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Crescendo 2000-2001 Concert SeriesThe Dale Warland Singers

Dale Warland, Conductor

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Sunday, October 15, 2000, 7 P.M.Dundee Presbyterian Church, Omaha, Nebraska

I. AlleluiaSanctusAlleluia

Jan SandstromRandall Thompson

II. All Night VigilAll Night Vigil (Vespers) Ope 37 (selected movements)

The Six Psalms (Lessor Doxology)Praise the Name of the LordThe Troparion "Thou Did 'st Rise from the Tomb"

III. Hymns and Spirituals

Sergei Rachmaninoff .

Fix Me, JesusRecessional (Not One Sparrow is Forgotten)Plenty Gooq Room (On the Glory Train)

Spiritual (Robert Morris)Shaker Hymn (William Hawley)

Kirby Shaw

** INTERMISSION **

IV. Spherical MadrigalsSpherical Madrigals (selected movements)

His Body Was an OrbAll-Circling PointSee How The Earth

Ross Lee Finney

V. OperaHumming Chorus (Madame Butterfly)Va, Pensiero (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves: Nabucco)Toast pour Le nouvel an (Toast to the New Year)

Giacomo PucciniGi useppe Verdi

Gioacchino RossiniVI. American Folk

CindyHe's Goin ' AwayHard Times Come Again No More

Traditional (Carol Barnett)Traditional (Gail Kubik)

Stephen Foster (Mark Keller)

SopranosBeth AlthofMarie Dymit*Korissa ErbeleKristin HoffmanLynette JohnsonDeb OsgoodEeva SavolainenNaomi Staruch

AltosSara BoosErin ColwitzLeslie Quigley CornilsRosita ElhardtJo Halvorsen*Anne HolmesShelley Kline

THE DALE WARLAND SINGERSDale Warland, Conductor

Jerry Rubino, Associate ConductorTenorsJared Anderson *Joel BeyerJoel FischerEric HopkinsChris JacksonJustin KarchDavid NordliGreg Tambornino

BassesMatt Culloton *Dave JacobsonBrian KremerPeter LovettMichael MeyerTim O'BrienBrian PettyJim RamletTerry SheetzBrian SteeleTom Witry* denotes section leader

The use of flash equipped cameras, tape recorders, video cameras or any recording device during the performance is not permitted.

PROGRAM NOTES by Brian Newhouse

Sanctus Jan Sandstrom~ fiI "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, heaven and earth are full of his glory." This is the seraphim's cry (from Isaiah

\~ 6:3) while attending the Lord high upon his throne. These are also some of the first words fourth-century Christiansselected for the Eucharistic service. In Jan Sandstrom's setting the mood is quiet, the harmonies lush yet simple. Hewrote the music for Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral where it was first performed in 1994. He created long pauses betweennearly every phrase so the sound could blossom but also clear in that famously echoey space. There's perhaps a deepermeaning to those silences, though, as they also allow us a second or two to reflect on this moment, this holy ground.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, l' Holy, Holy, Holy,Domine Deus Sabaoth Lord God of HostsPleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua, Heaven and earth are full of your glory,Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest.

Alleluia Randall ThompsonRandall Thompson was one of our country's great men of music. He taught for nearly twenty years at Harvard Universityand infused a uniquely American element into classical music. He was one of the first to incorporate jazz into orchestralworks, and his 1932 Symphony No.2 gained huge popularity because of it. The graceful Alleluia was composed for the1940 opening of the Berkshire Music Center, and has been a perennial favorite with choirs of all sizes and ages since.

All Night Vigil (Vespers) Ope 37 (selected movements) Sergei RachmaninoffViewed in the broad context of twentieth-century European music, Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil, Opus 37, is quite"conservative" and, at the same time, quintessentially Russian. It is a setting of the All-Night Vigil service, a curiousliturgical concatenation of three services --- Vespers, Matins, and First Hour - which was introduced in Russia in thefourteenth century, but proved to be popular and enduring in Russia alone of all Orthodox nations. For his settingRachmaninoff chose fifteen major psalms and hymns that form the unchanging.framework of the Resurrectional Vigil(the service celebrated every Saturday evening.)The music is for chorus a cappella, the traditional vocal complement in the Russian Orthodox Church, which hasmaintained the ancient-Christian patristic prohibition against musical instruments of any kind. Within these seeminglyaustere limits, Rachmaninoff created a monumental work that elevates the spirit by its lofty expressiveness and captivatesthe ear by its sheer beauty. Through the fixed texts of the Vigil the composer depicts the epic grandeur of humanity'sworshipful encounter with its Creator.

No.7 The Six PsalmsGlory to God in the highest,and on earth peace,good will among men.Lord, open Thou my lips,and my mouth shall proclaim Thy praise.

