Ragazzi Winter Solstice, Welcome Winter
December 1-First Congregational Palo Alto
December 2-Notre Dame de Namus Belmont
December 9-Old First Church San Francisco
Tickets: www.ragazzi.org or 650-342-8785
Program Notes Sarah Wannamaker
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree is a text from Puritan New England set by 20th-century English composer Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987). Although not overtly seasonal, this carol has been associated with Christmas since the Kings College Choir incorporated the song in its annual Service of Lessons & Carols. The allegorical text references two opposing ideas in the Christian tradition: the tree of life vs. original sin symbolized by an apple. A simple strophic setting, the five verses are presented as pure, clean harmonies in a musical arch - the full choir in the middle with unison singing to bookend the piece.
Another example of contemporary English choral music, Pie Jesu is one of few classical compositions written by Andrew Lloyd Webber (b. 1948). The lush harmonies and indulgent melody lines are influenced by Webber’s popular dialect. In this piece, the chorus essentially serves as a very rich, plush support, accompanying the solo voices. Excerpted from a Requiem Mass for Weber’s father, the piece uses both the traditional Pie Jesu text combined with sections from the Agnus Dei.
Like the opening number, Little Drummer Boy is a carol set in a strophic manner. It is a song from mid-century America, with possible references to a Czech folk song. The text tells an archetypal story - a modern character has nothing to offer but a simple, humble gift of oneself to the divine. The simple setting is enlivened by the drums - both the actual percussion and the vocal imitation of instrument sounds.
Unending Flame was a commissioned piece written by Paul Carey (b. 1954). The poem and the music are newly written, and do not rely on specific Hebrew melodies or texts. The composer indicated his care in selecting a text: “[to] capture the history, hope, and family traditions and fun of the holiday.” The piece evokes the spirit of Hanukkah with the traditional klezmer-style solo clarinet and harmonies to celebrate the Festival of Lights.
Morning Song is written in honor of the Cherokee nation. The music combines a traditional Teehahnahmah tune, Win-dey yah ho, with a version of, Amazing Grace, known as the Cherokee National Anthem. Composer James Green (b. 1970) stacks these two melodies in different combinations and textures, allowing space between the vocal parts to feature percussion and vocal sounds to evoke the spirit of Native American life.
The tune of Personent Hodie comes from a 16th century Finnish book of chants. The Latin text, commonly translated “On this Day, Earth Shall Ring” proclaims Christmas in four stanzas, culminating with the idea that all choristers should sing as if they were the original choir of angels.
A New Year Carol is taken from a collection called “Friday Afternoons” (Op 7) by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). The compilation was published when Britten was 23, and it confirms Britten’s continued interest in an English folk song style with simple, repeated harmonies. The text is from a book of poems, “Tom Tiddler’s Ground,” collected by (not written by) Walter de la Mare. The text is straddles a vague area between direct and symbolic, making interpretation tauntingly possible, yet elusive.
Randall Thompson (1899-1984) is one of the dominating figures in American composition of the last century. Solstice is from the collectionFearful Symmetry (itself a gloss on a poem by William Blake). The quick text, light texture, and momentum shifts convey the excitement of a new season giving us potential for a newness in how we live our lives.
Winter from Four Grassi Lakes Seasons relies on innovative vocal sounds to evoke the spirit of a winter landscape. Both the poem and the musical setting are minimalist, creating an atmosphere using morsels of words and sound. The Grassi Lakes are found in Allan Bell’s (b. 1953) home province of Alberta, Canada.
Laudate pueri Dominum, based on the Gregorian antiphon “Assumpta Est”, is the middle movement in a set of three religious motets. Mendelssohn (1809-1947) composed the set for the convent Trinità de Monti in Rome, which he likely visited as part of his Grand Tour of Europe. The piece was written in 1830, when Mendelssohn was 21 years old. His mastery of traditional forms, harmony, and musical line are clearly demonstrated in the piece. Note the way the music alternates between a polyphonic and unison texture for emphasis of the text. Mendelssohn’s background as both pianist and organist contributed to his writing an organ accompaniment that is just as interesting as the vocal parts.
Laus Deo (Praise be to God) are the words that appear on an aluminum cap high atop the Washington Monument. No other building in Washington DC may be taller than this monument. John Leavitt, a contemporary composer, wrote this song about praising God in the highest, good will toward all mankind and peace on earth.
Kling Glocken or "Ring, Little Bell," is a German Christmas Carol from the 19th century. The lyrics were written by Karl Enslin (1819–75) to a traditional German folk tune.
Betelehemu is a Nigerian Christmas song sung in the Yoruba dialect. The song was popularized by African drummer Babtunde Olatunji (b. 1927) who taught this carol while studying in the United States. Arranged by Whalum, Olatunji’s teacher, this arrangement features a variety of percussion techniques, improvisatory vocal solos, and choral sounds.
The two settings of Ave Maria demonstrate two responses to a traditional text that has inspired for centuries. Biebl’s (1906-2001) version combines the traditional text with excerpts from the Angelus, a devotional book about the Incarnation. Although the texts are ancient, the musical language is modern: full, lush, modern chords enriched by the presentation of multi-voiced harmonies. Biebl particularly exploits the texture of the piece by writing for different combinations of voices, presenting a single line of chant, a 4-part chorus, and a two-choir conversation. Saint-Saëns’ (1835-1921) version was written in 1890 and uses the familiar text with no additions. The second version includes a flowing keyboard accompaniment to support the surprising key changes typical of a late-Romantic work.
The traditional Christmas carols presented in the last portion give an opportunity for all present to take part in song. What Child Is This is an old folk tune from the British Isles that is equally known in a secular context with the “Greensleeves” text. This choral arrangement by Jameson Marvin embraces the lullaby quality of the tune with a challenging a cappella setting. Hark the Herald is an arrangement of a tune written by Mendelssohn. Angels We Have Heard on High is a carol of French origin. This hymn is unusual because of the melismatic (many notes per word) setting of the refrain. Enjoy singing! The final carol is a popular interpretation of O Come, All Ye Faithful by David Willcocks. This arrangement is now part of the core repertoire for the King’s College Festival of Lessons and Carols in Cambridge, featuring both an added descant and a new harmonization. The traditional combined choir, descant and organ accompaniment culminate to remind us how music can transcend the boundaries of time and difference, giving us the tools to find newness, potential, and light in our world.
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