(upbeat music) - [Announcer] Funding for this program is provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota.

(light music) (people chattering) - I'm Rick Kvam, I'm the Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Ensemble in Rochester, Minnesota.

Well, we've been singing Christmas at Assisi's since 1983 or something like that.

But because of the pandemic and a vulnerable population up there on top of the hill, we had to find an alternate venue.

And here we are just down the hill to the south in Gloria Dei Lutheran.

And it's a great venue.

We've sung concerts here before.

And so Christmas is near Assisi this year, at Gloria Dei.

We're opening with "Wake, Awake," F. Melius Christiansen.

The first two pieces are sort of an homage to the St. Olaf choir tradition.

It's one of the premier choir traditions in the United States, and has international influence.

♪ Wake, awake, for night is flying ♪ ♪ The watchmen on the heights are crying ♪ ♪ Awake Jerusalem, arise ♪ ♪ Midnight's solemn hour is tolling ♪ ♪ His chariot wheels are nearer rolling ♪ ♪ He comes; prepare, ye virgins wise ♪ ♪ Rise up with willing feet ♪ ♪ Go forth, the Bridegroom meet ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Bear through the night your well-trimmed light ♪ ♪ Speed forth to join the marriage rite ♪ ♪ Hear thy praise, O Lord, ascending ♪ ♪ From tongues of men and angels blending ♪ ♪ With harps and lute and psaltery ♪ ♪ By thy pearly gates in wonder ♪ ♪ We stand, and swell the voice of thunder ♪ ♪ In bursts of choral melody ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ No vision every brought ♪ ♪ No ear hath ever caught ♪ ♪ Such bliss and joy ♪ ♪ We raise the song, we swell the throng ♪ ♪ To praise Thee ages all along ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ To praise Thee ages all along ♪ - The second piece is another St. Olaf acquired record.

Kenneth Jennings, his "Calm, On the Listening Ear of Night" written for the Dale Warland singers.

It's a fantastic beautiful piece with flute.

Kenneth Jennings was instrumental also on just kind of making this St. Olaf tradition broaden.

(gentle flute music) ♪ Calm on the listening ear of night ♪ ♪ Come heaven's melodious strains ♪ ♪ Where wild Judea stretches far ♪ ♪ Her silver-mantled plains ♪ ♪ Celestial choirs from courts above ♪ ♪ Shed sacred glories there ♪ ♪ And angels, with their sparkling lyres ♪ ♪ Make music on the air ♪ (gentle flute music) ♪ The answering hills of Palestine ♪ ♪ Send back the glad reply ♪ ♪ And greet, from all their holy heights ♪ ♪ The Dayspring from on high ♪ ♪ "Glory to God!"

the sounding skies ♪ ♪ Loud with their anthems ring ♪ ♪ "Peace to the earth, to all good men ♪ ♪ Peace to the earth ♪ ♪ From heav'n's eternal King" ♪ (gentle flute music) ♪ Light on the hills, Jerusalem ♪ ♪ The Savior now is born ♪ ♪ And bright on Bethlehem's joyous plains ♪ ♪ Breaks the first Christmas morn ♪ ♪ Christmas morn ♪ (gentle flute music) - Lloyd Ketterling was a high school choir director, just a few blocks over here at JM High School for decades, and had a fantastic program.

So as parents, his family, his kids, some students decided they would commission a series of carols in his honor.

And this year is the 10th and final carol written by Philip Lawson, who was a King's Singer, former King's Singer, wonderful piece, "My Dancing Day."

And we've picked three of the other favorites of the 10, Dan Kallman's "What Good God for Us Has Done," and J. David Moore's "A Ketterling Carol," and Eric William Barnum's "The Beautiful Sing."

- Greetings, everyone.

Happy Holidays.

And I hope you're enjoying your concert thus far.

My name is Eric Barnum.

I am a composer currently living in Des Moines, Iowa as director of choral activities at Drake University.

I have the honor of collaborating with Choral Arts Ensemble on a piece in 2014, called "The Beautiful Sing."

It's a lovely poem by Josiah Gilbert Holland, who is a 19th century poet.

And it's about the night of Jesus' birth.