No.8 Praise the Name of the LordPraise the name of the Lord. Alleluia.Praise the Lord, 0 you His servants. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed be the Lord from Zion,He who dwells in Jerusalem. Alleluia.give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.Alleluia, alleluia.,For His mercy endures forever. Alleluia.give thanks unto the God of Heaven.Alleluia, alleluia.For His mercy endures forever. Alleluia.

No. 14 The Troparion "Thou did'st Risefrom the Tomb"Thou didst arise from the tomband burst the bonds of Hades!Thou didst destroy the condemnation of death, 0 Lord,releasing all mankind from the snares of the enemy!

Thoudidst show Thyself to Thine apostles,and didst send them forth to proclaim Thee;and through them Thou dist grantThy peace to the world.o Thou, who art plenteous in mercy!

Program notes by Vladimir Morosan, Madison, ConnecticutCopyright © 1994, by Musica Russica

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Spherical Madrigals (selected movements) Ross Lee FinneyFinney was born in Wells, Minnesota, north of 1-90 between Albert Lea and Blue Earth. As a young man he studied atthe University of Minnesota, then in the 1920' s set sail for Paris as nearly every American composer did to study withNadia Boulanger. He returned to the States and became a formidable composition teach in his own right, first at SmithCollege (1929-49), then at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (1949- 73), though he also served in WWII andearned a Purple Heart after stepping on a German mine. As a composer, Finney was famous for experimentation. Hetried every technique from straight-ahead melody to the most ear-scratching atonality, and developed a particularaffection in the 1960's for emerging electronic instruments. Finney's Spherical Madrigals (1947) takes its name fromthe circles, orbs, balls, and globes mentioned in the 17th century texts he chose to set.

1. His body was an orb, his sublime soulDid move on virtue's and on learning's pole:Whose reg'lar motions better to our view,Than Archimedes' sphere, the heavens did shew.

John Dryden (1631-1700)Upon the Death of the Lord Hastings

All-circling point. All cent'ring sphere.The word's one, round, Eternal year.

Richard Crashaw (1613-1649)In the Glorious Ephiphany of Our Lord God

See how the arched Earth does hereRise in a perfect Hemisphere!The stiffest Compass could not strikeA line more circular and like;Nor softest Pensel draw a BrowSo Equal as this Hill does bow.It seems as for a Model laid,And that the World by it was made.

Andrew Marvell (1621-1678)Upon the Hill and Grove at Bill-borrow

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Humming Chorus (Madame Butterfly) Giacomo PucciniGiacomo Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" dates from 1904 and thrilled audiences of the day with its exotic Japanesesetting, and glorious, soaring melodies. One of the most memorable numbers from the opera, however, isn't for theromantic leads but an offstage chorus. The heroine, Butterfly, has waited for her fickle husband, Pinkerton, to returnfrom three years at sea. When he finally does, his ship's booming guns heralding his arrive, she is onpins and needles -a mood captured perfectly by this "Humming Chorus."

Va, Pensiero (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves; Nabucco) Giuseppe VerdiIn the 1850's, Italy was trying to unite itself and gain freedom from foreign rule. Verdi's chorus, Va,pensiero, from hisearly opera Nabucco, became a rallying cry to Italians who saw themselves as oppressed as the opera's Hebrew slaves.Verdi became embroiled in politics and even his name took on political significance: the popular slogan "VivaV.E.R.D.I." stood for "Viva Vittorio Emanuele Re d'Italia" ~ a reference to Victor Emmanuel II, crowned in 1861 tohead a united Italy. Verdi would keep his political fortunes hot with subsequent operas like Don Carlo and Aida, but theforceful Va,pensiero was an opening shot across the bow of Italy's oppressors.

Fly, thoughts, on golden wings ~ J }

and light upon hills and dales,Where the sweet breezes of our native landWaft warmly and with soft fragrance!

The banks of the Jordan greet you,And Zion's destroyed towers.Oh, my beautiful lost homeland!Oh, memory so dear and so ill-fated!Golden harp of the prophetic bards,why hand you silent on the willow-tree?Kindle memories in our hearts,Speak of the time that was!Either intone, as you did for Jerusalem,A sound of bitter lamentation,

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Or may the Lord inspire in you a harmonyWhich will give us strength in our suffering!

Toast pour le nouvel an (Toast for the New Year) Gioacchino RossiniImagine having the world on a string, then tossing it all away. Gioacchino Rossini was in that position as Europe'sreigning early-nineteenth century opera composer when in his thirties he simply called it quits. No more opera. Why?He himself chalked it up to laziness, though we aren't really, to believe him because he still churned out an immenseamount of music in his remaining decades. Most of these later pieces he affectionately titled "Sins of My Old Age," andthis sparkling "Toast for the New Year" indicates that a taste for good champagne may have been one of those sins.

