Orpheus Club Men's Chorus - Holiday Concerts 2014

Orpheus Club Men’s ChOrus Presents its annual

Holiday ConCerts John Palatucci** Conductor

James Rash** Assistant Conductor

Ron levy* Pianist

Kenny medina Percussion

david dai Violin

sPecial Guest

PeteR ogRodniK Baritone

saturday, december 20, 2014 7:30 p.m. sunday, december 21, 2014 4:00 p.m. ridgewood united Methodist church Ridgewood, new Jersey

usheRs: FRiends oF the oRPheus club

w w w. r i d g e wo o d o r p h e u s cl u b . o r g

Special Thanks to the ownership and management of

Care One at the Cupola W. 100 Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus, NJ

Perry’s Florist

660 Harristown Rd., Glen Rock, NJ

Daily Treat Restaurant 177 Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ

Town & Country Apothecary 60 East Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ

Lewis Drugs 298 Westwood Avenue, Westwood, NJ

Benny’s Luncheonette

D E T S N r e A g n i WMen S H eu h p r o for

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Our Wednesday evening rehearsals start again January 7, 2015 8 to 10 p.m.

The Georgian Room Care One at the Cupola W. 100 Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus

11-04 Saddle River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ

Call for more information!

Rock Ridge Pharmacy

Greg Farrell 201-652-2873 Bill Amazzini 551-404-3976 Bob Husband 201-602-9092

191 Rock Road, Glen Rock, NJ

S

The Wine Seller

• Enjoy the Camaraderi e • It’s a great weekly bre ak • Come to rehearsal –tr

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y us out!

6 West Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ

Wine & Spirit World 626 North Maple Ave., Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

Save the DateS! The annual Orpheus Club

The Orpheus Club appreciates your help and support!

Spring Concerts will be held on

Saturday • April 18, 2015 Sunday • April 19, 2015 Mark your calendars now so as not to miss these gala events.

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O Holy Night O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees!

O hear the angel voices!

O night divine!

O night when Christ was born!

O night divine!

O night, O night divine!

Deck the Hall Deck the hall with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la la la la la.

'Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la la la la la la la.

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, Fa la la la la la la la la.

Auld Lang Syne Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We’ll raise a cup o’ kindness yet, For auld lang syne.

Rock of Ages Rock of ages, let our song raise thy saving power Thou amidst the raging foes, wast our sheltering tower.

Furious they assailed us, but thine arm availed us And thy word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us.

And thy word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us.

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Welcome!

Welcome to the annual holiday concerts of the Orpheus Club. One of the oldest male choruses in the Northeast, Orpheus is dedicated to the continuance of men’s choral singing, fellowship and to providing audiences with an eclectic repertoire of enjoyable music.

Our singing membership is made up of men from all walks of life drawn together by the common bond of music. Our singers now come from northern and central New Jersey. We welcome your inquiries about singing with us. If singing is not for you but you enjoy attending our concerts, we invite you to consider becoming a subscribing member. As such, you will be kept apprised of our upcoming concerts and will enjoy significant savings on the cost of tickets.

For more information feel free to speak with any singing member after the concert, visit our website (www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org), or write to us (PO Box 114, Ridgewood).

JOHN J. PALATUCCI enjoys a distinguished career as a performing musician, conductor, clinician, an adjudicator and educator. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and a Master of Arts degree in music performance from Montclair State College of New Jersey as well as a Master of Education degree in educational leadership with the accompanying supervisory and administrative certifications from NJ EXCEL. Mr. Palatucci has performed in concert under the batons of such noted conductors as Henry Brant, Lucas Foss, Morton Gould, Skitch Henderson, Alan Hovhaness, and Karel Husa. Appearances with other musical luminaries range from Placido Domingo, Jerome Hines and Robert Merrill to Dave Brubeck to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. In 1991, he recruited and managed a 3,000 voice choir for appearances by the Rev. Billy Graham in what was then the Brendan Byrne Arena. Several pieces composed for men's chorus have been dedicated to Mr. Palatucci and his setting of The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol has been published by the International Percy Grainger Society.

Beginning in the fall of 1990, Mr. Palatucci assumed the directorship of the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus of Ridgewood. During his tenure, he has 3

striven to uphold and enhance the OCMC’s proud history, tradition and reputation. These efforts include performances of Johannes Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody with the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra, Randall Thompson’s The Testament of Freedom and Giuseppi Verdi’s Hymn to the Nations with the Orchestra of Saint Peter-by-the-Sea, Howard Hanson’s Song of Democracy, Ottorino Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity, Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs and the revised finale to Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser with the Ridgewood Concert Band.

Mr. Palatucci led the OCMC in its 2005 Lincoln Center debut, performing at the Lincoln Center Library with the Palisades Virtuosi chamber ensemble. During the OCMC’s centennial year in 2009 he led a Ridgewood community choral festival which culminated in a performance with orchestra and soloist Ron Levy of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. In 2011, with Mr. Levy he again prepared the OCMC and its sister ensemble, the Ridgewood Choral, for a performance of the Beethoven Choral Fantasy with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra while also leading members of the OCMC in a 2013 performance at Carnegie Recital Hall.