(soft airy music) (choir humming) ♪ There's a song in the air ♪ ♪ There's a star in the sky ♪ ♪ There's a mother's deep prayer ♪ ♪ And a baby's low cry ♪ ♪ And the star rains its fire while the Beautiful sing ♪ ♪ For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a king ♪ ♪ Cradles a king ♪ ♪ There's a tumult of joy ♪ ♪ O'er the wonderful birth ♪ ♪ For the virgin's sweet boy ♪ ♪ Is the Lord of the earth ♪ ♪ And ♪ ♪ The star rains its fire and the Beautiful sing ♪ ♪ For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a king ♪ ♪ Cradles a king ♪ ♪ In the light of that star ♪ ♪ Lie the ages impearled ♪ ♪ And that song from afar ♪ ♪ Has swept over the world ♪ ♪ Every hearth is aflame, and the Beautiful sing ♪ ♪ In the homes of the nations that Jesus is King ♪ ♪ Jesus is King ♪ ♪ Jesus is King ♪ ♪ Jesus is King ♪ ♪ We rejoice in the light ♪ ♪ And we echo the song ♪ ♪ That comes down through the night ♪ ♪ From the heavenly throng ♪ ♪ Ay ♪ ♪ We shout to the lovely evangel they bring ♪ ♪ And we greet in his cradle our Savior and King ♪ (choir humming) ♪ And we greet in his cradle our Savior and King ♪ - The next piece is Emma Lou Diemer's "Sweet Dreams Form a Shade."

And she's a wonderful composer.

Born in Kansas city, I think, she's going to be 94 if she hasn't already.

And she does instrumental music, choral music, piano music, organ music.

Very accomplished composer.

And she wrote this as part of "Choral Christmas Set," and it uses chord clusters, where at one point, I think, the choir singing 15 different notes and they just kind of shimmer with all the overtones.

It's a beautiful little piece.

♪ Sweet dreams, form a shade ♪ ♪ O'er my lovely infant's head ♪ ♪ Sweet dreams of pleasant streams ♪ ♪ By happy, silent, moony beams ♪ ♪ Sweet sleep, with soft down ♪ ♪ Weave thy brows an infant crown ♪ ♪ Sweet Sleep, angel mild ♪ ♪ Hover o'er my happy child ♪ ♪ Sleep, sleep, happy child ♪ ♪ All creation slept and smiled ♪ ♪ Sleep, sleep, happy sleep ♪ ♪ While o'er thee thy mother weep ♪ ♪ Sweet babe, in thy face ♪ ♪ Holy image I can trace ♪ ♪ Sweet babe, once like thee ♪ ♪ Thy Maker lay, and wept for me ♪ ♪ Wept for me, for thee, for all ♪ ♪ When He was an infant small ♪ ♪ Thou His image ever see ♪ ♪ Heavenly face that smiles on thee ♪ ♪ Smiles on thee, on me, on all, ♪ ♪ Who became an infant small ♪ ♪ Infant smiles are His own smiles ♪ ♪ Heaven and earth to peace beguiles ♪ - Hi, I'm Dan Kallman.

I'm sending this from Northfield where I live.

I wanted to just take a brief moment to thank Rick Kvam and the Choral Arts Ensemble, and especially the Ketterling family and Lloyd for the opportunity to be one of the composers chosen over these past 10 years to write a new carol for the group in celebration, especially, or Lloyd's legacy as a high school music educator at John Marshall.

I certainly know the value of that, having come from a fine high school program myself, and the impact it has made on my life and continues to make on, probably, many of our lives of the people who are at this concert and who are singing in it.

Just a brief word about the carol itself, "What Our Good God Has Done."

This text for this carol has been around for, I think, possibly way back to the 12th century.

It's an Irish carol, comes from Wexford county, Ireland, that's why it's called "The Wexford Carol."

The text is actually often coupled with another tune from much later, probably 15th or 16th century Ireland.

In this case, I've taken old text and just written completely new music for it.

