ArsCantorum

ElizabethHartDamon,Director
presents

Outofdarkness...intolight

Sunday,January12,2014
GraceEpiscopalChurch,Amherst,MA
7:30pm

ArsCantorum

Soprano

Alto

SusanAndrade

SarahBoy

SarahClay

DorieGoldman

ElizabethMaxey

LissaGreenough

SuzanSmith

SarahMetcalf

JenniferTyo

JoanOBrien
DanielRoihl

Tenor

Bass

DennisCosta

BritAlbritton

ChristopherMarcus

AldenBooth

JamesMead

RichardDamon
PeterShea

ElizabethHartDamon,Director
RichardDamon,OrganandPiano

Program

InprincipioeratverbumOrlandedeLassus
(15321594)
JenniferTyo,SarahClay,DorieGoldman,JamesMead,soloists

InthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGodandtheWordwasGod.
HewaswithGodinthebeginning.Throughhimallthingsweremade,withouthimnothingwasmade.
Whatwasmadeinhimwaslife,andthatlifewasthelightofmankind.
Thelightshinesinthedarkness,butthedarknesshasnotunderstoodit.

TherecameamanwhowassentfromGod,hisnamewasJohn.
Hecameasawitnesstotestifyconcerningthatlight,sothatthroughhimallmenmightbelieve.
Hehimselfwasnotthelight,hecameonlyasawitnesstothelight,
Whichwasthetruelightthatgiveslighttoeveryonewhocomesintotheworld.
Hewasintheworld,andthoughtheworldwasmadethroughhim,theworlddidnotrecognizehim.

TheWordbecamefleshanddweltamongus.Andwehaveseenhisglory,
thegloryasoftheOnlyBegottenfromtheFather,fullofgraceandtruth.

Christequiluxestetdies

WilliamByrd
(15401623)

Christ,whoartthelightandday,youdriveawaythedarknessofnight,
Youarecalledthelightoflight,foryouproclaimtheblessedlight.

Webeseechyou,HolyLord,protectusthisnight.
Letustakeourrestinyou;grantusatranquilnight.

Letoursleepbefreefromcare;letnottheenemysnatchusaway,
Norfleshconspirewithinhim,andmakeusguiltyinyoursight.

Thoughoureyesbefilledwithsleep,keepourheartsforeverawaketoyou.
Mayyourrighthandprotectyourwillingservants.

Youwhoareourshield,behold;restrainthosethatlieinwait.
Andguideyourservantswhomyouhaveransomedwithyourblood.

Rememberus,OLord,whobeartheburdenofthismortalform;
Youwhoarethedefenderofthesoul,benearus,OLord.

Othou,thecentralorb

OrlandoGibbons
(15831625)

DanielRoihl,LibbyMaxey,JenniferTyo,DorieGoldman,
DennisCosta,PeterShea,BritAlbritton,soloists

OThou,thecentralorbofrighteouslove,purebeamofthemostHigh,eternalLight
Ofthisourdarkworld,thyradiancebrightawakesnewjoyinfaith,hopesoarsabove.

Chorus:Come,quicklycome,andletthygloryshine,GildingourdarksomeheavenwithraysDivine.

Thysaintswithholylustreroundtheemove,asstarsaboutthythrone,setintheheight
OfGodsordainingcounsel,asthysightgivesmeasuredgracetoeach,Thypowertoprove.

LetThybrightbeamsdispersethegloomofsin,ournatureallshallfeeleternalday
Infellowshipwiththee,transformingdaytosoulserewhileunclean,nowpurewithin.Amen.

EveningHymn

HenryPurcell
(16591695)
JamesMead,tenor
Now,nowthatthesunhathveildhislightAndbidtheworldgoodnight;
TothesoftbedmybodyIdispose,Butwhereshallmysoulrepose?
Dear,dearGod,eveninThyarms,Andcantherebeanysosweetsecurity!
Thentothyrest,Omysoul!Andsinging,praisethemercyThatprolongsthydays.Hallelujah!

OJesuChrist,meinsLebensLicht,BWV118

JohannSebastianBach
(16851750)

OJesuChrist,lightofmylife,myrefuge,mycomfort,mytrust,
onearthIamonlyaguest,andtheburdenofsinsweighsheavilyuponme.