Assistant Conductor Jim Rash is in his 24th year as a singing veteran of the Orpheus Club and has been President along with several other leadership positions. For 25 years he has served as Music Director at Hackensack United Methodist Church and previously directed two church choirs in Virginia. Jim performed at Carnegie Hall in 2009 and 2010, and Avery Fisher Hall-Lincoln Center in 2012, singing with a 400-member international chorus and orchestra. He serves as General Manager of the Atempo Chamber Ensemble and is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Associated Male Choruses of America, Chorus America, the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music, and the National Association for Music Education. Jim is Vice President – Sales Development at Dittman Incentive Marketing in New Brunswick, NJ.

In memorIam

Edward E. Brouillard 1913 – 2014 These concerts are dedicated to his memory 4

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Ron Levy, internationally acclaimed pianist, has been called "first-class" by the New York Times. He regularly appears as a soloist, and in partnership with many of the world's leading singers and instrumentalists. A graduate of Oberlin, Mr. Levy is a founding member of the Hudson Trio, Kaleidoscope, the New World Trio, the Manchester Chamber Players, the Breucklen Trio and the award-winning Palisades Virtuosi, resident chamber ensemble at Bergen Community College and the University of Hawaii. He has been pianist and harpsichordist of the Oberlin Orchestra, the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra, the New Jersey and North Jersey Philharmonics, the Westchester Symphony, and the Albany Symphony. Presently he is Associate Artist with the All Seasons Chamber Players. For over 20 years, Mr. Levy was associated with the Manchester (VT) Music Festival, of which he was a faculty and Board member.

While living in Vermont, he was Music Director & Conductor of the Opera Theatre in Weston, and impresario of the "Third Saturday" chamber music series at the historic Equinox Hotel, as well as the "Music on the Hill" series at the Southern Vermont Art Center. A champion of new music, he has been the recipient of a considerable number of works written for him by prominent composers. Mr. Levy has taught at numerous colleges, and is currently an instructor at Montclair State University; he maintains an active and on-going affiliation with the Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard, and NJ PAC. Mr. Levy conceived two "mini-festivals" which were presented by the NY Public Library at Lincoln Center.

In 2008 Mr. Levy played in St. Petersburg, Russia, and at the venerable Stratford (CA) Summer Music Festival (with Palisades Virtuosi).

Recently, Ron performed the inaugural concert of the new faculty recital series at MSU. He was joined by legendary clarinet virtuoso Stanley Drucker, and Ann Kim, solo cellist with the NY City Ballet. On November 29, 2013 Ron presented a concert at Carnegie Hall, performing sixteen works written for him (including two for the Orpheus Club). A twoterm President of the Professional Music Teachers' Guild of NJ, he is a contributing editor to BIM Music Publications, Switzerland. Recently Mr. Levy was appointed to the Board of the Rockland (NY) Symphony.

Mr. Levy served on the jury of the The 2013 Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition. Recordings by Mr. Levy are available on the Albany, Centaur, Eroica, Koch International, MMF and High Point labels.

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Kenny medina is an avid percussionist and educator in the New York/New Jersey area. Mr. Medina has performed with the Oratorio Society of New Jersey, The Martina Arroyo Foundation of New York, the Christ Church Symphony Orchestra of Long Island, as solo concerto competition winner with the Hudson Symphony orchestra, and under the auspices of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as a percussion instructor for InterSchool Orchestras of New York.

He holds a BFA from St. Peter's College in Jersey City and a BA in Music from Kean University in Union. david dai, violin, is a student at Montclair State University. Before embarking on his studies here, he performed with a number of orchestras in his native Shanghai, China where he also received numerous awards.

Our Guest PeteR ogRodniK, baritone, is a Senior BFA Musical Theater major at Montclair State University. His regional theater credits include Shrek the Musical (Shrek) and Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik). At MSU, Peter has performed as Chester in Klemperer’s New Clothes, Abner Dillon in 42nd Street, Admiral Byrd in Take Flight, 1st Officer in Dialogue of the Carmelites Opera, David Bascombe in Carousel, Guard and Ensemble in Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Eddie in The Rocky Horror Show. He has also performed in MSU’s Brush Up Your Shakespeare, in scenes from the operas The Merry Wives of Windsor (Mr Ford and Falstaff) and Kiss Me, Kate (Fred and Petruchio).

Translation

Cantique de Jean RaCine In dVerbe, égal au Très Haut, Notre unique espérance, Jour éternel De la terre et des cieux, De la paisible nuit Nous rompons le silence.

Divin Sauveur, Jette sur nous les yeux!

Word of God from on high, Our hope and expectation, The eternal radiance Of heaven and the earth.

Before Thy peaceful throne, We call to Thee for mercy.

Dear Savior, Guard us with Thy watchful eye!

Répands sur nous le feu de ta grâce puissante que tout l’enfer fuie au son de ta voix.

Dissipe le sommeil D’une âme languissante, qui la conduit à loubli de tes lois!

Pour down on us the flames Of Thy grace strong and mighty.

