Vespers 2023

s r e p s e V Wheaton Chorale & Chamber Singers Alexandra Lutkevich, conductor

Wheaton’s Choral Tradition for the Holidays featuring works by

Margaret Bonds

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel Rosephanye Powell Elaine Hagenberg Flory Jagoda

December 3, 2023 7:30 p.m.

Cole Memorial Chapel | Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts

Vespers

Wheaton has celebrated the holidays in song and verse for more than eighty years. Over the decades, the Vespers concert has evolved with the increasing diversity of the college to include a wide range of music and writings, both sacred and secular, from varied cultures and traditions. In recent years, our Vespers concerts have featured music from six continents and ten centuries.

This year, we are pleased to present a program primarily featuring the works of female composers and poets. Some of these works are well-known, and others are infrequently performed. We hope that you enjoy the program, and wish you a wonderful holiday season.

Thanks to:

All of the musicians and readers who joined us in performance this evening, Juan Mesa for help with hymn selection and stepping in to read; Fran Alba for finding Ladino poetry and Avi Blaszkowsky for translations; Laura Bohn Case for a thoughtful poetry selection; Jessica Kuszaj, Kristi Mahoney, and Kristina Kalogeras and the arts@wheaton team for help with programs, publicity and logistics; Winnie Collins and the SJCI office for their support; Joey Del Santo for his tireless work as Chorale Assistant, and a huge thank you to William Hume, our amazing collaborative pianist, for his leadership and extensive work with the students.

Notes to the Audience: Please help us maintain the spirit of the Vespers tradition: •

Please reserve all applause until following “The Ballad of the Brown King”, toward the end of the program.

•

Kindly silence your cell phones

•

During the hymns, please stand as you are able and join us in singing!

Thank you!

Wheaton Chorale:

Wheaton Chamber Singers:

Emily Bellows Justin Bonoyer Emma Campbell Kyra Conover Jenna D’Olivo Alynne Dandridge Joey Del Santo Cameron Desharnais Owen Dietrich Loic Ebelle Riley Grande Mary Hodge Grace Lai George Lane Anthony LaRocca Emma Leeuwenburgh Ben McIntire Miles McIntire Elizabeth Morrison Taly Nudelman Sophie Packard Archy Parry Adriana Polanco Gomez Cecilia Redpath Ashlyn Shubert Elio Simpson Charlie Staley-Brain Carolyn Stevenson Lia Taylor Julia Thompson Caroline Vitale

Justin Bonoyer Kyra Conover Jenna D’Olivo Joey Del Santo Cameron Desharnais George Lane Anthony LaRocca Ben McIntire Sophie Packard Elio Simpson Charlie Staley-Brain Carolyn Stevenson Caroline Vitale Alexandra Lutkevich, director Instrumentalists: Juan A. Mesa*, College Organist William Hume*, piano Grace Wodarcyk, violin Betsy Hinkle, violin Leah Zelnick, violin Florence Yu ‘24, violin John Biatowas*, viola Thomas Conrad, viola Jacqueline Ludwig, cello Zarina Irkaeva*, cello Thomas Bleakney ‘26, percussion *denotes Wheaton faculty Readers: Juan A. Mesa, College Organist Laura Bohn Case, Senior Professor of the Practice of German Stephanie Burlington Daniels ‘97, Professor of Theatre Niamiah Jefferson ‘24

Dixième Nöel: Grand Jeu et Duo Louis Claude D’Aquin (1694 - 1772) —Juan Mesa, college organist

Once in Royal David’s City Music: Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876) Text: Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)

In Meeting We Are Blessed Music: Troy D. Robertson (b. 1978) Text: R. Gatsnahos, inspired by John Donne (1572-1631)

Bendigamos al Altísimo Traditional Sephardic Hanukkah Blessing —Juan Mesa, reader

Cuando El Rey Nimrod Music: Sephardic Folk Song, arr. Matthew Lazar (b. 1947) Text: Traditional Ladino Cuando el rey Nimrod al campo salía, mirava en el cielo y en la estreyeriá, Vido una luz santa en la giuderiá, que havía de nacer. Avraham avinu.

When King Nimrod went out into the fields, and looked up at the heavens and at the stars, he saw a holy light above the Jewish quarter, a sign that Abraham our father was to be born.

Avraham avinu, padre querido padre bendicho, luz de Yisrael.

Abraham, our father, beloved father, blessed father, light of Israel.

La mujer de Terakh quedó preñada, de día en día el le preguntava.

De qué teneij la cara tan de mudada?

Eya savía el bien que tenía.

After Terakh’s wife became pregnant, he would ask her from time to time: why do you look so different?

