Trumpets Sound - Voices Ring: A Joyous Christmas (LINER NOTES & LYRICS)) by Musical Heritage Society Recordings - Liner Note Library

Trumpets Sound • Voices Ring

-A Joyous Christmas-

11. Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8 ("Christmas") (Arcangelo Corelli) (arr. Joseph Foley) (unpub. MS)

12 E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come (Paul Manz)

13. Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden (G.P. Telemann)

14 Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn (G.P. Telemann)

THE AMERICAN BOYCHOIR

James Litton, Conductor

Alok Appadurai, Mitch Beeler, Joshua Buellier, Evan Burris, Jeremy Cheung, Nathan Chrislip, Benjamin Eley, Aaron Eppolito, Charles Evans, Paul-Andre Feit, Clay Greenberg, Nicholas Hay, Ryan Henderson, Ivan Hodge, Brian Kantorski, Lawrence Kaplan, Cameron Kruger, David Listenberger, Guy Mendilow, David Paker, James Petro,Jr., Nathaniel Smith, Nathan Wadley, Chad Walters, Evan Weber, Lance Wiliford, Scott Wiliford, Geoffrey Williams, Hans Zarins

THE ATLANTIC BRASS QUINTET

Joseph Foley, Jeffrey Luke, trumpets; Robert Rasmussen, french horn

John Faieta, trombone; John Manning, tuba

William Trafka, organ; Thomas Goeman, piano & harpsichord; John Grimes, timpani & percussion

Gerald ltzkoff, Jane Stackman, baroque violins; Karen Kaderavek, baroque cello

Ivan Hodge, Gerald ltzkoff, violins; Carol Baum, harp; Travis Humphrey, electric guitar

Great religious and secular festivals have inspired a wealth of music which has been sung and played over the centuries to highlight the rhythms of each passing year.

The major winter and spring festivals which are observed in the Christian Church as Christmas and Easter have created a vast treasure of liturgical music and popular religious song. These same holidays are preceded by four to six weeks of preparation and followed by several weeks of related seasons -- Epiphany following the twelve days of Christmas, and the 50 days of Eastertide, which includes the festivals of the Ascension and Pentecost, following Easter Day.

Of all the yearly festivals it is the winter celebrations of Advent-Christmas-Epiphany which have produced the greatest amount of music. Even during recent decades when composers rarely write major choral works based on religious texts, the wealth of new Christmas music which appears each season never diminishes. Without doubt the touching imagery of the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany story, with its primary message of family, peace and goodwill, appeals to those of all faiths. The American Boychoir and the Atlantic Brass bring a new sound to this festive music. Combining the delicate, even fragile, yet

brilliant ringing sounds of young boys' treble voices and adolescent boys' often unpredictable changing voices with the brilliant and solid, yet often mellow, sound of brass and organ, the familiar holiday carols and hymns take on a new listening experience. At the same time the less well known carols and motets are made immediately appealing.

In the more than 150 concerts sung by the American Boychoir each season, the programs seek to provide familiar music for the not-too-frequent concertgoer, as well as more specialized repertoire for the seasoned listener. The holiday program for this recording reflects that same approach, and it is hoped that the few works which may be unfamiliar will quickly become as popular as the carols which are heard throughout the land each December. The variety of music included requires more than brass fanfares and, in appropriate compositions, the delicate sounds of period instruments with harpsichord are heard. At other times the thrill of a harp glissando joins the steady sound of one of America's oldest and finest concert organs. Elgar's unusual work for treble voices, piano and two solo violins brings one of the choirboys out of the treble section to perform as first violinist. The spiritual arrangement demands a present-day 'gospel" sound of amplified guitar (played by a recent alumnus

of the Boychoir School), piano, organ, brass, and trap drums with the Boychoir heard over all!

The earliest carols were carols for all seasons, and it was not unusual for Advent, Christmas or Epiphany carols to include stanzas which dealt with lent, Holy Week, Easter, or even Pentecost. This recording follows a similarly broad approach with music included for many festival seasons, and closes with John Rutter's sensitive setting of the ancient benediction, which is a common text for all faiths.

From notes

by James Litton

Mechanics Hall and the 1864 Hook Organ

Dvorak, Caruso, Paderewski and scores of other great artists have performed in Worcester's Mechanics Hall. Built in 1857 and restored in the 1970s, because of its unique architectural style and excellent acoustics, it is considered one of the world's greatest performing spaces. The hall's historic concert organ was built when all concert halls had organs. It is the last large 19th-century American concert organ still intact and playing in its original home. Built in Boston by the Hook brothers, this four manual 3,504 pipe organ was recently restored by the Boston area organ builder, Fritz Noack.

