MSU CONCERT CHORALE
Guy B. Webb, Director

Concert Tour Program – 2009-2010

Laudi alla Vergine Maria
James MacMillan (b. 1959)
Virgin mother, daughter of your Son, meek and exalted more than any creature…to us you are the midday light of charity; here below you are a living fountain of hope.   Your loving goodness sustains us…in your mercy, your pity, your generosity that is gatherd in us.    Hail, Hail.  (The Divine Comedy:  Il Paradiso, Dante Alighieri)

Justorum animae
William Byrd (1543-1623)
The souls of the just are in the hands of God, and the torment of death
shall not touch them:  in the sight of the unwise they seem to die,
but they are at peace (Wisdom,3, i-iii)

Ascendit Deus
Jacob Handl (1550-1591)
God has gone up with a shout;
The Lord with the sound of the trumpet.   Alleluia.

Psalms of Repentence
Alfred Schnittke (1934-1988)
IV. Dusche moja
My soul – why art thou steeped in sin?   How perplexing are thine acts?  Arise – put all aside and weep bitterly about thy deeds.    Consider ,  O m y soul, the bitter hours of fear and anguish….Gracious God spare me!

V. Okajanne ubogil tschelowetsche!
O man—damned and wretched, thy life is drawing to a close…
the sun is setting and the light  fades. 
Soul, why lamentest thy mortality before thou dost appear before thy Maker…
Christ, deliver our soul—hear our prayer.  (From “Psalms of Repentance”)

Magnificat – Gloria
Alberto Grau (b. 1937)
My soul magnifies the lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.   Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Gloria Gentis from Beatus Vir
Paweł £ukaszewski (b. 1968)
The whole society rejoices in the exalted virtues of its leader.   “It is typical of you to offer God your faith and pure conscience; you live not wasting time but by taking care of your obligations.   Your upright deeds are well known, and when you leave this earthly life, the gates of heaven will receive you."

Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Glory be to God on high, peace on earth and goodwill to men.  We praise thee, we worship thee, we exalt thee Lord God !...Thou who bearest the sins of the world, have mercy upon us…For thou alone art holy…Amen

So Deep
James MacMillan
O my Luve’s like a red, red rose That’s newly sprung in June:  my Luve’s like the melodie That’s sweely play’d in tune.  And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry….(A wedding song; poem by Robert Burns)

Ave Regina coelorum
Hans Schanderl (b. 1960)
Hail, Queen of heaven, whence came the light of the world.   Hail glorious virgin, exalted above all others….
Intercede for us to Christ.

Lute-Book Lullaby
Alexander L’Estrange (b. 1974)
Sweet was the song the virgin sang, when she to Bethlem came and was deliverd of a song.   “Sweet babe,” sang she…and rocked him sweetly on her knee.

Fly
Sara Groves, arr. Susan LaBarr
Speak in a summer tone, pause in the afterglow, Tenderly whisper my name.  Tell me once again, why I am your bride.   So I can fly!

Done Made My Vow to the Lord
Spiritual, arr. Marques L.A. Garrett

Nunc Dimittis
Alexander Gretchaninoff (1864-1956)
Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.  (Song of Simeon)