(gentle music) ♪ Good people all, this Christmas-time ♪ ♪ Consider well and bear in mind ♪ ♪ What our good God for us has done ♪ ♪ In sending his beloved Son ♪ ♪ With Mary holy we should pray ♪ ♪ To God with love this Christmas day ♪ ♪ In Bethlehem upon that morn ♪ ♪ There was a blessed Messiah born ♪ ♪ The night before that happy tide ♪ ♪ The noble Virgin and her guide ♪ ♪ Were long time seeking up and down ♪ ♪ To find a lodging in the town ♪ ♪ But mark right well what came to pass ♪ ♪ From every door repelled alas ♪ ♪ As was foretold, their refuge all ♪ ♪ Was but an humble ox's stall ♪ ♪ And ox's stall ♪ ♪ Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep ♪ ♪ Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep ♪ ♪ To whom God's angel did appear ♪ ♪ Which put the shepherds in great fear ♪ ♪ "Arise and go," the angel said ♪ ♪ "To Bethlehem, be not afraid ♪ ♪ For there you'll find, this happy morn ♪ ♪ A princely babe, sweet Jesus born" ♪ (pensive bassoon music) ♪ With thankful heart and joyful mind ♪ ♪ The shepherds went the babe to find ♪ ♪ And as God's angel had foretold ♪ ♪ They did our Savior Christ behold ♪ ♪ Within a manger he was laid ♪ ♪ And by his side a virgin maid ♪ ♪ Attending on the Lord of Life ♪ ♪ Who came on earth to end all strife ♪ (pensive bassoon music) ♪ What our good God for us has done ♪ ♪ In sending his beloved Son ♪ - Our next piece is a movement for the Rachmaninoff "All-Night Vigil," commonly known as "The Vespers," actually only the first six, I think, pieces are actually Vesper service.

The rest are more in the night, in the matins and into the next day.

This eighth movement is the part of the service where all the lights in the church come on.

(choir sings in foreign language) - Hello to everyone at Rochester.

It's Philip Lawson here.

Hi to Lloyd and to all the Ketterling family who made this commissioning program possible.

We're all very grateful to you.

And I'm particularly grateful to have been asked to write "My Dancing Day" for this evening's concert.

It's a text I've loved for many years, the fine settings by David Wilcocks, to the old tune, and also a new setting by John Gardner.

And I actually did try my own about 20 years ago, but abandoned it.

So when Rick came to me to ask, if I'd like to do it for you guys, then I leapt at the chance to revisit the text and make a proper job of it.

(bright music) ♪ Sing O my love ♪ ♪ Sing O my love ♪ ♪ This have I done for my true love ♪ (cheerful playful music) ♪ Tomorrow shall be my dancing day ♪ ♪ I would my true love did so chance ♪ ♪ To see the legend of my play ♪ ♪ To call my true love to my dance ♪ ♪ Sing O my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ Sing O my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ This have I done for my true love ♪ ♪ Then was I born of a virgin pure ♪ ♪ Of her I took fleshly substance ♪ ♪ Thus was I knit to man's nature ♪ ♪ To call my true love to my dance ♪ ♪ Sing O my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ Sing O my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ Sing O my love ♪ ♪ Sing O my love ♪ ♪ In a manger laid and wrapped I was ♪ ♪ So very poor; this was my chance ♪ ♪ Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass ♪ ♪ To call my true love to my dance ♪ ♪ To call my true love to my dance ♪ ♪ Then afterwards baptized I was ♪ ♪ The Holy Ghost on me did glance ♪ ♪ My Father's voice heard I from above ♪ ♪ To call my true love to my dance ♪ ♪ This have I done ♪ ♪ This have I done for my true love ♪ ♪ Then up to heav'n I did ascend ♪ ♪ Where now I dwell in sure substance ♪ ♪ On the right hand of God, that man ♪ ♪ May come unto the general dance ♪ ♪ Sing O my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ Sing O my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ This have I done for ♪ ♪ Sing O my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ Sing O my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ This have I done ♪ ♪ This have I done ♪ ♪ This have I done for my true love ♪ ♪ For my true love ♪ - A merry and virus-free Christmas to all of you!

So my "Ketterling Carol" is a setting of a Christmas poem by Sara Teasdale, which is unusual in that it juxtaposes the familiar stories of shepherds and magi with the realities of a sleepy newborn.