During the past five decades the AMERICAN BOYCHOIR has performed in more than 2,000 North American cities and towns, in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and in 25 nations in Europe and in Central and South America. The choir has sung with major orchestras under the direction of conductors Toscanini, Beecham, Ormandy, Bernstein, Mehta, Leinsdorf, Previn, Ozawa, and Levine.

Based in Boston, the ATLANTIC BRASS

QUINTET is one of America's finest young brass ensembles. The quintet has garnered top prizes in the Carmel Chamber Competition, the New York Brass Conference Competition and the Coleman Chamber Music Competition, among others.

JAMES LITTON is widely regarded as one of America's best-known choral conductors, as a leading children's choir specialist, as a scholar and teacher, and as an accomplished organist. He has conducted, lectured, presented workshops and seminars, and played organ concerts throughout North America, Europe, South Africa, and Asia.

He has been Music Director and Conductor of the American Boychoir since 1985, and the choir has sung over 600 concerts under his direction throughout North America, in Europe, and in Asia. He is also Director of Music at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York.

As one of America's finest young organists, WILLIAM TRAFKA has played concerts throughout the East Coast and the Midwest. He is in great demand in the New York City area as an accompanist and as organist with orchestras. He is currently Associate Organist and Conductor at St. Bartholomew's Church and Organist and Choirmaster at Congregation Habonim in New York.

THOMAS GOEMAN, a graduate of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Westminster Choir College in Princeton, is a brilliant pianist, organist, and accompanist. He is currently the Associate Organist of The First Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and accompanist for the Bach Choir and Festival in Bethlehem. He has been the principal accompanist for the American Boychoir for several years.

Technical Note: This recording was made direct to digital two-track, employing a collection of Vintage Neumann vacuum tube microphones, specially modified by Stephen Paul Audio. Analog to Digital Conversion was accomplished in the Yamaha AD8X A/D Converter front end of a Yamaha DMP7D digital mixing console. Editing and digital sound processing were performed by the Studer EdiTech Dyaxis™ Hard Disk Digital Editing system.

This recording was made possible through a generous grant from the Shiba Kosan Co., Ltd. of Tokyo.

The American Boychoir choristers are chosen from the 70 students representing 28 states, who attend the American Boychoir School in Princeton, New Jersey. The American Boychoir School Booking Manager is Beverly Beggs, 19 Lambert Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540.

With thanks and appreciation for help and support in this recording project: to John Ellis, Thomas Thompson, Craig Denison, Robert Palmer and all of the American Boychoir School faculty and staff; to Jeffrey Nissim and Larry Palmacci and all at Musical Heritage/MusicMasters; and to Norma J. Sandison, Richard F. Jones, Joseph C. Chilorio and all others on the staff of Mechanics Hall. We are especially grateful to the Worcester County Music Association and to Dr. Robert E. Bennett for the use of the harpsichord, and to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Music Department for the loan of the timpani. We express deepest appreciation to the parishioners of Our Lady of the Angels Church, Worcester, who provided generous hospitality for the choirboys during the recording session days.

The American Boychoir and the Atlantic Brass Quintet are managed by Columbia Artists Management, Inc., and are under the personal direction of R. Douglas Sheldon and Michele Minter, 165 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019.

Additional MusicMasters Recordings by the American Boychoir include: Hymnody of Earth-A Ceremony of Song (7058-2-C) with Malcolm Dalglish and Glen Velez

Chichester Psalms-Leonard Bernstein (70492-C)

And I Never Saw Another Butterfly-Charles Davidson with the American Symphony Orchestra

-TEXTS-

O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL

O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him

Born the King of Angels:

O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

God of God, Light of Light, Lo! he abhors not the Virgin's womb; Very God, Begotten, not created: O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above. Glory to God

In the highest:

O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning, Jesus, to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing: O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! Words by F. Oakley, W. T. Brooke et al

ANGEL TIDINGS

In all towns and villages both far and near, Angel host bears tidings in strain full clear:

"Joy come to every nation, Joy to this generation, Christ is here; Christ is here."

Listen to the story of his wondrous birth; How he came so long ago to us on earth; Born of a virgin mother

Blessed above all other, Born today, born today. In a manger lying in poverty; Peace he brings at Christmastide to you and me; Tell of his birth that saved us, Tell of the love he gave us, Christ our Lord, Christ our Lord.