The powers of death Fell at Thy sounding voice.

Our slumbering souls awake, In languish long repining, That we may walk In the light of Thy law!

O Christ, sois favorable à ce peuple fidèle pour te bénir maintenant rassemblé.

Reçois les chants quil offre à ta gloire immortelle, et de tes dons qu'il retourne comblé!

O Christ, grant us Thy favor, Thy flock true and faithful Who gather here To adore Thy great name.

Attend the praise we offer To Thy glory everlasting.

Receive our gifts We return to Thy hand!

English text by K. Lee Scott

Keep up with the

Orpheus Club www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org Scan the code at left with your smartphone to go there 6

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Howard Kasschau On the twentieth anniversary of his death, the Orpheus Club remembers the many years of musical leadership he provided to our organization. With his father Frank as conductor, Howard served as accompanist from 1937 to 1944. He then took over the podium as Orpheus conductor, where he served until 1962.

A man of immense musical talent, Howard was a renowned composer, arranger and teacher. His books for piano students are still used today. We are pleased to perform several of his works at these concerts.

Program from the first Orpheus Club concert June 22, 1910

Orpheus Musical Leadership BReAkFAST • LUNCH • DINNeR Serving the Community for 50 Years

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1909-1915 1915-1922 1922-1930 1930-1944 1944-1962 1962-1963 1963-1977 1977-1978 1978-1990 1990-

Conductors DeWitt Clinton, Jr. Wilbur A. Luyster Bruno Huhn Frank Kasschau Howard Kasschau Richard Bloch Gerald Weale Bailey (Oats) Harvey James Bender John Palatucci

accompanists 1909 George Young 1910-1922 Bevier Smith 1922-1937 Charles M. Hobbes 1937-1944 Howard Kasschau 1944-1950 Ralph Stoughton 1950-1951 Gates Wray 1951-1963 Harry Thurber 1963-2004 Richard Lane 2004Ron Levy

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Orpheus Club Scholarship Program Roland L. Meyer Orpheus Club Scholarship To keep “the song alive” the members of the Orpheus Club are committed to support future generations of musicians in their endeavors. To that end, for more than two decades the Orpheus Club has been proud to sponsor a scholarship program designed to honor and assist a graduating high school senior who has demonstrated extraordinary accomplishments in music and who intends to continue musical studies on the collegiate level.

Since taking it current form in 1993, the program has made grants totaling $21,000.00.

Students from Ridgewood, Indian Hills, Paramus, Pequannock, Glen Rock, Ramapo, Northern Valley (Old Tappan), Eastern Christian, Northern Highlands, Fair Lawn, Verona, Roxbury, Montclair, Leonia and Lakeland high schools and the Bergen County Academy have been past recipients of Orpheus Club awards. These outstanding young musicians have gone on to study at Oberlin College, the University of Miami, the University of North Carolina, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Boston University, the Mannes College of Music, Miami University (Ohio), Rutgers University, Calvin College (Michigan), the Manhattan School of Music, Boston College, the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Hamilton College (New York), Brandeis University and the Cleveland Institute of Music.

At our concert this past April, we awarded the 2014 Roland L. Meyer Orpheus Club Scholarship grant of $2000.00 to Emmett Rapaport from Ridgewood High School. He is now attending the University of Michigan.

We hope to be able to honor other outstanding musicians in coming years.

Applications for our 2015 award will soon be mailed out to area schools and will also be available on our web site. If you know of a promising high school senior who might be eligible, encourage them to apply We thank all those individuals and groups who have made donations to this valuable effort and encourage you to continue your support of our students in the arts. Donations of any size are welcomed. Make your check payable to the Orpheus Club Scholarship Fund and give it to any singing member or mail it to:

Orpheus Club, Inc. P.O. Box 114 Ridgewood, NJ 07451 All contributions are tax-deductible.

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These songs were arranged for us by Howard Kasschau, a Ridgewood composer, conductor and pianist. Howard became the accompanist for the Orpheus Club in 1937 and in 1944 succeeded his father, Frank, as music director, serving until 1962. He wrote more than 100 compositions for piano, orchestra and chorus, and was the author of The Howard Kasschau Piano Course, a series of instruction books published in 1959. He died in 1994.

Together the Kasschaus served the Orpheus Club for some 32 years, starting in 1930. i HeaRd tHe Bells on CHRistmas day Words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, music adapted by Johnny Marks, arranged by Roy Ringwald Longfellow wrote this poem on Christmas Day in 1863, shortly after hearing that his son had been severely wounded in the Civil War. The most popular American poet of his day, Longfellow was still mourning the accidental death of his wife two years earlier. His grief over her death had made it difficult for him to write and he feared it was driving him insane.

The Christmas bells did not at first bring joy to the poet. Verses of the poem not included in the musical setting speak of the cannons of war thundering in the South, their sound drowning out the Christmas message. He bows his head in despair, but the pealing bells “more loud and deep” continue and he hears their message: “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; the Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail with peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Several composers later set the poem to music, but this version by Johnny Marks has become the standard.

