The Memorial University of Newfoundland

FEST VA CHO R D.F. Cook, Conductor

Unller the liistinguisheli patronage o.f His Honour the Lieutenant Go\ernor o.f Nel1-:{ounlilanli, the Honourable W. Anthon_1-· Palidon,

C. M., M.D., Visitor to the University.

Arts & Culture Centre St. John's .. Newfoundland

Sunday, 8 April 1984 at 8:30p.m.

The Memorial University of Newfoundland

LEO

GABRIELI

BERNSTEIN

SCHUBERT

ROBERTON

FESTIVAL CHOIR

D.F.Cook, Conductor

Programme

Intermission

Te Deum Laudamus

In Ecclesiis

Chichester Psalms

Miriam .. s Song of Triumph

All in the April Evening The Hyme-tune Be!Jnont

The Dashing White Sergeant Bonnie Dundee

Nightfall in Skye

The Ode to Newfoundland

Te Deum Laudamus

Organ continuo - Donna Dillon

Leonardo Leo (1694-1744)

A prolific composer of both theatre and church music, Leo was the dominant figure in Neapolitan musical life for over thirty years. When, after about 1730., his popularity as a composer of opera diminished he directed his efforts entirely to teaching and the reform of music in the Roman Catholic church. His only setting of this great morning canticle probably dates from this period.

We praise thee 0 God we acknowledge thee to be the Lord

All the earth doth worship thee the Father everlasting.

To thee all Angels cry aloud the Heavens and all the Powers therein

To thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry,

Holy., Holy., Holy., Lord God of hosts~

Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory.

The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee~

The noble army of Martyrs praise thee~ The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee

The Father., of an infinite Majesty~ Thine honourable true and only Son;

Also the Holy Ghost the Comforter.

Thou are the King of Glory., 0 Christ Thou are the everlasting Son of the Father.

When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.

When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

Thou sittest at the right hand of God., in the Glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge.

We therefore pray thee, help thy servants., whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.

Make them to be numbered with thy Saints in glory everlasting.

0 Lord save thy people and bless thine heritage~

Govern them and lift them up forever. Day by day we magnify thee;

and we worship thy arne., ever world without end.

Vouchsafe 0 Lord to keep us this day without sin. 0 Lord have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. 0 Lord let thy mercy lighten upon us,

as our trust is in thee. 0 Lord, in thee h~ve I trusted: let me never be confounded.

In Ecclesiis Giovanni Gabrieli

Soloists: Catherine Cornick, soprano Dianne Pritchett, alto Charles-Bown, tenor Randolph Rodgers, baritone

(c. 1555-1612)

Instrumental Ensemble: Trumpet: Gary Compton Robert Green Jim Moore

Trombone: Darren White Kenneth Cooper

Tuba: Floyd Thomas Organ continuo: Donna Dillon

This motet, first published in Gabrieli's S_vmphoniae Sacre II ( 1615), represents the culmination of the Venetian poly-choral style. While the Latin text is non-liturgical, it would have been appropriate for a solemn occasion. The piece may have been intended for one of the many magnificant occasions of state, probably soon after Eastertide, at the Basilica of San Marco where Gabrieli was organist.

In the congregations~ bless ye the Lord~ ,t\lleluia. In C\ery place of the dominion bless~ 0 my soul. the Lord. Alleluia. In God my salvation and my glory:

Ciod is n1y help and 111j hope is in Clod. /\ llc I uia. Our Ciod. ,,.c in' oke thee. \\e praise thee. \\C ,,·orship thee:

free us. keep us safe. grant u~ life . .'\llcluia. God our helper in eternity .. l\lleluia.

Chichester Psalms

Soloist: Harp:

Organ: Percussion:

Jill Whitten, soprano Carla Furlong Rex Bowering George Morgan

Leonard Bernstein (b. 1918)

American composer Leonard Bernstein was commissioned to compose these Psalms for the 1965 Festival at Chichester Cathedral, England. The first performance of the original version for boys' and men's choir with orchestra was given on July 31 at Chichester. Tonight we hear a later version, arranged by the composer, for choir, organ, harp and percussion. Bernstein's setting captures both the rhythmic energy of Jewish folk music and the melodic flavour of the cantillation modes.

Ps. 108, vs. 2

A wake, psaltery and harp! I will rouse the dawn!

Ps. I 00, entire

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with glad ness. Come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord, He is God. It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him. and bless His name. For the Lord is good. His Mercy is everlasting, And His truth endureth to all generations.

Ps. 23., entire

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures., He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my sout

He leadeth me in the paths of righteous~ ess, For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff. They comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me In the presence of mine enemies .. Thou annointest my head with oil, My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy Shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Ps. 2 .. vs. 1-4

Why do the nations rage .. And the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His annointed.

Miriam's Song of Triumph (D942)

Saying .. let us break their bands asunder, And cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens Shall laugh, and the Lord Shall have them in derision!

Ps. 131, entire

Lord, Lord .. My heart is not haughty,

or mine eyes lofty, either do I exercise myself

In great matters or in things Too wonderful for me. Surely I have calmed And quieted myself, As a child that is weaned of his mother, My soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord From henceforth and forever.

Ps. 133, vs. I

Behold how good, And how pleasant it is, For brethren to dwell Together in unity.

