Zikr (arr. for chorus by Ethan Sperry)
Mongolian Folk Song
Dorven Dalai: The Four Seas (arr. for chorus by Yongrub)
Se Enkhbayar
Zeregleent Gobi “Mirage on the Gobi Desert”
Jiangsu Folk Song Mo Li Hua (arr. for chorus by Chen Yi)
Folk Song
Diu Diu Deng (arr. for chorus by Chen Yi)
Yunnan Love Song
The Flowing Stream (arr. for chorus by Chen Yi)
Soprano
Ariel Morris
Lindsey Lang
Melanie Melcher Cuthbertson
Rachel Field
Alyssa Toepfer
Pamela Williamson
Alto
Meredith Barreth
Paula Brekken
Katherine Crawford
Erin Keller
Julia Scozzafava
Johanna Ehlers
Charles Bruffy, Artistic Director
Don Loncasty, Executive Director
Patrice Sollenberger, Artistic Assistant
Tenor
Devin Ceperly
Philip Enloe
Frank Fleschner
Bryson Rule
Daniel Hansen
Bryan Pinkall
Patrick Graham
Bass
Oliver Hutchison
Paul Davidson
Cameron Rolling
Asher Tillman
Bryan Taylor
Special thanks to the Richard J Stern Charitable Foundation, Commerce Bank, trustee for making this recording possible.
Recorded at Our Lady of Sorrows, Kansas City, Missouri. Published by Earthsongs (1-3) and Theodore Presser (20-22). Cover art and design by Haeg Design.
In 1271, Marco Polo sailed the Mediterranean to the Middle East, then traveled over land, all the way through the Middle East, the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, along the Silk Road, and into China. He returned to Italy in 1295 after 24 years away in Asia.
My goal was to create an eclectic mix of choral works that will capture and celebrate portions of his incredible journey. Follow his footsteps with us. This new recording features music from Rome to the Far East. The album includes Chen
Yi’s Chinese Folk Songs, lavish choral tapestries of the Mongolian steppe, thunderous rhythms from the Middle East and India. And painstakingly restored from the Vatican library, witness the first recording in nearly 500 years of Bartolomeo Escobedo’s masterpiece, Missa ad te levavi.
Charles
Bruffy, Artistic Director and Conductor
Texts and translations
By A. R. Rahman
Arranged by Ethan Sperry
Light of Muhammad, may peace be upon him. There is no other truth except Allah. Allah is one.
O, those of you who are thristing, come, the Oneness of Allah calls you! “There is no action superior to Zikr,” is the saying of the prophet of Allah!
Zikr is Peace, Zikr is Victory, Zikr is Healing, Zikr is the Cure. Allah is the only Eternal and Immortal - all else perishes and is returned to Him.
Light of Muhammad, may peace be upon him. There is no other truth except Allah.
O you the Amazing, O you the Eternal, O you the Beginning, O you the End. O you the Forebearting, O you the Gracious, O you the Greatest, O you the Merciful, O you the Benificent, O you the Great. O you who teaches us to read.
Light of Muhammad, may peace be upon him. There is no other truth except Allah.
In every flower, in every soul, in every soul, in every creation is the Light of Allah. May Allah’s Zikr stay in every single heart and every single moment. Zikr is better than hatred. Zikr is better than ignorance. Zikr is better than desires. Zikr is better than back-biting.
Light of Muhammad, may peace be upon him. There is no other truth except Allah.
Dörven
Dalai: “The Four Seas” Arranged for chorus by Yongrub
Baruun chi dalaigiin khaan usan der adil jöölen yumaa, Bajimin modunnai khaan navchin der adil jöölen yumaa.
Bayartu buyinaaraan uuljaad tegsan olan taan daan, Bajimag deejee örgeji bar’yaad duuliyaa khüi.
Jüün chi dalaigiin khaan usan der adil tungalag yumaa, Jimsen modunnai khaan navchin der adil jöölen yumaa.
Yüreelchi buyinaaraan uuljaad tegsan olan taan daan, Jünsnei deejeen örgeji bar’yaad duuliyaa khüi. Jirgeer khamtaar jargakhin bel’geer duuliyaa khüi.
As clear as the water of the West Sea, as gentle as the areca leaves.
With happiness and good fortune we have met. Let’s drink the best of wine, rejoice and sing, And enjoy this joyful moment together.
As pristine as the water of the East Sea, as gentle as the fruit tree leaves.
With good wishes and luck we have met. Let’s raise our wine cups, rejoice and sing, And enjoy this happy moment together.
Zeregleent Gobi
“Mirage
on the Gobi Desert”
By Se Enkhbayar
Buman beerees dallaad baikh yim, zeregeleend ee, Buural tüükh min tod’rood baikh yim, nudend’ minee, Botog’ tor’m’n builaad baikh yim, zeregeleend ee, Bodol negel’ uyaraad baikh yim, yuu-niikh bilee.