Intermission

WarumistdasLichtgegeben,Op.74,No.1

JohannesBrahms
(18331897)

1.Whyhaslightbeengiventothewearyofsoul,andlifetothetroubledhearts?Why?
Theywhowaitfordeath,anditdoesntcome;theywhodigforitevenoutofsecretplaces;Why?
Thosewhoalmostrejoiceandarehappythattheyachievethegrave.Why?
Andtothemanwhosewayishidden,andfromwhomGodhimselfhasbeenconcealed?Why?

2.Letusliftupourhearts,togetherwithourhands,toGodinheaven.

3.Behold,wevaluethemasblessedwhohaveendured.YouhaveheardofthepatienceofJob,
AndtheLordsconclusionyouhaveseen:fortheLordismercifulandhascompassion!

4.WithpeaceandjoyIdepartinGodswill,myheartandmindarecomforted,calm,andquiet.
AsGodhadpromisedme:deathhasbecomemysleep.

Svetetihiy(Movement#4fromVespers)

SergeiRachmaninoff
(18731943)
OgraciousLight,purebrightnessoftheeverlivingFatherinheaven,
OJesusChrist,holyandblessed!

Nowaswecometothesettingofthesun,andoureyesbeholdthevesperlight,
wesingyourpraises,OGod:Father,Son,andHolySpirit.

Youareworthyatalltimestobepraisedbyhappyvoices,OSonofGod,OGiveroflife,
andtobeglorifiedthroughalltheworlds.

Hail,gladdeninglight

CharlesWood
(18661926)

Hail,gladdeningLight,ofHispureglorypouredwhoisthimmortalFather,heavenly,blest,
HoliestofHoliesJesusChristourLord!

Nowwearecometothesunshourofrest;thelightsofeveningroundusshine;
WehymntheFather,Son,andHolySpiritdivine!

Worthiestartthouatalltimestobesungwithundefiledtongue,SonofourGod,giveroflife,alone:
Thereforeinalltheworldthyglories,Lord,theyown.

Thethreekings

PeterCornelius
(18241874)
DanielRoihl,countertenor

1.ThreeKingsfromPersianlandsafartoJordanfollowthepointingstar:
Andthisthequestofthetravellersthree,wherethenewbornKingoftheJewsmaybe.
FullroyalgiftstheybearfortheKing;Gold,incense,myrrharetheiroffering.

Howbrightlyshinesthemorningstar!WithgraceandtruthfromheavenafarourJessetreenowbloweth.

2.Thestarshinesoutwithasteadfastray;thekingstoBethlehemmaketheirway,
Andthereinworshiptheybendtheknee,asMaryschildinherlaptheysee;
TheirroyalgiftstheyshowtotheKing;gold,incense,myrrharetheiroffering.

OfJacobsstemandDavidsline,forthee,myBridegroom,Kingdivine,mysoulwithloveoerfloweth.

3.Thouchildofman,lo,toBethlehemtheKingsaretravelling,travelwiththem!
Thestarofmercy,thestarofgrace,shallleadthyhearttoitsrestingplace.
Gold,incense,myrrhthoucanstnotbring;offerthyhearttotheinfantKing.

Thyword,Jesu,Inlyfeedsus,Rightlyleadsus,Lifebestowing.Praise,Opraisesuchloveoerflowing.
Words:PeterCornelius,fromWeihnachtslieder,1871,trans.H.N.Bate
Music:PeterCornelius,arr.SirIvorAtkins
Choraletext:freetranslationofWieschnleuchtetderMorgenstern,PhilippNicolai,1597

Videntesstellam

FrancisPoulenc
(18991963)
Seeingthestar,thewisemenwereoverwhelmedwithgreatjoy;
andenteringthedwelling,theyofferedtotheLordgold,frankincense,andmyrrh.

Theinfiniteshiningheavens(fromSongsofTravel)

RalphVaughanWilliams
(18721958)
PeterShea,baritone

TheinfiniteshiningheavensroseandIsawinthenight
Uncountableangelstarsshoweringsorrowandlight.

Isawthemdistantasheaven,dumbandshininganddead,
Andtheidlestarsofthenightweredearertomethanbread.