The declaration made in Longfellow’s poem still rings as loudly as the Christmas bells pealing from a thousand belfries: no matter what sounds of evil destruction may thunder in the world, the message of peace on earth, good-will to men can never die and will prevail.

Program notes written by Charles Austin

a new way to suppoRt oRpHeus

Now you can support as you shop! Amazon.com has a program whereby they will donate ½ percent of the purchase price of whatever goods and services you purchase to Orpheus. You pay nothing extra for this program and it looks exactly as you’re used to seeing when you access the regular Amazon web site. To login to Amazon Smile merely Scan this code to reference this link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/22-3597641 and you go directly to the will see our name displayed at the top of the screen. Shop exactly the Orpheus link. same as you would under regular Amazon. There is also a download link that will install an icon on your PC that will start you in Amazon Smile: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1002402211

Keep up with the

Orpheus Club

www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org 17

sion – and the one important for today’s theme – is about people from every nation singing and dancing together in the public square. a ClaRifiCation

by Richard Lane Here’s a song just for fun. It was composed for the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus by the late Richard Lane, a superbly gifted musician who was our accompanist and composer in residence for 42 years. We honor his memory by presenting one of his works at each of our concerts. Our dear friend left us some deep and profound pieces of music. Although this one is light-hearted, it also displays his musical genius.

“A Clarification” explains what actually happened in the ancient nursery rhyme when Jack and Jill met misfortune ascending that hill.

RudolpH tHe Red-nosed ReindeeR Johnny Marks It was fifty years ago – yes, 50 years ago! – that NBC first broadcast the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” television special in stop-motion animation, a relatively new technology. It is now one of history’s longest-running television specials.

The beloved story was created by Robert May in 1939 for the department store, Montgomery Ward, as a coloring book to be given away at Christmas time (you needed, of course, a red crayon). May’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, set it to music and the version by cowboy singer Gene Autry hit the top of the charts 1949. Autry’s recording sold 1.75 million copies that Christmas. Other recordings have sold over 150 million copies, making it second only to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.”

Marks (1909-1985) specialized in Christmas songs. In addition to “Rudolph” he wrote “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “A Caroling We Will Go,” “Christmas Time is Here,” some little-known tunes like “We Are Santa’s Elves,” “When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter,” and the very popular “I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day” also a part of this Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus concert.

A World War II veteran, he served as captain in the 26th Special Service company, receiving a Bronze Star and four Battle Stars for his service. let tHe RiveR Run Words and music by Carly Simon, arranged by Kirby Shaw First featured in the 1988 film, “Working Girl,” this song won an Oscar as the best original song of that year, along with a Golden Globe Award.

Simon (b. 1945) said that in writing a song for that movie about a woman learning how to be strong and self-reliant in the “man’s world” of Wall Street, she recalled Walt Whitman’s poem “Leaves of Grass,” where the poet celebrates the power of the self, and where men and women of all occupations and classes rise to “gain the day.”

While not composed as an anthem for any ideology, the song has taken an inspirational tone as the “sons and daughters,” the “great and small, stand on a star and blaze a trail” letting the “dreamers wake the nation” to create “the new Jerusalem.” two Ballads: dRink to me only witH tHine eyes / all tHRougH tHe nigHt Traditional, arranged by Howard Kasschau These two ballads bring gentle themes to a most personal expression. The first asks only that the beloved offer a “toast” with the eyes, that intensely intimate glance that can pass between lovers. The loving glance, a light kiss, the breath of a beloved enriching the scent of a rose: true, sublime joy for the one in love. The verse has its origins in lyrics by Philostratus, a Greek poet of the Third Century of the modern era.

In “All Through the Night,” a Welsh lullaby, a parent looks upon a sleeping child, prays for a peaceful night and “while the weary world is sleeping” sees purity and holiness in the slumbering infant.

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offiCeRs Bob Husband .............................................................President Bill Amazzini .................................Vice President, Membership Dave Kerr,..................................Vice President, Administration Peter Bernich ..............................................................Treasurer Neil Neubert ................................................................Librarian Greg Farrell..................................Chairman, Board of Trustees

BoaRd of tRustees singing memBeRs

Steve Amarante

Steven Fell

Thomas Olszewski

Clifford Gerenz Henry Trepicchio

non-singing memBeRs

Walter White

Marcia Perry Committee CHaiRmen

Paul Berinato ..................................................................................................Music Peter Fenzel ...............................................................................................Publicity Dennis M. Steele .................................................................................Performance past pResidents George U. White Frank F. Knothe George W. Campbell Wilbur Morris Paul J. Howe Herbert R. Talbot George A. Steves Theodore Northrup Robert Nutt, Jr. Ray M. Gidney Harry Wiltshire Richard H. Long Chester S. Lawton William J. Crawford Arthur I. Demarest Leon A. Payne Albert W. Staub Clifford D. Ackerman

Howard R. Leroy Richard G. Mannheim Frederick A. Blanpied Charles R. Dewhurst Stanley M. Staples Howard M. Liechty John Bing Walter C. Doscher Frederick E. Ray Theodore H. Mastin, Jr. Herbert S. Buzzard Otis H. Grendler Jack D. Morrison Oliver H. Hiester Karel V. Ctibor Vincent G. Beck

