Portara Ensemble Presents:
Sing We Joyous
Sunday, December 11, 2022

Jason Shelton, Artistic Director
Patrick Dunnevant, Assistant Director
Horacio Guendulain, Accompanist

Program

Veni, Veni, Emanuel
Traditional Advent chant; arr. Clif Hardin (b. 1955)

READING: How the Light Comes
(Jan Richardson)
Read by Betsy Hall

In Dulci Jubilo
Robert Lucas Pearsall (1795-1856)
Amy Darrow, Lea Maitlen, Greg Gunther, trio

Star in the East
Words: Reginald Heber (1783-1826); Music: William Walker (1809-1875)

READING: No Room for You, Either
(Dorothy Bussemer)
Read by Matthew Charlton

O Magnum Mysterium
Cesar Carillo (b. 1957)

What Child Is This?
Words: William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898); Music: GREENSLEEVES, arr. Jason Shelton
Shelley Schneider, solo; Cremaine Booker, cello

O Brilliante Estrella
Mark Sirett (b. 1952)

 READING: Christmas Eve
(Ken Nye)
Read by Elaine Bailey

Gabriel’s Message
Basque folk carol; arr. Jim Clements (b. 1983)
Margaret Winthrop, solo

The Darkest Midnight in December
Words: Traditional Irish carol, adapted from the Rev. William Devereux (1696-1771); Music: Stephen Main (b. 1963)

Have You Seen the Baby Jesus?
Rosephanye Powell (b. 1962)
Tamica Nicole, guest soloist

 READING: Christmas 1974
(May Sarton)
Read by Jordan Holland

Personent Hodie (On This Day, Everywhere)
from Piae Cantiones (1582); arr. Jason Shelton
Jeff Coffin, flute; Ryoko Suzuki, Harmonium, Cremaine Booker, cello
Karen Ballew & Jordan Simpkins, duet

Nova! Nova!
15th c. Advent carol; Music: Bob Chilcott (b. 1955)

 READING: Someday, Perhaps
(Judith Lindberg)
Read by Lea Maitlen

There Will Be Rest
Words: Sara Teasdale (1884-1933); Music: Frank Ticheli (b. 1958)

Program Notes

Veni, Veni, Emanuel

Perhaps the best-known tune associated with the Advent season, this recasting of the “O” antiphons into a metrical setting is not quite as ancient as once believed. The tune, as best we know, first appeared in a 15th century manuscript in France, but was not paired with J.M. Neale’s English translation of the text until 1851. This setting of three of the seven antiphons, traditionally sung preceding the Magnificat at the final week of vespers leading up to Christmas Eve, is by Clif Hardin of Bethesda, MD. 

Draw nigh, draw nigh, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear;
Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall be born for thee, O Israel!

Draw nigh, Thou Orient, Who shalt cheer
And comfort by Thine Advent here,
And banish far the brooding gloom
Of sinful night and endless doom.
Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall be born for thee, O Israel!

Draw nigh, draw nigh, O David's Key,
The Heavenly Gate will ope to Thee ;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall be born for thee, O Israel! (trans. J.M. Neale, 1851)

In Dulci Jubilo

Robert Lucas Pearsall (1795-1856) was an English composer from Bristol, though he spent most of his adult life on the continent and died as lord of a medieval castle in Rorschach, Switzerland. Largely self-taught as a composer, many of his madrigal settings remain quite popular today, most especially his setting of this classic Christmas carol.

The text is macaronic, alternating between medieval Latin and English.

In dulci jubilo
Let us our homage show
Our heart’s joy reclineth
In praesepio
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio
Alpha es et O.

O Jesu parvule
My heart is sore for thee!
Hear me, I beseech thee,
O puer optima
My prayer, let it reach thee,
O princeps gloriae,
Trahe me post te.

O patris caritas
O nati lenitas   
Deeply were we stained
Per nostra crimina   
But thou hast for us gained
Coelorum gaudia   
O that we were there.