The poet gathers pilgrims and presumably all of their hosts and entourages from the north, south, east, and heaven above and has them converge simultaneously on the stable in Bethlehem, where the infant Jesus promptly falls asleep.

Each stanza of the carol represents a different group of pilgrims, kings, shepherds, wisemen, angels, and is sung by a different voice part.

The music is designed to represent the character of each group, and the melodies all combine contrapuntally in a sort of Renaissance-centered harmony.

The role of the bassoon is purposefully ambiguous, sometimes acting as scenery or lighting, sometimes enhancing the qualities with characters in the narrative.

At the opening of the final verse, it attempts single-handedly to portray an unruly mob of people and animals.

If nothing else, it brings an air of whimsy to a traditionally reverent story.

(dark pensive bassoon music) ♪ The kings they came from out the South ♪ ♪ All dressed in ermine fine ♪ ♪ They bore Him gold and chrysoprase ♪ ♪ And gifts of precious wine ♪ ♪ The shepherds came from out the North ♪ ♪ Their coats were brown and old ♪ ♪ They brought him little newborn lambs ♪ ♪ They hadn't any gold ♪ ♪ The wise men came from out the East ♪ ♪ And they were wrapped in white ♪ ♪ The star that led them all the way ♪ ♪ Did glorify the night ♪ ♪ The angels came from heaven high ♪ ♪ And they were clad with wings ♪ ♪ And lo, they brought a joyful song ♪ ♪ The host of heaven sings ♪ (dark pensive bassoon music) (choir sings over each other) ♪ The kings they knocked upon the door ♪ ♪ The wise men entered in ♪ ♪ The shepherds followed after them ♪ ♪ To hear the song begin ♪ ♪ The angels sang through all the night ♪ ♪ Until the rising sun ♪ ♪ But little Jesus fell asleep ♪ ♪ Before the song was done ♪ (dark pensive bassoon music) Shh!

(choir laughs) - Our next piece is "Oh, Jerusalem in the Morning."

It was written by Joseph Jennings, or arranged by Joseph Jennings for Chanticleer, I think for a Christmas album about 1999.

A really amazing piece, and shows off Chanticleer, there are 12 voices, professional men's group, and at one point there are 11 parts going.

(chuckles) So we had really scrambled to get them all covered, but it's just a really fun, kind of bluesy celebration, Christmas spiritual, and it shows off the low bass and the high soprano, and it's really fun to sing.

♪ Mary, Mary, what's the matter ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ I said my po' Mary, what's the matter ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Oh Joseph, Joseph, what is the matter ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Well now Joseph, Joseph, what's the matter ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Night is chilly, what's the matter ♪ ♪ Oh Jeru'slem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ The night is chilly, what is the matter ♪ ♪ Oh Jeru'slem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ I hear the oxen bawlin', Hear the lambs a-squallin' ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ I hear the cattle lowin', rooster crowin' ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Mary, Mary, what's the matter ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ I'm singin' ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Little baby Jesus born in a stable ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ I'm singin' ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Little baby Jesus lyin' in a manger ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Mary baby born today, wrapped in swadlin' clothes ♪ ♪ Laid him in a manger Lord that's how the story goes ♪ ♪ Shepherds bidin' in the fields, watchin' o'er their sheep ♪ ♪ Angels singing loud and clear woke them from their sleep ♪ ♪ I'm singin' ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Little baby Jesus born in a stable ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Wise men saw the shining star, shining in the east ♪ ♪ Came on camels from afar ♪ ♪ Bringing gifts to the prince of peace ♪ ♪ I'm singin' ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Little baby Jesus born in a stable ♪ ♪ Little baby Jesus lyin' in a manger ♪ ♪ Little baby Jesus born to be our savior ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ See the stars a-glowing, their lustre showin' ♪ ♪ Oh Jerusl'em in the mornin' ♪ ♪ I see the moon in crescent, phosphorescent ♪ ♪ Oh Jerusl'em in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Mary, Mary, what's the matter ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Mary, Mary, what's the matter ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ Doves a-cooing, cows a-mooing ♪ ♪ Asses braying, horses neighing ♪ ♪ Goats a-bleating, birds a-tweeting ♪ ♪ Geese a-squawking, parrots talking ♪ ♪ Mice a-prancing, lupie dancing ♪ ♪ Heav'nly choir singing higher ♪ ♪ Mary, Mary, Joseph, Joseph, Little baby Jesus ♪ ♪ What is the matter ♪ ♪ Oh Jerus'lem in the mornin' ♪ ♪ In the mornin' ♪ - Our next piece is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

It's arranged by Ward Gailey.

