“Choral Graffiti”
Adiemus Karl Jenkins
George Potenza, Ryan Albritten, Georgi Ascoli, DAW
Jubilant Song Norman Dello Joio
Dee Pace, soprano
Nicholas Benefield, piano
Cantate Domino Claudio Monteverdi
Jonathan Owens, vocal percussion
Immortal Bach J.S. Bach, arr. Knut Nystedt
TaReKiTa Renee Ismael
Griffin Tamaino, DAW
Stars Eriks Esenvalds
Aiden Grove, Madison Fries, DAW
Lacrymosa (from Requiem) W.A. Mozart
Jonathan Owens, DAW
Witness Me Jacob Collier, Kirk Franklin
Gabri Levine and Zachary Leeker, soloists
Nicholas Benefield, piano
Ryan Albritton, bass
The genesis of tonight’s program
When Dr.Warren noticed that there were over a dozen DAW majors in this year’s class of University Singers, she considered how she might encourage these students, who are part of the School of Music’s newest major. She came up with the idea of “choral graffiti” as a way of giving these students a creative outlet to express their art.
CHORAL GRAFFITI applying unconventional musical elements to traditional choral music, in the same way visual artists apply graffiti art to traditional surfaces.
In tonight’s case, the “musical graffiti” will consist of unusual vocalisms, including waves of sung sound and vocal percussion, as well as the DAW.
GRAFFITI (from the Italian word graffio meaning to scratch) using spraypaint, markers, or etching tools to display words, images, or designs on walls, buildings, trains, or other traditional surfaces.
DAW (digital audio workstation) a software application for recording, editing, and producing audio files, especially music. It serves as an all-in-one solution for creating, composing, arranging and performing music.
Belmont’s School of Music DAW majors use the computer as their primary instrument in the same way a voice major uses their voice, a violin major uses the violin, etc.
Adiemus
Ariadiamuslahteariadiamusdah
Arianatuslahteaduah
Aravaretuevate
Aravaretuevatelatea
Anamanacoolerawe
Anamanacoolera
Anamanacooleraweakala
Ahyadoowahye
KarlJenkinswritesinhisperformancenotefor‘Adiemus’that“thelyricsarewritten in“aninventedlanguage”.Thetexthasnomeaningper-se,ratherthevocalswere writtenassoundstomimicamusicalinstrument–theideabeingthatthelisteneris moreabletofocusonthefree-flowingvocalphrases.”
Thevocalsoundshaveafolkquality,andthemelodieshavebeenattributedto African-tribalandCeltic-styleinspiration.
SomehavesuggestedthelyricsbearanunintentionalresemblancetoLatin.Jenkins laterexplainedthathemadeuptheword‘Adiemus’andwasunawarethatitroughly translatesinLatinto‘Wewilldrawnear’.~classicfm.com
JubilantSong(adaptedfromWaltWhitman)
O,listentoajubilantsong!
Thejoyofourspiritisuncaged!
Itdartslikelightning
Mysoul,itdartslikelightning!
Listentoajubilantsong!
Forwesingtothejoysofyouthandthejoyofagladlight-beamingday.
O,ourspiritsingsajubilantsongthatistolifefullofmusic, Alifefullofconcord,ofmusic,alifefullofharmony.
Wesingpropheticjoysofloftyideals
Wesingauniversallove,awakingintheheartsofmen
Otohavelife,apoemofnewjoys,toshout!
Todanceandexult,shoutandleap!
O,torealizespaceandflyingclouds,thesunandmoon.
Otoberulersoflifeandofdestiny.La!
Listentoasong,jubilantsong!
Listentooursong!
Thejoyofourspiritisuncaged!
Listentooursong!O!
CantateDomino(fromPsalms96and98)
Latin:
CantateDominocanticumnovum, Cantateetbenedicitenominiejus: Quiamirabiliafecit.
Cantateetexultateetpsalliteincytharaetvocepsalmi: Quiamirabiliafecit.
EnglishTranslation:
SingtotheLordanewsong, Singandgivepraisetohisname: forhehasdonemarvellousdeeds
Singandexultandpraise insongswiththeharpandthevoice: forhehasdonemarvellousdeeds
ImmortalBach(Anonymous)
German: Komm,süßerTod, Komm,seligeRuh, Komm,führmichinFriede.