, On this sweet day, all together, we celebrate the New Year,To the pleasures, the songs, the gifts, the treats, come running girls and boys.Friendship and tender love taking turns will celebrate the return of the joyous meals,Young hearts, old wine-is this not the happiness of the heavens?Companions, with big gulps let's drink;Companions, let's drain the flasks;Companions, let's toast!

a Virgin Mother, prosper us,Watch over our sons on earth.Virgin Mother, prosper us,Virgin.

(Repeat Refrain)... Young hearts, old wine-is this not the happiness of the heavens?Yes, let's all drink it is the image of the heavens.

Tra la la la la la, how the champagne foams and bubbles.Tra la la la la la, true happiness is there.a Virgin!Tra la la la la la, the coming hour flees, let's enjoy it,Tra la la la la la, yes, happiness is there.It is there, it is there,Ah!

(Repeat Refrain)... Young hearts, old wine-is this not the happiness of the heavens?For us it is the happiness of the heavens.

Companions without manners let's pull out the corks,Let's drain the flasks, let's feast and toast,To our friends let's drink a toast.Let's drain the flasks,To the New Year let's drink, let's toast!

Dale Warland

The 2000-2001 season marks founder Dale Warland's twenty-ninth season as Music Director of the DaleWarland Singers. Warland has devoted his professional life to attaining the highest artistic level in choral singing.'Through musicianship and attention to detail, he has built one of the finest choral ensembles in the United States. UnderWarland's leadership, the Dale Warland Singers has thrilled choral music enthusiasts not just in its Twin Cities home,but throughout North America and Europe.

c Warland's outstanding achievements in the field of choral music were recognized in June 1995, when hereceived the Michael Korn Founder's Award at the annual Chorus America Conference in Seattle. This award, thehighest honor for a choral conductor in the United States, has previously been given to outstanding choral conductorssuch as Robert Shaw, Margaret Hillis, and Roger Wagner.

In addition to his active schedule as Music Director of the Dale Warland Singers, Warland is in demand as aguest conductor, lecturer, composer and clinician. He has conducted the Swedish Radio Choir, Danish Radio Choir,Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and Israel's Cameran Singers. He has also rehearsed and prepared choirs for performances ofmajor works in collaboration with notable conductors including Robert Shaw, Edo de Waart, Leonard Slatkin, andStanislaw Skrowaczewski. At Kryzstof Penderecki's request, Warland has prepared the St. Luke Passion for major·choruses in Los Angeles, Caracas, Stuttgart and the Oregon Bach Festival. In 1990, he also prepared Penderecki's PolishRequiem. Warland has served on the faculty of the All-Japan Chorus League National Competition in Fukuoka, Japan,and has lectured on American music at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. Most recently, he has been featured as guestconductor at Grant Park Music Festival, with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Utah Chamber Artists and EstonianPhilharmonic Chamber Choir. \

Warland is an active composer and a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers(ASCAP). He has served as co-chair of both the choral and recording panels of the National Endowment for the Arts andhas received major grants from the Ford Foundation, the Bush Foundation, and the Minnesota State Arts Board.

Before devoting himself full-time to the Dale Warland Singers, Warland maintained an academic career whichincluded 19 years as Director of Choral Music at Macalester College, St. Paul. He holds degrees from St. Olaf College,the University of Minnesota and the University of Southern California, and has received distinguished alumni awardsfrom two institutions. Warland also holds an honorary doctorate from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The Crescendo continues ...

"Brassy Brantigan"Sunday, Nov. 19th

7 p.m,Dundee Presbyterian Church Sanctuary

"Amahl and the Night Visitors"Saturday, Dec. 2nd

, 3 and 5 p.m,Sunday, Dec. 3rd ,land 3 p.m.

Dundee Presbyterian Church Sanctuary

Dr. Thomas A. Brantigan,Dundee Minister of Music

from 1973 to 1985,joined by the Omaha Brass Ensemble

plus Dundee Chancel andOmaha Central High School Choirs.

A Christmas Opera for the entire family.Presented by Opera Omaha and Dundee

Presbyterian Church.

Free tickets available beginning Oct. 16.Stop by the church office or send astamped, self-addressed envelope to:

Crescendo Concert SeriesDundee Presbyterian Church5312 Underwood AvenueOmaha, NE 68132-2197

Free tickets available beginning Nov. 1.Stop by the church office or send astamped, ~elf-addressed envelope to:

Crescendo Concert SeriesJ5Dundee Presbyterian Church5312 Underwood AvenueOmaha, NE 68132-2197

Please list your first and second choice ofperformance date and time.