Of course, the original song was written for Judy Garland in "Meet Me in St.

Louis."

And it's a, you know, beautiful, poignant kind of Christmas song.

I think Judy's talking to her little sister Toots or Tootie, something like that.

They're gonna have to move away from beloved Midwest to New York City.

And they're feeling like, poor us, and it's, well, you know, we'll get by somehow if the fates allow, and we still have Christmas together.

And it's just a wonderful, wonderful melody and a wonderful lyric, and it's a nice, kind of jazzy acapella arrangement by Ward.

(choir humming) ♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪ ♪ Let your heart be light ♪ ♪ From now on our troubles will be out of sight ♪ ♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪ ♪ Make the merry yuletide gay ♪ ♪ From now on our troubles will be miles away ♪ ♪ Here we are as in olden days ♪ ♪ Happy golden days of yore ♪ ♪ Faithful friends who are dear to us ♪ ♪ Gather near to us once more ♪ ♪ Through the years we'll always be together ♪ ♪ If the Fates allow ♪ ♪ Hang a shining star upon the highest bough ♪ ♪ And have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪ (choir humming) ♪ Now ♪ ♪ - So our next piece is "Jingle Bells."

♪ It was written by Gordon Langford or arranged by Gordon Langford for the King's Singers.

So of course it is challenging and full of little surprises and difficulties that are fun.

And it's a fun thing for a choir to try to hide the difficulties and just make them sparkle.

And we get to do that.

Some low note, some high notes, some fast notes, some funny harmonies.

It's really a great, great arrangement.

That's over in, I think, two minutes.

♪ Jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle ♪ ♪ Jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Jingle, bells, jingle, bells, jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ Jingle, bells, jingle, bells, jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way ♪ ♪ Bells on bobtail ring, making spirits bright ♪ ♪ What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight ♪ ♪ Jingle, bells, jingle, bells, jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ Jingle, bells, jingle, bells, jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ Now the ground is white, go it while you're young ♪ ♪ Take the girls tonight, and sing this sleighing song ♪ ♪ Just get a bob-tailed bay, two-forty for his speed ♪ ♪ Then hitch him to an open sleigh, and crack ♪ ♪ You'll take the lead ♪ ♪ Jingle, bells, jingle, bells, jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ Jingle, bells, jingle, bells, jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open ♪ ♪ Jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle ♪ ♪ Open sleigh, hey ♪ - So our next piece is "The First Nowell."

it's arranged by David Wilcocks.

I think he arranged it one of his first years doing the ceremony of "Nine Lessons and Carols" at Kings College, Cambridge, I think about 61 or so.

And it's just a wonderful, definitive, you know, arrangement of "First Nowell."

It can be with orchestra or brass or whatever.

We will have it with organ, Lee Afdahl playing organ.

(gentle organ music) ♪ The first Nowell the angel did say ♪ ♪ Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay ♪ ♪ In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep ♪ ♪ In a cold winter's night that was so deep ♪ ♪ Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ ♪ They looked up and saw a star ♪ ♪ Shining in the east, beyond them far ♪ ♪ And to the earth it gave great light ♪ ♪ And so it continued both day and night ♪ ♪ Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ ♪ And by the light of that same star ♪ ♪ Three wise men came from country far ♪ ♪ To seek for a king was their intent ♪ ♪ And to follow the star wherever it went ♪ ♪ Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ ♪ Then let us all with one accord ♪ ♪ Sing praises to our heav'nly Lord ♪ ♪ That hath made heav'n and earth of naught ♪ ♪ And with his blood mankind hath bought ♪ ♪ Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ - [Announcer] Funding for this program is provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

(upbeat music)