Ubi sunt gaudia   
If that they be not there?
There are angels singing
Nova cantina  
There the bells are ringing
In regis curia   
O that we were there.

Star in the East

English hymnist Reginald Heber (1783-1826) is perhaps best known as the author of “Holy, Holy, Holy”. This text, alternatively known as “Brightest and Best,” was included in the 1854 shape-note hymnal Southern Harmony. The tune was composed by the compiler of that hymnal, American Baptist minister and songleader William Walker (1809-1875).

Hail the blest morn, see the great mediator
Down from the regions of glory descend.
Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger,
Lo! for his guard the bright angels attend.

Chorus: Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.
Star in the east, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant redeemer is laid.

Cold on his cradle the dew drops are shining,
Low lies his bed, with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore him, in slumbers reclining,
Wise men and shepherds before him do fall.

Chorus

Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Eden and offerings divine,
Gems from the mountain and pearls from the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?

Chorus

Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gold we his favor secure;
Richer by far is the heart's adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

O Magnum Mysterium

“O Magnum Mysterium” has been part of the matins (midnight) service for Christmas since the early 10th century. The Latin text describes the nativity scene in which Christ was born and laid in a manger, and animals were witnesses to the sacrament of his birth. Venezuelan composer Cesar Carrillo (b. 1957) has given us a sensuous setting that highlights the tenderness of the scene.

O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!

What Child Is This?

Words by William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898), written while recovering from a severe illness which led to an intense spiritual renewal.

What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

Chorus:
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading. [Chorus]

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him. [Chorus] 

O Brilliante Estrella

Composer/conductor Dr. Mark Sirett (b. 1952) is a native of Kingston, Ontario, where he is the Artistic Director of the Cantabile Choirs of Kingston. This work was commissioned by Canada’s oldest oratorio choir, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and is an original composition on a traditional Puerto Rican nativity text. The style of the work is that of a villancico, a lively Spanish carol; the colorful harmonies, syncopated rhythms, and flamboyant accompaniment help to capture the Spanish and Latin American Spirit.

From a distant home
We seek the Saviour,
We use to guide us
The Eastern Star

O beautiful star
That tells us of the dawn
Never cease to shine
Heaven’s wondrous light!
Glory in the highest
To God on high
Glory in the highest
And peace on earth

To the new-born babe,
Glowing gold I bring.
A token of his power
To reign in glory above.

To God’s own child
A token of perfume
I bring frankincense
That rises to heaven.

To the child of heaven
Bitter myrrh I have,
As a reflection
Of the pain he will bear.

Gabriel’s Message

A Basque folk carol, originally based on Angelus Ad Virginem, a 13th or 14th Century Latin carol. It was collected by Charles Bordes and then paraphrased into English by Sabine Baring-Gould, who had spent a winter as a boy in the Basque country. English composer Jim Clements set this arrangement for the group Voces8.

The Angel Gabriel from heaven came 
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame 
"All hail" said he thou Holy Maiden Mary 
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria! 

For known a blessed mother thou shalt be 
All generations laud and honor thee 
Thy son shall be Emmanuel as seers foretold 
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria! 

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head 
"To me, be as it pleaseth God" she said 
"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name" 
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria! 

Of her Emmanuel, the Christ was born 
In Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn 
And Christian folk through out the world will ever say 
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!

The Darkest Midnight in December

Composer Stephen Main is music director for Piedmont Community Church in the San Francisco Bay area, where he is an active organist, harpist, and conductor. His treatment of this ancient Celtic carol was written for Minnesota’s VocalEssence in 2008, which the Star-Tribune called an “evocative setting that captures the mystery of the season.”

The darkest midnight in December,
No snow, no hail, nor winter storm,
Shall hinder us for to remember,
The Babe that on this night was born.
With shepherds we are come to see,
This lovely Infant’s glorious charms,
Born of a maid as prophets said,
The God of love in Mary's arms.