Sing then and be joyful on this Christmas night; Follow with the wise men the star so bright; Lead you to his own glory, Tell out the wondrous story; Christ is born, Christ is born today.

Words by John Rutter

ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY

Once in royal David's city

Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child. He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall; With the poor and mean and lowly Lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love, For that child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above; And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see him; but in heaven, Set at God's right hand on high. Where like stars his children crowned All in white shall wait around.

Words by C.F. Alexander

STAR CAROL

Sing this night, for a boy is born in Bethlehem, Christ our Lord in a lowly manger lies; Bring your gifts, come and worship at his cradle,

Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!

See his star shining bright

In the sky this Christmas Night! Follow me joyfully; Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!

Angels bright, come from heaven's highest glory, Bear the news with its message of good cheer:

"Sing, rejoice, for a King is come to save us,

Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!"

Let us all pay our homage at the manger, Sing his praise on this joyful Christmas Night; Christ is come, bringing promises of salvation; Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!

Words by John Rutter

REGINA COELI

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia; for he whom you were worthy to bear has risen as he promised, alleluia; pray for us to God, alleluia.

THE SNOW

O snow, which sinks so light, Brown earth is hid from sight, O soul, be thou as white as snow.

O snow, which falls so slow, Dear earth quite warm below; O heart, so keep thy glow, Beneath the snow.

O snow, in thy soft grave

Sad flowers the winter brave; O heart, so soothe and save, as does the snow.

The snow must melt, must go, Fast as water flow.

Not thus, my soul, O sow Thy gifts to fade like snow.

O snow, thou art white no more, Thy sparkling too, is o'er; O soul, be as before, Was bright the snow.

Then as the snow all pure, O heart be, but endure, Through all the years full sure, Not as the snow.

Words by C. Alice Elgar

MARY SPEAKS

O you who bear the pain of the whole earth, I bore you.

O you whose tears gave human tears their worth, I laughed with you. You, who when your hem is touched, give power, I nourished you. Who turn the day to night in this dark hour, light comes from you.

O you who hold the world in your embrace, I carried you.

Whose arms encircled the world with your grace, I once held you.

O you who laughed and ate and walked the shore, I played with you. And I, who with all others, you died for, now I hold you.

May I be faithful to this final test, in this last hour I hold my child, my son; his body close enfolded to my breast: the holder held, the bearer borne. Mourning to joy, darkness to morn. Open, my arms; your work is done.

Words by Madeleine L'Engle

HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled:

Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies,

With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold him come Offspring of a virgin's womb: Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,

Hail the incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King.

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings; Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King.

Words by C. Wesley, T.Whitefield, M. Madan et al

Children sing of peace and joy

At the birth of one small boy.

Truth and love and hope abide, This Christmastide.

Let the bells ring loud and clear, Ring out now for all to hear.

Truth and love and hope abide, This Christmastide.

Trumpets sound and voices raise

In an endless stream of praise,

Truth and love and hope abide, This Christmastide.

Green and silver, red and gold

And a story born of old, Peace and love and hope abide, This Christmastide.

Words by Jane McCulloch

E'EN So, LORD JESUS, QUICKLY COME

Peace be to you and grace from him

Who freed us from our sins, Who loved us all and shed his blood

That we might saved be.

Sing holy, holy to our Lord, The Lord, Almighty God, Who was and is and is to come; Sing holy, holy Lord!

Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein, Rejoice on earth, ye saints below, For Christ is coming soon!

E'en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come, And night shall be no more; They need no light nor lamp nor sun, For Christ will be their All!

LOBET DEN HERRN, ALLE HEIDEN

Praise the Lord, all you nations; laud him, all you peoples. For his loving kindness toward us is great, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever. Hallelujah!

PSALM 117

MEINE SEELE

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Luke I:46b-47

(First verse of the Magnificat)

NIGRA SUM

I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine;

rightly do they love you. My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land." Alleluia.

Song of Solomon

Go TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and ev'rywhere; Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

A baby, in a manger, was born that Christmas day; He came down to save us, to wash all our sins away.

Well, go tell it on the mountain, over the hills an' a everywhere; Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. A star above was shining, the Child in manger lay; Wise men came because they knew He'd show us all the way. Go and tell it on the mountain, over the hills an' a ev'rywhere, Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen. Numbers 6:24