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Robert J. Egner Charles B. Hepburn George W. Billings Jerome Wyckoff E. Raymond Greve Carl F. Bilz Robert E. Duane Frank Strobl Roland L. Meyer James W. Rash Paul D. Berinato Dan Williams Lou Fucito Jim Lisanti Pat O’Brien Joe Lisella Robert Silvera Greg Farrell

Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus PETE BERNICH* JIM LISANTI*

BILL DE BLOCK JOHN GALVIN* CLIFF HOOK NEIL NEUBERT

CHARLES AUSTIN* JIM LATHEy PHILLIP RASPE* GARy STARK

JOSEPH ALU BOB CASPARIAN TOM OTT

firSt tenor ROBERT F. SILVERA**, Part Captain CHARLES BROWN

SeconD tenor PAUL BERINATO**, Part Captain PETER FENzEL CLIFFORD GERENz* JOE LISELLA* RICK SWANSON

BOB HUSBAND VERNON REED*

LOU FUCITO* BERNARD GREENFIELD JAMES M. MATTHEWS* DAVID STRIFE

Baritone DAVE KERR*, Part Captain CHARLES CANALE TOM OLSzEWSKI* ERIC SCHWARz TOM VEIT

GREG FARRELL* JAy PALATUCCI SAM SHAW BOB WESTERDAHL

BaSS DENNIS M. STEELE, Part Captain BILL AMAzzINI EDWARD J. BROUILLARD** ROGER JACOBSON JOHN McKEON JAMES W. RASH** VAN SCHNELLBACHER ED SEIDLER*

active – not Singing in thiS concert STEVE AMARANTE JAMES J. BELLOTTI*** JEFFREy R. BERINATO* HERB COHEN* RAy DEJONGHE* STEVEN FELL* HENRy TREPICCHIO* PHIL WAxBERG

* Each star represents ten years of music making

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honorary MeMBer FRANK STROBL***

H H congratulationS! John galvin H cliff gerenz H vernon reed 10 yEARS

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celeBrating the Song anD Spirit of orpheuS 10

tHeRe is faint musiC Words by Nancy Buckley, music by Dan Forrest The “faint music” is a mother’s crooning to her baby, an image evoking thoughts of bright joy and comfort in the dark of night.

Dan Forrest (b. 1978) has won numerous awards as a young composer. He writes “All good things, including any beauty that we encounter, are from God, through God, and ultimately to God. All beauty is God’s beauty, wherever it is found. So I will make the most beautiful music I can, not because music-making is my ultimate end, but because I want to press my gifts to their maximum potential toward the true ultimate end: glorifying God.” He has earned a doctoral degree from the University of Kansas. This setting of a poem by Nancy Buckley was written this year. afRiCan noel South African folksong arranged by Donald Moore A sense of joyous vibrancy of life infuses this setting of a South African carol. As a contrast to the less percussive elements of many familiar Christmas carols, this piece has a rhythmic energy accentuated by the use of various drums, and is a reminder that the Christmas message is celebrated throughout the world and that the message transcends culture. salvation BelongetH to ouR god Words adapted by E.B.G, music by Paul Tchesnokov (1877-1944) This example of Russian church music, generally sung by all-male choirs, moves from quiet declaration to a sonorous “alleluyia.” Composer Paul Tchesnokov (1890-1941) came from a family where five brothers all studied vocal music. A 1917 graduate of the Moscow Conservancy, he became director of church choirs and by the time he was 30, had written hundreds of choral works for the church. Church music was being suppressed after the 1917 Russian revolution, so he turned to writing secular music and became director of the Moscow Academy Choir and the Boshoi Theatre choir. When barred from publishing his religious works, he stopped writing music altogether and taught directing until his death in 1944.

Cantique de Jean RaCine

by Gabriel Fauré, arranged by K. Lee Scott Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) was one of the foremost French composers of his time, having studied with Camille Saint-Saëns and at an early age achieved the prominent post of director at the Paris Conservatoire and organist at the Church of the Madeleine in Paris.

He was 19 when he wrote Cantique de Jean Racine, composing music for a poem by the 17th Century poet.

The hymn, written to be sung at morning prayer, asks God to look with grace upon the “longing souls” on earth so that as day approaches, the darkness of Hell will flee at the sound of God’s voice. tzena tzena tzena English lyrics by Pete Seeger and Gordon Jenkins, Hebrew lyrics by Yehiel Haggiz, music

by Issachar Miron, arranged by Donald Moore Originally written in Hebrew in 1941, this song has gone through various forms. When recorded by The Weavers in 1950, it hit the top of the charts along with “Goodnight, Irene” on the flip side of that record. We in the Orpheus Club sing it this season as a tribute to the late Pete Seeger, a member of The Weavers, who frequently featured this song in his concerts. Seeger, who died this year, believed in the power of music to do great things and always asked audiences to sing along with him. Pete brought “We Shall Overcome” to the attention of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and it became a principal anthem of the 1960s civil rights movement.