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Soprano: Piano:

Sonya Gosse E lien Hallett

Though Schubert composed much choral music, few of these pieces are performed today. The little-known Miria1n,s Song qf Triu1nph (Mirjam,s Siegesgesang), was composed in March 1828 when Schubert was in failing health. He died eight months later. The work was performed in January 1829, using Schubert's original scoring of soprano solo, SA TB choir and piano, at a concert to raise funds for a suitable memorial to the composer.

Strike your timbrels~ Hebrew maidens~ Miriam bids upraise the lay~

Mighty is the Lord at all times. Mightier hail we Him to-day.

Out of Egypt., as a shepherd Guards his flock and shows the way.,

Thou hast led Thy chosen people., Fire by night and cloud by day.

Shepherd! Thou hast led us onward~ Strong Thine arm and keen Thine eye:

At Thy word the sea obedient Parts and leaves a pathway dry.

At Thy blast the floods congealing~ Stand upright as crystal walls;

Thro'' the sea"s heart pass we dry-shod., Trusting in Thy voice which calls.

As we pass the sky grows darker, Voices shout, ''We will pursue!""

Armour gleaming, trumpets clanging., Pharaoh"s host bursts on the view.

Lord of hosts, this hour we perish: Help us, Lord, our Rock prove true,

Voices shout, still pressing onward, "We will pursue and overtake." But hark! What sighings! wailings! moanings! cursings! Hark! the storm! 'Tis the Lord in all His fury. Headlong rush the pent-up waves. Pharaoh"s chariots! horse and rider! mighty waters overwhelm them.

Fearfulness and dread upon them fall: By darkness and horror are they smitten: Drown"d the captains and drown"d the host. Egypt"s King! as lead sinks he down beneath The mjghty flood. Earth hath swallowed all.

God no more her tide restraining, All her shores the sea regaining, Ne'er restoreth king or slave -Her sad waste at once both shroud and grave.

Strike your timbrels., Hebrew maidens, Miriam bids upraise the lay;

Mighty is the Lord at all times, Mightier hail we Him to-day.

Tribute to Sir Hugh S. Roberton

Many of us recall with pleasure listening to recordings and radio broadcasts by the Glasgow Orpheus Choir under the direction of HughS. Roberton. An amateur musician~ Roberton founded the choir in 1906 and continued as its director until the choir disbanded in 1951. The choir earned international recognition for its superb control and luxurious blend of sound and did much to promote traditional Scottish folksongs and psalm-tunes. Roberton himself composed or arranged a great deal of the choir~s repertoire, and published some 300 pieces including The Faux Bourdon Series qf Psalm Tunes, and the collection Songs qf the Isles. He was knighted in 1931 for his contribution to choral singing in Britain.

Our tribute to the music of Sir Hugh Roberton includes two original compositions, All in the April Evening (1911), and Nigh{fa/1 in Skye (1928), as well as arrangements of two Scottish folksongs and the psalm-tune Bebnont.

FESTIVAL CHOIR PERSONNEL

Rehearsal Pianist - Ellen HaUett

Sopranos

Linda Alexander Bette Anderson Debbie Baxter Stephanie Becker Colleen Beson Marina Boehm Wanda Boodansingh Faith Boutcher Heather Burry Heather Butler Glenda Butt Kathy Corcoran Catherine Cornick Darlene Cornick

Elsa Dawe Geri Donovan Colleen Foley Doris Gillard Sonya Gosse Genevieve Halfyard Mary Hill Phyllis Hoekman Holly Hogan Mary-Lu Hurley Sheila Lindsey Mary Lou Malone Agnes McCarthy Susan O'Brien Sheila Osborne

Paulette Ozere Florence Pike Elizabeth Purchase Geraldine Roberts Marjorie Rusted Margaret Ryan Gretchen Schoenberg Lilian Shaw Lydia Snellen Ingeborg Steinbrink Wendy Stevenson Joan Sheppard Wells Jill Whitten Jane Williams

Altos

Philippa Abraham Caroline Beamish Daphne Beck Barbara Clarke Lori Cooper Jill Dawe Donna Dillon Marjorie Doyle ~ oreen Fraize Ellen Hallett Donna Hamilton Ann Hewson Diane Hogan Grace Hyde Georgia LeMessurier Susan Mercer Lorraine Michael Mary Anne Murphy Deborah Tewhook Shirley oseworthy Brenda o~Brien Joyce Perrier Kathryn McKinlay Janet Miller Pitt Gena Pretty Dianne Prtichett Susan Richter

Michelle Ro\ve Diane Smith Elizabeth Sno\\' Sylvia Taylor Hope Toumishey Lilian Wight

Tenor

Robert Atkins Chuck Alexander Morley Boutcher Charles Bown George Day Brian Edwards Kathy Greene Kjellrun Hestekin Ted Hoekman Jeffrey Smith Michael Snelgrove Gordon Wells Darren White Henry Williams

Bass

Robert Bolander Christopher Cook Wallace Dawe Michael Donnan Simon Hodgett Peter Jackson Cleophus ewhook David Oliver David Peters Barry Roberts James Roberts Randolph Rodgers John Russell John Sebsatian Derek Shaw Peter Simpkin Carl Ste\enson Alban Walsh Bernard Williams