Nightafternightinmysorrowthestarsstoodoverthesea,
Tilllo!Ilookedintheduskandastarhadcomedowntome.
RobertLouisStevenson


Thystrongworddidcleavethedarkness(2013)

RichardDamon(1957)

(Premiere)

ThystrongWorddidcleavethedarkness;andatthyspeakingitwasdone.
ForcreatedlightwethankTheewhilethineorderedseasonsrun
Alleluia!Alleluia!Praisetotheewholightdostsend!Alleluiawithoutend!
Lo,onthosewhodweltindarkness,Darkasnightanddeepasdeath,
Brokethelightofthysalvation,Breathedthineownlifegivingbreath.
Alleluia!Alleluia!Praisetotheewholightdostsend!Alleluiawithoutend!
ThystrongWordbespeaksusrighteous;Brightwiththineownholiness,
Gloriousnow,wepresstowardglory,Andourlivesourhopesconfess.
Alleluia!Alleluia!Praisetotheewholightdostsend!Alleluiawithoutend!
GodtheFather,lightcreator,ToTheelaudandhonorbe.
ToThee,LightfromLightbegotten,Praisebesungeternally.
HolySpirit,lightrevealer,Glory,glorybetoThee.
Mortals,angels,nowandeverPraisetheHolyTrinity!

MartinH.Franzmann(20thcenturyLutherantheologian),1969

Luxaurumque(2000)

EricWhitacre
(1970)

Light,
warmandheavyaspuregold
andangelssingsoftly
tothenewbornbabe.
Edward Esch
(Translated to Latin by Charles Anthony Silvestri)

Abendlied

JosefRheinberger
(18391901)
Staywithus,foreveningisathandandthedayispast.


PROGRAMNOTES
Weare,atthistime,inthemiddleofthebleakmidwinterwhen,proportionally,ourdaysarefilled
morewithdarknessthanatanyothertimeofyear.Whatbettertimetofocusourthoughtsonlight?
Adictionarydefinitionoflightis:thenaturalagentthatstimulatessightandmakesthingsvisible.
Thisisagoodbutverybasicdefinition;therealityisthat,withoutlight,wecouldnotbe.Inaddition
toallowingustosee,lightgivesusthewarmthweneedtosurvive.Andtherearemanywhobelieve
thatlightisthesparkofoursouls.Inthepurelyphysicalsense,withoutlightwecouldnotexist.
Andintheaestheticandspiritualsense,lightisthatwhichkeepsusalive.Poetshavealwaysbeen
drawntowriteaboutlight,andcomposershavebeensimilarlycompelledtowritemusiconthose
texts,strivingtocapturetheradianceoflightintheformofsound.Tonightweoffermanywonderful
examplesofthisexplorationofthesoundoflight,andwearegratefultohaveyouhere.
EarlyChristianliturgieswererifewithprayerswhichhadlightastheirfocus.ThePhoshilaronis
anancientChristianhymnoriginallywritteninKoin(NewTestament)Greek,andistheearliest
hymnrecordedoutsideoftheBiblewhichisstillinusetodayitisaregularelementofEvensong
liturgiesintheGreekOrthodox,Anglican(Episcopal)andLutheranchurches.Twoofthepieceswe
singthiseveningareversionsofthistexttheRachmaninoffSvetetihiy,fromhismonumental
Vespers,andWoodsHail,gladdeninglight.Eachoftheseworks,composedfor8ormorevoice
parts,holdslightinitsmusicalcompositiontheRachmaninoffgleamswithagentlebeauty,while
theWooddoublechorusversionofthetextisbigandbrilliantinitssound.Anotherpiece,thegentle
anddeeplybeautifulAbendliedofRheinberger,isaprayeralsotakenfromthisEvensongservice:
Staywithus,fortheeveningisathandandthedayispast.This,andPurcellsEveningHymn
askforGodspresenceasdarknessapproachesintenselypersonalpleastoadivineprotectorfor
safetyasthelightfades.WhereasEvensongisusuallycelebratedasthedaylightends(inlate
afternoonorearlyevening),theserviceofComplineissungattheveryendofthemonasticday,and
tendstobeacontemplativeOfficethatemphasizesspiritualpeace.Christequiluxesetdiesisa
textinwhichthespeakerasksGodtokeepSatanfromtroublinghissleepandtoguardhissoul
throughthenight.Inhissetting,byWilliamByrd,theinitialchantmelodyappearsineachverse
risingup,versebyverse,throughthevoicepartsyoullhearitfirstinthebassline,andasthe
melodyinthesopranopartinthelastverse.
Attheheightofhismaturity,andduringtheperiodofhisfirsttwosymphonies,Brahmsreturnedto
writingforacappellachoruswithhismotetsOp.74.Weperformthefirstofthesetonight,Warum
istdasLichtgegeben,whichisconsideredtobehislargestandmostpowerfulunaccompanied
choralwork,thecompositionalvirtuosityofwhichisconsideredextraordinary.Itismadeupoffour
distinctmovementsand,apparently,BrahmswasquiteproudofhisselectionofBibleversesforthe
textinhowtheyworkedtogether,particularlytheuseofhisreferencetoJobinthethirdsection,Job