Only she knew what a wonderful thing she had.

Avraham avinu, padre querido padre bendicho, luz de Yisrael.

Abraham, our father, beloved father, blessed father, light of Israel.

Saludemos al compadre y tambien al mohel.

Que por su zekhut mos venga el goel y ri’hma a todo Yisrael.

Let us greet the godfather and mohel.

Because of his virtue may the Messiah come to redeem all of Israel.

Avraham avinu, padre querido bendicho, luz de Yisrael.

Abraham, our father, beloved father, blessed father, light of Israel.

Justin Bonoyer, soloist

Hamisha Asar Music: Flory Jagoda (1923-2021) arr. Nick Page (b. 1952) Text: Traditional Ladino Hamisha Asar, Hamisha Asar Ven a vermos, vamos kantar.

La balabaya mos aspera Kon kintze platos de fruta.

Bendicho su nombre Sinyor del mundo Frutas de Israel.

Feast of fruits, feast of fruits.

Come to visit us, we will sing.

The hostess awaits us With fifteen platters of fruit.

Blessed by his name, Lord of the Universe, Fruits of Israel.

Hamisha Asar, Hamisha Asar Ven a vermos, vamos balyar.

La balabaya mos aspera La baklaba i kave.

Bendicho su nombre Sinyor del mundo Frutas de Israel.

Feast of fruits, feast of fruits.

Come to visit us, let us dance.

The hostess awaits us With baklava and coffee.

Blessed by his name, Lord of the Universe, Fruits of Israel.

Ocho Kandelikas Sephardic Hanuka Song, Flory Jagoda (1923-2021)

Der Weiher Annette von Droste-Hülshoff (1797-1848) —Laura Bohn Case, reader

Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen Music: Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847) Text: Heinrich Heine (1779-1856) Nacht liegt aug den fremden Wegen, krankes Herz und müde Glieder; Ach, da fließt, wie stiller Segen, süßer Mond, dein Licht hernieder.

Night lies on the unfamiliar roads, sick heart and tired limbs; Ah, let it flow down, sweet moon, your light like a quiet blessing.

Süßer Mond, mit deinen Strahlen scheuchest du das nächtge Grauen; es zerrinnen meine Qualen, und die Augen übertauen.

Sweet moon, with your rays frighten away the nocturnal horror; my torment melts away, and my eyes overflow.

Translation: Bard Suverkrop

Abendlich schon rauscht der Wald Music: Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847) Text: Joseph von Eichendorff (1788-1857) Abendlich schon rauscht der Wald aus den tiefen Gründen, droben wird der Herr nun bald an die Sterne zünden.

The forest rustles now with the sounds of evening from its deepest recesses, above the Lord will soon set the stars alight.

Wie so stille in den Schlünden, abendlich nur rauscht der Wald aus den tiefen Gründen.

How silent are the chasms, the forest rustles only with the sounds of evening from its deepest recesses.

Alles geht zu seiner Ruh, wie die Welt verbrause, schauernd hört der Wandrer zu, sehnt sich tief nach Hause,

Everything goes to its rest how the world blusters on shuddering, the wanderer listens, longing for home.

Hier in Waldes grüner Klause, Herz geh endlich auch zur Ruh.

Here in the quiet hermitage of the forest, heart, go too at last to rest.

A Hope Carol Christina Rosetti (1830-1894) —Stephanie Burlington Daniels, reader

In The Bleak Midwinter Music: Cranham, Gustav Holst, (1874-1934) Text: Christina Rosetti (1830-1894)

Refuge Music: Elaine Hagenberg (b. 1979) Text: Sara Teasdale (1884-1933) Jenna D’Olivo, soloist Zarina Irkaeva, cello

Arise, Beloved!

Music: Rosephanye Powell (b. 1962) Text: Based on Song of Solomon, 2:7-13

A New Day’s Lyric Amanda Gorman (b. 1998) —Niamiah Jefferson ’24, Reader

The Ballad of the Brown King, (1954, 1960), selected movements Version for Strings, Harp and Organ (2018) Music: Margaret Bonds (1913-1972) Text: Langston Hughes (1901-1967) Edition: Malcolm J. Merriweather (b. 1985) Of the Three Wise Men Justin Bonoyer, soloist They Brought Fine Gifts Sing Alleluia!

Mary Had a Little Baby George Lane, soloist That was a Christmas Long Ago Alleluia!

Kyra Conover and Julia Thompson, soloists

On This Day, Earth Shall Ring Music: Personent hodie, melody from Pies Cantiones,1582 Text: Piae Cantiones, 1582, tr. Jane M. Joseph (1894-1929)

Sortie Mel Bonis (1858-1937)