The words to “Tzena, Tzena, Tzena” have changed over the years, but the current ver15

Patrons & Sponsors

Program Notes December 2014

We in the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus believe that music has great power.

It has power to create a human community, power to express the greatest ideas and the deepest feelings of that community. Music has power to unite us, inspire us and lift us up in times of trouble. An anthem declares loyalty to country; a ballad declares longing for a lover. A song calls people to rise against oppression; a hymn praises God or prays for divine guidance.

When people gather to have fun, music is there. There have been “work songs” to accompany the hardest labor; songs remembering good times, music that hopes for a brighter future. Couples in love have “their” song.

Whether times are good or bad; we have music, because music has power.

It is a power both fierce and gentle, created through miracles of sound, word, expression and harmony. Its power is always a communal force. Silent on the page, the words and notations have no meaning, it is only through performance and hearing – and this requires the community of musician and audience – that they become beautiful music able to do great things.

Even those who do not create or perform music know its power because music reaches deeply into the human heart. Our very beings are “tuned” to hear its message and respond to its call.

In this year’s holiday concert, we sing songs of faith and joy, reflecting the great themes of holiday celebrations. Our songs of faith might refer to elements of one faith, but stand for all in the human community who believe in and work for a better world.

We remember Pete Seeger, who knew how to sing against oppression, who sang to cleanse the waters of the Hudson River and who always insisted that audiences at his concerts sing along. We remember Johnny Marks, whose differently-abled reindeer has delighted us for decades. You will hear us sing songs of peace that exalt the unity of the human family and stand against those forces that would divide us.

We men of Orpheus are honored to be stewards of this music. We want to bring it to you in all its beauty and power. And you in the audience, by letting music into your hearts, share with us this great gift to the human community. Together we create and experience the power that is music.

patronS Mr. Wesley Cheringal Mrs. Joseph Fitzsimmons Mr. & Mrs. Robert Fleckenstein*** Mr. James Rash & Ms. Marcia Guthrie*

Mr. Conrad Hirzel* Ms. Marcia Perry* Mr. Robert J. Petretti** Mr. & Mrs. Walter White**

aSSociate MeMBerS Mrs. Dottie Fucito*

Mr. & Mrs. H. Ralph Kirby*** SuBScriBing MeMBerS

Ms. Margaret Budd Mrs. Alida E. Manley***** Mrs. Marianne S. Neville**

Ms. Roberta A. M. Ragg**** Mr. Steven M. Steiner* Mr. Frank Strobl DonorS

The Orpheus Club gratefully acknowledges the following members and friends who have made donations to the club: Mr. Charles Austin Dr. & Mrs. Mark Badach Bank of America (Merrill Lynch) Mr. Peter Bernich Mr. Edward Brouillard Ms. Margaret Budd Mr. Charles Canale Mr. Robert Casparian Mr. Gregory Farrell Mr. John Galvin Mr. Clifford Gerenz

Dr. & Mrs. Barry Halejian Mr. Clifford Hook Mr. Robert Husband Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ishkanaian Mr. David Kerr Mr. James Lathey Mr. Ron Levy Mr. James Lisanti Mr. Joseph Lisella Mr. James Matthews Mr. Thomas Ott Mr. John Palatucci Perry's Florist

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Plany Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Price Mr. Phillip Raspe Mr. Vernon Reed Mr. Ted Richter Mr. Eric Schwarz Ms. Marleigh & Ms. Anne Marie Seibelke Mr. Dennis M. Steele Mr. David Strife Mr. Thomas Veit Mr. Phil Waxberg

We invite your support “in praise of song.”

Please make your check payable to Orpheus Club, Inc. and mail it to Post Office Box 114, Ridgewood, NJ 07451.

All contributions to Orpheus are fully tax deductible to the maximum extent of the law. rolanD l. Meyer orpheuS cluB ScholarShip funD

CaRol of tHe Bells Words by Peter J. Wilhousky, music by Mykola Leontovich, arranged by Peter J. Wilhousky With its insistent, repetitive representation of continually-ringing bells, this carol makes an announcement that cannot be ignored. Mykola Leontovich (1877-1921), a Ukrainian priest, composer and music director based it on a folk chant from pre-Christian times.

Leontovich wrote Ukrainian music that inspired the independence movement. He was assassinated, presumably by Russian agents, while visiting his parents during the Christmas season of 1921.

Peter J. Wilhousky (1902-1978) was born in Passaic, became director of music in the New York City schools, was conductor of the New York All-City High School Chorus and organized many choruses that sang for Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra.

In 1936, he wrote a set of English lyrics to “Carol of the Bells.”

14

Ms. Maja Britton Ms. Alex Rainer-Meyer Mr. Wesley Cheringal Ms. Marcia Perry Unitarian Society of Ridgewood

Our Sincere Thanks The Orpheus Club is grateful to the many generous patrons, donors and sponsors who have helped to keep the song alive for 105 years.

Thank you.

