Saturday, July 25, 2009 [$15 in advance or $20 at the door]
Time: 6 pm
Location: Gustavus Adophus Lutheran Church
Address: 22nd Street and Lexingten Ave
Programme Notes
Song of Peace • Finland
A choral setting in English based on Finlandia, the patriotic symphonic poem by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. This melody later became Finland’s national anthem.
Samiotissa (Girl from Samos) • Greece
This folk song is one of a vast number of traditional Kalamatiano songs. These date back to antiquity (and are believed to be named after the town of Kalamata), in which the performers dance in a circle. Samiotissa tells of a young man’s infatuation with the girl from Samos, even though she broke his heart.
E Si Fa Sera (Evening is coming) • Italy
Composed by Luigi De Marchi, with words by the poet Dante Pani. "Evening is coming, and everything around is silent save for the cicadas singing their endless song. The first star appears, and as the golden moon rises, a bell tolls the day's end".
Noore Suve Muinasjutt (Early summer fairy tale) • Estonia
This song, based on lyrics by Ernst Enno (1875-1934), was composed by Veljo Tormis (1930-1996), one of Estonia’s most renowned composers and an ardent champion of its folk-song revival. “Distant on the village meadow, music pealing, festive talk, forest murmur, distant echo, early summer’s fairy talk.”
Siyahamba, Ekukhanyeni Kwenkhosi (We are walking in the light of God) • South Africa
A song from Zululand expressing faith in God.
Kangding Qing Ge (Kangding love song) • China
This Sichuan folk song, known throughout China, tells in somewhat humorous vein of the beauty of Mt. Paoma rising high above the city of Kangding and crowned with a Tibetan monastery, and of a young man’s love for the Li family’s beautiful daughter.
Buhat (Since) • Philippines
A love song by Mike Velarde, Jr., with lyrics by Dominador Santiago and arranged by Ruben Federizon. “I’ve wanted you ever since I laid eyes on you, and I love you.”
Panama Tombé (The fallen hat) • Haiti
This jocular account in French Creole of a local uprising in Haiti was arranged by Irving Burgie, the prolific songwriter and musician born in New York of Barbadian descent. A horseman sets out for the village of Jacmel. Riding through Vallee and arriving at the Bene crossroads, he calls out: “My Panama hat has fallen off. If anyone is coming behind, please pick it up for me!”
O Mistress Mine • England
This love song from Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare, was arranged by Matthew
Harris, the American composer of choral works who lives and works in New York City.
C’est Ma Chanson (It is my song) • United Kingdom/France
Composed by Charlie Chaplin (b.London 1889, died Switzerland 1977 after a turbulent life), this love song is from Chaplin’s last film La Contesse de Hong Kong (1967). Although the film was a flop, the song was made hugely popular by Petula Clark. This arrangement is by Jean-Claude Oudot. “Wind, rain, fog or sun, for me it’s the same; in my reverie I hear a thousand mandolins. Love is my song, and in all four seasons
I’ll sing it for you.”
Annie Laurie • Scotland
In this popular song, with music by Lady John Scott (1810-1900), a Scottish songwriter, and words by William Douglas, a 17th century poet, a young man sings of his true love, Annie
Laurie. “Max Welton’s braes [hills] are bonnie, where early falls the dew, and ‘twas there
that Annie Laurie, gave me her promise true.”
Vira Virou • Brazil
Composed by Brazilian brothers Kleiton and Kledir Ramil, and arranged by Ze Pedro Boesio,
this song extols the joys of sailing the high seas.
Java Jive • United States
This catchy nonsense song in praise of coffee and tea was composed by Ben Oakland (1907-1979), the prolific American composer and pianist, with lyrics by Milton Drake (b.1916, New York City). It became a smash hit.
Brachá le Nerot Shabat (We kindle these lights) • Israel
A prayer for lighting the Shabat candles, by Matilde Meir (1921-1996).
Estrela é Lua Nova (Star and new moon) • Brazil
In this rhythmic makumba, arranged by Heitor Villa-Lobos, a ritual is performed by the light of the new moon under a starry sky. (A makumba was originally a form of African spiritual worship brought to Brazil by African slaves.)
Agáchate el Sombrerito (Lower your hat) • Colombia
This is a popular bambuco (Colombian folk dance), arranged by Rubén Urbiztondo. “Lower your hat and look at me… I am dying of love. Hurrah for the girls of Bogotá!”
Otche Nash (Our Father) • Russia
This sonorous version of the Lord’s Prayer in Church Slavonic is by Nikolai Kedrov
(1871-1940), the Russian liturgical composer.
Shenandoah • United States
This well-known American folk song dates back to the early 1800s. Originating as a river
shanty, it later became popular with sea-going crews. This version of Shenandoah is
by James Erb (b.1926), American composer and conductor, best-known for his various
arrangements of the song.
Son de Camagüey (Rhythm of Camagüey) • Cuba
This lively Afro-Cuban folk song, in an arrangement by Stephen Hatfield (b.1956), the
Canadian composer and folklorist, praises the music and scenery of Camagüey and
the natural good looks of the people. (Camagüey, in central Cuba, is the nation’s third
largest city.)
