All for to gain our liberty? All When sin departs before his grace, Then life and health come in its place; When sin departs before his grace, Then life and health come in its place: Angels and men with joy may sing, All for to see the new-born King. All out of darkness we have light, Which made the angels sing this night, All out of darkness we have light, Which made the angels sing this night: ‘Glory to God and peace to men, Now and for evermore. Amen.’

It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold: ‘Peace on the earth, good-will to men, From heav’n’s all-gracious King!’ The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing. Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still their heav’nly music floats O’er all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hov’ring wing; And ever o’er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing. Yet with the woes of sin and strife The world has suffered long; Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong; And man, at war with man, hears not The love-song which they bring: O hush the noise ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing! For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophet-bards foretold, When, with the ever-circling years, Comes round the age of gold; When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendours fling, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.

AllUnto us is born a Son,King of quires supernal:See on earth his life begun,Of lords the Lord eternal,Of lords the Lord eternal.

Choir onlyChrist, from heav’n descending low,Comes on earth a stranger;Ox and ass their owner know,Becradled in the manger,Becradled in the manger.

Low voicesThis did Herod sore affray,And grievously bewilder,So he gave the word to slay,And slew the little childer,And slew the little childer.

High voices Of his love and mercy mildThis the Christmas story;And O that Mary’s gentle childMight lead us up to glory,Might lead us up to glory!

All O and A, and A and O,Cum cantibus in choro,Let our merry organ go,Benedicamus Domino,Benedicamus Domino.

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! God of God, Light of light, Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb; Very God, Begotten not created: 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, 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 on Christmas 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 Winkleigh Singers

SopranoJoanna ClarkSue Cooke Sara CopsonTina Gibbons Doreen James Bish MuirSarah MuirheadVicki RedpathSue Ticehurst

Alto Deborah Bayliss Rachel Griffiths Jennie HarveyLucy LuceyJo Preston Alison ReynoldsJoanna RhodesLiz SmithCarol WiskenMichelle Worthington

Tenor Richard Prowse Godfrey RhodesTom SkinnerDerek Tafft

Bass Tim AllenMartin Cooke Ant Pelly John Smith

AccompanistTom Bayliss (Keyboard and Organ)

Musical DirectorRoland Smith

Roland Smith formed the Winkleigh Singers thirty-five years ago as an informal group to sing madrigals and so forth for mutual pleasure. That year, 1984, saw their first public performance, a concert of Christmas music in Winkleigh Parish Church, which has become an annual tradition. Over the years the choir has developed and performed works both small and large by composers from the sixteenth to twenty-first centuries to audiences not only in North Devon and further afield in England but in France and Hungary. The choir holds open rehearsals three times a year at which anyone interested in singing with us can attend but we always welcome potential members at any of our Monday evening rehearsals in Umberleigh. There is no audition but there is a three week trial period after which membership is confirmed or either party may withdraw. More information including our past repertoire, future concerts and membership information can be found at www.winkleighsingers.org.uk.

Coming Soon:Our next regular Open Rehearsal will be on Monday 6th January 2020 in the Umberleigh Christian Fellowship Hall from 7.30pm-9.30pm. All singers welcome. This is a free event and counts towards the three week qualification period for choir membership. Full details are on our website www.winkleighsingers.org.uk. The venue is easily found on the A377 opposite The Rising Sun Hotel. Parking is behind the hall and chapel. Please let us know through the website contact form if you plan to attend.

Our Spring Concert this year will feature music by French composers:– Jean Langlais’ magnificent Messe Solenelle, Gabriel Fauré’s well-known and much loved Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine, and motets by Maurice Duruflé and Déodat de Séverac. We are very pleased to welcome as our organist for this concert the internationally renowned organist emeritus of Bath Abbey, Peter King, who will also play organ solos. The date for your diary is Saturday 25th April 2020, St Michael and All Angels, Great Torrington at 7.30pm.

Our Summer Concert this year will be light-hearted performances of two cantatas with music by Joseph Horovitz: Summer Sunday and Captain Noah and his floating zoo. Monday 13th July 2020, Umberleigh Village Hall (next to the station) at 8.00pm.

Tickets for all our concerts are available from our website and choir members at least a month in advance of the performance date.

https://wwwwinkleighsingers.org.uk