11

ORPHeUS PROgRAm

ORPHeUS PROgRAm

Holiday 2014

Holiday 2014

i

iv

Salutation. ...................................................................................William P. Bentz

A Clarification .........................................................................Richard Lane

Deck the Hall .......................................................................................Traditional

A Holly Jolly Christmas .........................................................Johnny Marks Arranged by Kirby Shaw

The audience is invited to join in singing (page 22).

Carol of the Bells (Ukrainian Carol) .....................................M. Leontovich Lyrics and arrangement by Peter J. Wilhousky

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.........................................Johnny Marks Arranged by Harry R. Wilson

There Is Faint Music ....................................Nancy Buckley and Dan Forrest v

African Noel .............................................................South African Folksong Arranged by Donald Moore Kenny Medina, James W. Rash and Dennis M. Steele, percussion

Candlelight Concerto (1957) ............................................Howard Kasschau Ron Levy, piano

ii

Soliloquy .....................................Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II

A Simple Song ............................................................. Leonard Bernstein

Peter Ogrodnik, baritone

From Carousel

From Mass

If I Can’t Love Her ....................................... Alan Menken and Tim Rice From Beauty and the Beast

I, Don Quixote ............................................. Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion

vi

You’ll Never Walk Alone........... Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II From Carousel

From Man of La Mancha Peter Ogrodnik, baritone

Arranged by William Stickles Peter Ogrodnik, baritone

Let the River Run......................................................................Carly Simon From Working Girl

iii

Arranged by Kirby Shaw

Salvation belongeth to our God..........................................Paul Tchesnokov

Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes..................................English traditional

Arranged by Archibald T. Davison "Salvation is created in the midst of the earth, O God. Alleluia!" Psalm 74:12

All Through the Night ........................................................Welsh traditional

Cantique de Jean Racine ........................................................ Gabriel Fauré Arranged by K. Lee Scott David Dai, violin

Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, Tzena .................................................. Issachar Miron English lyrics by Gordon Jenkins and Pete Seeger Hebrew lyrics by Yehiel Haggiz Arranged by J. David Moore

Peter Ogrodnik, baritone From Four Favorite Ballads

Arranged by Howard Kasschau

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day ..........................................John Marks Text from the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Arranged by Roy Ringwald

There will be a fifteen-minute Intermission.

12

13

ORPHeUS PROgRAm

ORPHeUS PROgRAm

Holiday 2014

Holiday 2014

i

iv

Salutation. ...................................................................................William P. Bentz

A Clarification .........................................................................Richard Lane

Deck the Hall .......................................................................................Traditional

A Holly Jolly Christmas .........................................................Johnny Marks Arranged by Kirby Shaw

The audience is invited to join in singing (page 22).

Carol of the Bells (Ukrainian Carol) .....................................M. Leontovich Lyrics and arrangement by Peter J. Wilhousky

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.........................................Johnny Marks Arranged by Harry R. Wilson

There Is Faint Music ....................................Nancy Buckley and Dan Forrest v

African Noel .............................................................South African Folksong Arranged by Donald Moore Kenny Medina, James W. Rash and Dennis M. Steele, percussion

Candlelight Concerto (1957) ............................................Howard Kasschau Ron Levy, piano

ii

Soliloquy .....................................Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II

A Simple Song ............................................................. Leonard Bernstein

Peter Ogrodnik, baritone

From Carousel

From Mass

If I Can’t Love Her ....................................... Alan Menken and Tim Rice From Beauty and the Beast

I, Don Quixote ............................................. Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion

vi

You’ll Never Walk Alone........... Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II From Carousel

From Man of La Mancha Peter Ogrodnik, baritone

Arranged by William Stickles Peter Ogrodnik, baritone

Let the River Run......................................................................Carly Simon From Working Girl

iii

Arranged by Kirby Shaw

Salvation belongeth to our God..........................................Paul Tchesnokov

Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes..................................English traditional

Arranged by Archibald T. Davison "Salvation is created in the midst of the earth, O God. Alleluia!" Psalm 74:12

All Through the Night ........................................................Welsh traditional

Cantique de Jean Racine ........................................................ Gabriel Fauré Arranged by K. Lee Scott David Dai, violin

Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, Tzena .................................................. Issachar Miron English lyrics by Gordon Jenkins and Pete Seeger Hebrew lyrics by Yehiel Haggiz Arranged by J. David Moore

Peter Ogrodnik, baritone From Four Favorite Ballads

Arranged by Howard Kasschau

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day ..........................................John Marks Text from the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Arranged by Roy Ringwald

There will be a fifteen-minute Intermission.

12

13

Patrons & Sponsors

Program Notes December 2014

We in the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus believe that music has great power.

It has power to create a human community, power to express the greatest ideas and the deepest feelings of that community. Music has power to unite us, inspire us and lift us up in times of trouble. An anthem declares loyalty to country; a ballad declares longing for a lover. A song calls people to rise against oppression; a hymn praises God or prays for divine guidance.

When people gather to have fun, music is there. There have been “work songs” to accompany the hardest labor; songs remembering good times, music that hopes for a brighter future. Couples in love have “their” song.

Whether times are good or bad; we have music, because music has power.