EnglishTranslation:
Come,gentledeath, Come,blissfulrepose, Thysolacecomegiveme.
TaReKiTa(ReenaIsmael)
DhaTarekita,DhumTarekita,NomTarekitaTakadimitaka
TakadimiTakajanuTakadimiNa
ComposerReenaIsmaelsays,“IwroteTaReKiTaasagiftforachoircalledUrban VoicesProject.Theyareachoirofpeoplewhoarecurrentlyorhaverecently experiencedhomelessnessonSkidRowinLosAngeles.Theyaresodeartome,and onedayIjustdecidedtoteachthemaboutIndianrhythm.Theyenjoyedthelessonso muchthatIwantedtowritethemapiecethatwouldusewhatIhadtaughtthem.The resultwasTaReKiTa–Iliterallywroteitinanhour,justinasinglemomentof inspiration,andrecordedmyselfsingingallthepartsforthemtolearn.Ithassince becomeastapleoftheirrepertoire,butit’salsobeensungbysomanychoirsaround theworld.Thereisjustsomethingaboutthepiece,perhapsborneoutofmylovefor thischoir,thatjustseemstoresonatewithpeople.
Practicallyspeaking,thispieceisbasedonsoundstheIndiandrum,thetabla,makes, called“bols” theyareonomatopoeicsoundsthatimitatethesoundofthedrum.
Theresultissomethinglikeascatwouldbeinjazz–ecstatic,energetic,rhythmic musicthatfeelsgoodonthetongue” ~reenaismaelcom
Stars(SarahTeasdale)
Aloneinthenightonadarkhill
Withpinesaroundmespicyandstill
Andaheavenfullofstarsovermyhead
Whiteandtopazandmistyred;
Myriadswithbeatingheartsoffire
Theaeonscannotvexortire;
Upthedomeofheavenlikeagreathill
Iwatchthemmarchingstatelyandstill
AndIknowthatIamhonored
Tobewitnessofsomuchmajesty
Lacrymosa (fromtheRequiemMass)
Latin:
Lacrimosadiesilla
Quaresurgetexfavilla
Judicandushomoreus.
Huicergoparce,Deus: PieJesuDomine, Donaeisrequiem.
Amen.
English:
Fulloftearswillbethatday
Whenfromtheashesshallarise
Theguiltymantobejudged; Thereforesparehim,OGod, MercifulLordJesus, Grantthemeternalrest.Amen.
WitnessMe(JacobCollier,KirkFranklin,ShawnMendes,ScottHarris,M.E.Kwadjo, AmariOuwo,Jr.,ScottFriedman)
Youtellmeyou'rebroken,tellmeit'sovernow
Yousayyou'redonehoping;youtellmeallthelightsgoneout
Well,maybeyou'relostandmaybeyou'refarfromhome
Ifyouonlykeepwalking,youneverwillwalkalone
'CausewhenI'mwithyouthere'snothingthatIwouldn'tdo
You'retheonethatI'vewaitedfortobringoutthebestinme
I'moutintheblue,I'mholdingmyhandouttoyou
You'retheonethatI'vewaitedfor;I'mholdingontoyou
I'mwithyou(I'mwithyou)
I'mwithyouhеre(I'mwithyouhere)
You'rеthelightIneed(you'rethelightIneed)
InthedarkIsee(inthedarkIsee)
I'mwithyou(I'mwithyou)
I'mwithyouhere(I'mwithyouhere)
YouareallIsee(youareallIsee)
Youwitnessme(oh,witnessme)
Iknowwehaven'tseeneachothermuch;I'vebeengoneforthelastsixmonths
Andlifeisn'teasy,socallwhenyouneedme
Dad'ssickandyourbrother'snotthere;moredrink'causenobodycares
ButIbelieveinyoudeeply;youknowyoucanleanonme
I'mhereforyouinwhateveryou'regoingthrough
Whateveritis,youcantellme,Iknowyou'ddothesame
I'mwithyou(I'mwithyou)
I'mwithyouhere(I'mwithyouhere)
You'rethelightIneed(you'rethelightIneed)
InthedarkIsee(inthedarkIsee)
I'mwithyou(I'mwithyou)
I'mwithyouhere(I'mwithyouhere)
YouareallIsee(youareallIsee)
Youwitnessme(oh,witnessme)
