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CHRISTMAS WITH BRIGHTON CONSORT St George's Church Kemptown, Friday 17 December 2004 Tonight’s programme brings together a rare mixture of music and readings across the ages, exploring the different aspects of the Christmas season. Most of the music will be performed by the singers and players of Brighton Consort along with other musical friends, including Pastores viols and Andrew van der Beek on both serpent and bass sackbut. However, we hope you will all join in the carols where the words are provided. Prophecy Processional Chant French, 13th Century Veni Emmanuel
Hildegard of Bingen, 1098-1179 O virga ac diadema Green branch and imperial diadem, in your virginity enclosed as in shining armour, You branched, blossoming, in a fashion changed from that by which Adam produced the whole human race. All hail, from your womb came forth another life which Adam had stripped from his sons. O flower, it was not the dew that made you bud, nor drops of rain, nor did the wind waft over you, but the divine radiance brought you forth from the most noble branch. O branch, God foresaw your flowering on the first day of creation. And he made you, o virgin most worthy of praise, as a golden matrix for his Word.
Isaiah, Chapter 40, verses 1-11
Carol for choir and audience: French, 13th Century O come, O come Emmanuel Hieronymus Praetorius, 1560-1629 Ecce Dominus veniet Behold, the Lord our God shall come, and all his Saints with him, and in that day there shall be a great light, alleluia. Annunciation Edwin Muir, 1887-1959 Annunciation Anon, 13th Century Angelus ad Virginem The angel, coming secretly to the Virgin, calming the Virgin’s fear, said: "Hail! Hail, Queen of virgins! You shall conceive the Lord of Heaven and Earth, and give birth, remaining a virgin, to the Salvation of mankind; you, made the Gateway of Heaven, the cure for sin." "How shall I conceive, since I know not a man? How shall I break what I have resolutely vowed?" "The grace of the Holy Spirit shall perform all this. Fear not, but rejoice, confident that chastity will remain pure in you by the power of God." Anon, 15th Century There is no rose Carol for choir and audience: Michael Praetorius, 1609 A great and mighty wonder Solo: A great and mighty wonder, a full and holy cure! Choir: The word becomes incarnate and yet remains on high!All: Since all he comes to ransom, By all is he adored, The Infant born in Bethlehem, The Saviour and the Lord. All: And idol forms shall perish, And error shall decay, And Christ shall wield his sceptre, Our Lord and God, for ay. Hieronymus Praetorius 1560-1629
Magnificat on the 5th tone with interpolated carols "Joseph lieber, Joseph mein" and "In dulci jubilo" The Magnificat, sung regularly at every Anglican Evensong as well as at Catholic Vespers, was the song of Mary on receiving the news from the Angel Gabriel of her forthcoming conception. Here, as was common in the Lutheran rite in 17th-century Germany, the verses are alternated with verses from two familiar Christmas carols. The first is a cradle song, "Joseph lieber, Joseph mein" (Joseph dearest, Joseph mine), and the second - in a mixture of German and Latin - is "In dulci jubilo" (With sweet jubilation). The Magnificat itself is in an "alternatim" setting, meaning that verses of polyphony alternate with verses of plainsong. Shepherds Ben Jonson, 1573-1637 An Hymn on the Nativity of my Saviour Christopher Tye, 1500-73 arr. Richard Alison, c 1600 While Shepherds watched John Foster, 1752-1822
While Shepherds watched Carol for choir and audience: 14th Century, arr. Michael Praetorius, 1571-1621 Quem pastores laudavere We thought we would leave this in the original Latin. Even if you are not familiar with Latin, just sing each word as you would in English – you won’t be far wrong. Unto him whom the shepherds praised, told by the angels "Be not afraid: the King of Glory is born!"; Unto him to whom the Magi journeyed, to whom they brought gold, frankincense and myrrh, to whom, the victorious Lion [of Judah], they offered these things with sincerity Unto him, Christ the King, the Son of God, given to us through Mary, let "Praise, Honour and Glory!" right worthily resound.
Interval Nativity and Mystery Clemens non Papa, c.1510-1556 O magnum mysterium William Blake, 1757-1827 (From Songs of Innocence and Experience, 1789) The Lamb Giovanni Gabrieli, 1555-1612 O magnum mysterium O great mystery, and wondrous sacrament, that the animals should see the newborn Lord lying in the manger. Noel!
Carol for choir and audience: Collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams from Mrs Verrall of Monk’s Gate, near Horsham, 1904 The Sussex Carol (On Christmas night all Christians sing) John Hill, c.1730-1800 Hymn for Christmas Day William Byrd, 1540-1623 from Songs of sundry natures, 1589 From Virgin’s womb
Interlude Giovanni Gabrieli, 1555-1612 Canzona Anon, 17th Century Scottish Sir William Keith's Paven and Galyard Epiphany T S Eliot, 1888-1965 Journey of the Magi John Sheppard, 1515-58 Reges Tharsis The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents. The kings of the Arabia and of Saba shall bring gifts. And all kings shall adore him: all nations shall serve him. Because he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the poor which had no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls of the poor. Carol for choir and audience: John Henry Hopkins, 1820-90 Three Kings of Orient Solo: Born a king on Bethlehem's plain, Solo: Frankincense to offer have I.
Solo: Myrrh is
mine: its bitter perfume Choir: Glorious now behold Him arise,
Herod and the slaughter of the innocents Anon, c.1550 Mark this song, for it is trewe William Byrd, 1540-1623 Lullaby Pageant of the Shearmen and Taylors, Coventry mystery plays, 16th Century Coventry carol
Celebration Thomas Hardy, 1840-1928 Under the Greenwood Tree Collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams & Cecil Sharp in Gloucestershire, 1900-1920 Wassail! Wassail all over the town!
Carol for choir and audience: English traditional
We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas, Now bring us some figgy pudding, Now bring us some figgy pudding, Now bring us some figgy pudding And bring it us here! Chorus O we won’t go until we’ve got some, No, we won’t go until we’ve got some, We won’t go until we’ve got some So give it us here! Chorus O we all like figgy pudding, Yes, we all like figgy pudding, We all like figgy pudding, So bring it out here!
After the concert there will be a collection on behalf of the Friends of the Nigel Porter Unit Please give generously! Brighton Consort (Musical Director: Deborah Roberts) Soprano Penny Acton Ellen Behrens Sue Clough Miranda Cobb Jacqui Gough Mirella Marlow Sally Morris Yvonne Whitley-Jones Alto Elspeth Barnett Jenny Clemens Jason Field Heide Hughes Marion Pilbeam Jane Richards Sîan Spencer Elizabeth Taylor Pat Zielinska Tenor Maya Davis Richard Davis Roger Fenn Barry Luck David Spencer Bass Michael Bishop David Brand Michael Clemens Douglas Colwell Andrew Connal Tom Jeffers Jason Jeffries Maurice Shipsey
Pastores Viols Andrew Kerr Paul Neville Robert Carrington Barbara Ruffles Treble viol Treble and bass viols Tenor viol Bass viol
The Consort Gallery Band Roger Fenn Michael Clemens Jason Jeffries Jason Field Barry Luck Elizabeth Taylor Marion Pilbeam Heide Hughes Tom Jeffers Jill Segerman with Andrew van der Beek Flute Clarinet, recorder, gemshorn Clarinet Bassoon Violin Viol and recorder Viol and recorder Recorder Lute Violone Serpent and bass sackbut
Take Brighton Consort home with you… Our first CD, "Brighton Consort in Concert", is on sale at the back of the church, price £7 An ideal Christmas present for your musical friends! |