beingthebiblicalbookfromwhichthetextofthefirstsectionofthemotetistaken.Thismotet,while
fullofromanticharmoniesandsensibility,isclearlymodeledthemotetsofBachand,likethose
works,endswithaharmonizationofaLutheranchoralemelody.Thereisstilldebateaboutwhether
theBachworkwesingthisevening,OJesuChrist,meinsLebensLichtshouldbeclassifiedasa
motetoracantataitwouldbethebriefestexampleineitherofthesecategories.Itsstructureis
similartothefirstmovementofmanycantatas,withthechoralemelody(AchGott,wiemanches
HerzeleidAh,God,howmuchheartache)evident,phrasebyphrase,inonevoice(here,the
soprano)supportedbycontrapuntalelaborationofthatmelodyintheothervoices.Composedin
1736or1737,itwasfirstperformedin1740atagravesideceremonyforaCountvonFlemming.
OrlandoGibbonsworkOthou,thecentralorboriginallyhadadifferenttext:Oalltruefaithful
heartandwascomposedasathanksgivingfortheKingshappyrecoveryfromagreatdangerous
sicknessforJamesIofEngland.In1873,FrederickOuseleyadaptedwordsfromasonnetbyHenry
RamsdenBramleytofitGibbonsmusic,creatingtheanthemheardtonight.Despitetheinsertionofa
latertext,thisworkremainsalovelyexampleoftheverseanthemform(verypopularduringthe
EnglishReformation),forwhichGibbonsissowellwellknown.Inthisstructure,soloistsalternate
withchorusbyverse,withagrandchoralAmenatthefinish.
ThetextofInprincipioeratverbumisoneofthemostwellknownandwelllovedintheChurch,
bothforitsmysticismanditstheology.TakenfromthebeginningofJohnsgospel,ittakesimagesof
theCreationandweavesthemtogetherwithJohnsprophecyofthecomingofChristwithstartlingly
beautifulimagery.Theworkisinthreesections,withthefirstandthirdin6parts,andthesecond
sectionin4parts,tonighthearddonebysoloists.Thecompositionalstyleofthispiecehassuccessive
pointsofimitationwhicharesometimescanonicsomescholarshaveproposedthatthisandafew
otherpiecesofitseraaretheprecursorstofugueform.Butperhapsthemoststrikingthingabout
thisworkisLassususeoftextpainting.Withthewordscontrastingimagesoflightanddarkness,
thistextpaintingmarvelouslyillustratesaurallytheunfoldingdrama,momentbymoment.
InhonoroftheseasonofEpiphany(knownastheseasonoflight),whichbeganonJanuary6th,we
performtonightthreepiecesaboutstars.Twoofthem(XandX)areEpiphanytexts,whiletheother,
Theinfiniteshiningheavens,isatextbyRobertLouisStevenson,takenfromRalphVaughan
WilliamsdeeplybeautifulsongcycleSongsofTravel.Eachofthesethreepieceshasaboutita
senseofwonderamusicalcapturingofthatfeelingweallhavewhenwelookupintothenightsky
andseethosecountlesspointsoflight.
Lastly,weoffertwopiecesbylivingcomposers.ThesettingofThystrongworddidcleavethe
darkness(atextfromthehymnalsineachpew)waswrittenlastsummerbymyhusband,Dick
Damon.Thedepthandpowerhebroughttothistextprovidedtheimpetusformyideatostartthis
group,andIveprogrammedittonightingratitudeforthatmomentoflightfilledinspiration.And
theLuxaurumqueofEricWhitacrehasbecomeamodernclassic,foritssimplicityandeerie

beauty.WhitacresengagingcompositionsandhisVirtualChoirprojects,whichinvitethousandsof
individualsfromaroundtheworldtosubmitrecordingsoftheirownvoicetobecombinedintoone,
massiverecordedchoralensemblearecreatingatremendoussurgeofinterestinchoralmusic,
particularlywithyoungpeople.Inthisway,hespreadslight,aswell.

Thankyousoverymuchforbeingwithusthisevening.