Tolgod mangkahn megshüüleed baikh yim, zeregeleend ee
Tuulsan eleesen tamlaad baikh yim, zürhiig minee, Toore zag’nei zalbiraad baikh yim, zeregeleend ee, Tooste horvoo dünsigeed baikh yim, yagaad bilee.
Tuulaad baiyuu daa, duulaad barnuu daa, Nartad uchiraltaikahn Gobi, minu zee uhaaraltaikhan zeregelee, minu zee.
Tengriin khayaag teleed baikh yim, zeregelee nee, Tertee khoj’ miig kheleed baikh yim, setgel minee. Tengerleg’ zayag yöröögööd baikh yim, zeregelee nee, Tegsh’hen jargakhiig shivneed baikh yim, nad’daa bilee.
The mirage calls to me across thousands of miles as if reflecting and reminding me of our ancient history. Baby camels cry in the desert seeking their dead mothers. Nostalgia wells up in my mind and thoughts.
Hills of sand and grass appear in the distant mirage, My soul is tortured by what is past and passed away. The sparse trees here pray for something else why is this dusty world such a sad one?
Am I to sing to the end? Is there any hope of covering these distances? Under the sun, it is the Gobi that is my destiny and the mirage that awakens my spirit.
The mirage expands on the horizon between earth and sky and tells my soul of the future yet to come. It wishes a heavenly fate to those who are worthy and whispers to me of a happier time.
Missa ad te levavi
By Bartolome de Escobedo
Kyrie eleison I
Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison
Christe eleison
Kyrie eleison II
Kyrie eleison
Intonation: Gloria
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Et in terra pax et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis.
Laudamus te; benedicimus te; adoramus te; glorificamus te.
Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam.
Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe.
Domine Deus
Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe.
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris.
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.
We praise you; we bless you; we worship you; we glorify you.
We give thanks to you for your great glory.
Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son.
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.
Qui sedes ad dextram Patris, O miserere nobis.
Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe. Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris.
Amen.
Intonation: Credo Credo in unum Deum
Patrem omnipotentem Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae, visibilium onmium et invisibilium.
Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum.
Et ex Patre natum ante onmia saecula.
You take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon us.
For you alone are holy you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father.
Amen. I believe in one God
Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.
Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero. Genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri: per quem omnia facta sunt.
The Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ the Only-begotten Son of God. Born of the Father before all ages.
God of God, Light of Light, true God of True God. Begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father. By whom all things were made.
Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem descendit de coelis.
Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine: Et homo factus est.
Crucifixus
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis; sub Pontio Pilato passus, et sepultus est.
Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in coelum: sedet ad dexteram Patris.
Et iterum venturus est com gloria judicare vivos et mortuos cujus regni non erit finis.
Et in Spiritum Sanctum
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem: qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre, et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per Prophetas.
Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum. Et vitam venturi saeculi.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven.
And became incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary: And was made man. He was also crucified for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried.
And on the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end.
Amen.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son. Who together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, and who spoke through the prophets.
And one holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I await the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Sanctus
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.
Osanna I Osanna in excelsis.
Benedictus
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Osanna in excelsis.
Osanna II Osanna in excelsis.
Agnus Dei I
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Intonation: Agnus Dei II
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei III
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
Amen.
Jasmine Flower (Mo Li Hua)
Arranged for chorus by Chen Yi
好一朵茉梨花，
滿園花開香也香不過它。
我有心採一朵戴，
看花的人兒要將我罵。
好一朵茉梨花，
茉莉花開雪也白不過它，
我有心採一朵戴，
又怕旁人笑話。
好一朵茉梨花，
滿園花開香也香不過它。
我有心採一朵戴，
又怕來年不發芽。
What a jasmine flower!
Of all the fragrant flowers in the garden, there is none as fragrant as it.
I want to pluck one and wear it, but the gardener would scold me.
What a jasmine flower!
When jasmine blooms. not even snow is whiter.
I want to pluck one and wear it but I’m afraid those around me would mock me.
What a jasmine flower!
Of all the blooms in the garden, none compares to it.
I want to pluck one and wear it
But I’m afraid it wouldn’t bud next year.
Diu Diu Deng
Arranged for chorus by Chen Yi
⽕⾞⾏到伊都 阿末伊都丟 唉唷磅空內
A train is chugging in to a tunnel where the water drips down and makes a sound like “Diu Diu”.
The Flowing Stream
Arranged for chorus by Chen Yi
月亮出來亮汪汪，
想起我的阿哥在深山。
哥象月亮天上走，哥阿！
山下小河淌⽔清悠悠。
月亮出來照半坡，
望見月亮想起我阿哥, 一陣輕風吹上坡,哥啊!
你可聽見阿妹叫阿哥.
The rising moon is bright, my sweetheart is in the deep mountain, he is like the moon walking in the sky. My sweetheart! The flowing stream around the mountain is clear aside. The moon is shining over the hillside, looking at the moon and thinking of my sweetheart, the breezes are sweeping past the hillside. My sweetheart! Don’t you hear me cry?