 No earthly gifts can we present Him,
No gold nor myrrh nor odours sweet.
But if with hearts we can content Him
We humbly lay them at his feet.
‘Twas but pure love that from above
Brought Him to save us from all harms
So let us sing and welcome Him,
The God of Love in Mary's arms.

 Have You Seen the Baby Jesus?

A contemporary Spiritual by Dr. Rosephanye Powell, who teaches on the voice faculty at Auburn University.

Have you seen the baby Jesus, the King of kings? (3x)
He was born of a virgin in Bethlehem.

Did you find him in a stable, the King of kings? (3x)
Was he laid in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothing,
born of a virgin in Bethlehem?

It was foretold by the prophets of old that a virgin would conceive God’s son.
And as the angels rejoiced that night, the shepherds saw a holy light – yes!

Have you seen the baby Jesus, the King of kings? (3x)
They will call him “Emmanuel,” lo, God is with us,
“Jesus,” “Messiah,” the King of kings,
who was laid in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothing,
born of a virgin in Bethlehem.

Let us worship baby Jesus, the King of kings (3x)
Let us bow down before him, praise and adore him,
Worship the baby, the King of kings.
We will call him “Emmanuel,” lo, God is with us,
“Jesus,” “Messiah,” the King of kings,
who was laid in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothing,
born of a virgin in Bethlehem.

Personent Hodie (On This Day, Everywhere)

Personent Hodie is a Christmas carol originally published in the 1582 Finnish song book Piae Cantiones, a volume of 74 medieval songs with Latin texts collected by Jacobus Finno, a Swedish Lutheran cleric. The song book had its origins in the libraries of cathedral song schools, whose repertory had strong links with medieval Prague, where clerical students from Finland and Sweden had studied for generations.

On this day, everywhere,
children’s songs fill the air,
greet the child, new and fair,
Christmas gift so holy, born in stable lowly.

Ideo, ideo, ideo, Gloria in excelsis deo!

Sweet the babe, strange his bed,
manger hay ‘round his head,
cattle there in the shed;
Mary, Joseph by him, shepherd’s drawing nigh him…

Magi three find their way
by a star’s shining ray
to the child in the hay;
give their wondrous presents, gold and myrrh and incense…

Nova! Nova!

Bob Chilcott is a British composer, conductor, and singer, perhaps best known for his 12 years with the internationally acclaimed King’s Singers. This ancient carol text is presented in a brilliant, rhythmically punctuated style.

Nova, Nova: Ave Fit Ex Eva
(News! News! “Ave” has been made from “Eve”)

1. Gabriel of high degree,
He came down from the Trinity
From Nazareth to Galilee…

2. He met a maiden in a place;
He kneeled down before her face;
He said: "Hail, Mary, full of grace!"

3. When the maiden saw all this,
She was sore abashed, ywis, (indeed)
And wened (thought) that she had done amiss…

4. Then said the angel: "Dread not you,
Ye shall conceive in all virtue
A child whose name shall be Jesu."

5. It is not yet six month agone
Since Elizabeth conceived John,
as it was prophesied before…

6. Then said the maiden verily:
"I am your servant right truly,
Ecce ancilla Domini.” (Behold, the handmaid of the Lord)

There Will Be Rest

Sara Teasdale (1884-1933) is regarded as one of the great American Lyric poets. Her lyrical style has its roots in the works of Sappho, Christina Rossetti, and Houseman. Haunted by depression in later years, Teasdale took her own life at the age of 48. Many of her poems address the pain that tormented her spirit, but to the end she seemed to draw strength and hope from the stars and their permanent radiance. There Will Be Rest, one of her last poems, is a perfect summary of her lifelong concern for the stars and their ancient promise of peace. This choral setting is designed to capture the poem’s purity of spirit and delicate lyricism.—Frank Ticheli (composer)

There will be rest, and sure stars shining
Over the roof-tops crowned with snow,
A reign of rest, serene forgetting,
The music of stillness holy and low.

I will make this world of my devising
Out of a dream in my lonely mind.
I shall find the crystal of peace, – above me
Stars I shall find.