It is a power both fierce and gentle, created through miracles of sound, word, expression and harmony. Its power is always a communal force. Silent on the page, the words and notations have no meaning, it is only through performance and hearing – and this requires the community of musician and audience – that they become beautiful music able to do great things.

Even those who do not create or perform music know its power because music reaches deeply into the human heart. Our very beings are “tuned” to hear its message and respond to its call.

In this year’s holiday concert, we sing songs of faith and joy, reflecting the great themes of holiday celebrations. Our songs of faith might refer to elements of one faith, but stand for all in the human community who believe in and work for a better world.

We remember Pete Seeger, who knew how to sing against oppression, who sang to cleanse the waters of the Hudson River and who always insisted that audiences at his concerts sing along. We remember Johnny Marks, whose differently-abled reindeer has delighted us for decades. You will hear us sing songs of peace that exalt the unity of the human family and stand against those forces that would divide us.

We men of Orpheus are honored to be stewards of this music. We want to bring it to you in all its beauty and power. And you in the audience, by letting music into your hearts, share with us this great gift to the human community. Together we create and experience the power that is music.

patronS Mr. Wesley Cheringal Mrs. Joseph Fitzsimmons Mr. & Mrs. Robert Fleckenstein*** Mr. James Rash & Ms. Marcia Guthrie*

Mr. Conrad Hirzel* Ms. Marcia Perry* Mr. Robert J. Petretti** Mr. & Mrs. Walter White**

aSSociate MeMBerS Mrs. Dottie Fucito*

Mr. & Mrs. H. Ralph Kirby*** SuBScriBing MeMBerS

Ms. Margaret Budd Mrs. Alida E. Manley***** Mrs. Marianne S. Neville**

Ms. Roberta A. M. Ragg**** Mr. Steven M. Steiner* Mr. Frank Strobl DonorS

The Orpheus Club gratefully acknowledges the following members and friends who have made donations to the club: Mr. Charles Austin Dr. & Mrs. Mark Badach Bank of America (Merrill Lynch) Mr. Peter Bernich Mr. Edward Brouillard Ms. Margaret Budd Mr. Charles Canale Mr. Robert Casparian Mr. Gregory Farrell Mr. John Galvin Mr. Clifford Gerenz

Dr. & Mrs. Barry Halejian Mr. Clifford Hook Mr. Robert Husband Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ishkanaian Mr. David Kerr Mr. James Lathey Mr. Ron Levy Mr. James Lisanti Mr. Joseph Lisella Mr. James Matthews Mr. Thomas Ott Mr. John Palatucci Perry's Florist

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Plany Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Price Mr. Phillip Raspe Mr. Vernon Reed Mr. Ted Richter Mr. Eric Schwarz Ms. Marleigh & Ms. Anne Marie Seibelke Mr. Dennis M. Steele Mr. David Strife Mr. Thomas Veit Mr. Phil Waxberg

We invite your support “in praise of song.”

Please make your check payable to Orpheus Club, Inc. and mail it to Post Office Box 114, Ridgewood, NJ 07451.

All contributions to Orpheus are fully tax deductible to the maximum extent of the law. rolanD l. Meyer orpheuS cluB ScholarShip funD

CaRol of tHe Bells Words by Peter J. Wilhousky, music by Mykola Leontovich, arranged by Peter J. Wilhousky With its insistent, repetitive representation of continually-ringing bells, this carol makes an announcement that cannot be ignored. Mykola Leontovich (1877-1921), a Ukrainian priest, composer and music director based it on a folk chant from pre-Christian times.

Leontovich wrote Ukrainian music that inspired the independence movement. He was assassinated, presumably by Russian agents, while visiting his parents during the Christmas season of 1921.

Peter J. Wilhousky (1902-1978) was born in Passaic, became director of music in the New York City schools, was conductor of the New York All-City High School Chorus and organized many choruses that sang for Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra.

In 1936, he wrote a set of English lyrics to “Carol of the Bells.”

14

Ms. Maja Britton Ms. Alex Rainer-Meyer Mr. Wesley Cheringal Ms. Marcia Perry Unitarian Society of Ridgewood

Our Sincere Thanks The Orpheus Club is grateful to the many generous patrons, donors and sponsors who have helped to keep the song alive for 105 years.

Thank you.

11

Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus PETE BERNICH* JIM LISANTI*

BILL DE BLOCK JOHN GALVIN* CLIFF HOOK NEIL NEUBERT

CHARLES AUSTIN* JIM LATHEy PHILLIP RASPE* GARy STARK

JOSEPH ALU BOB CASPARIAN TOM OTT

firSt tenor ROBERT F. SILVERA**, Part Captain CHARLES BROWN

SeconD tenor PAUL BERINATO**, Part Captain PETER FENzEL CLIFFORD GERENz* JOE LISELLA* RICK SWANSON

BOB HUSBAND VERNON REED*

LOU FUCITO* BERNARD GREENFIELD JAMES M. MATTHEWS* DAVID STRIFE

Baritone DAVE KERR*, Part Captain CHARLES CANALE TOM OLSzEWSKI* ERIC SCHWARz TOM VEIT

GREG FARRELL* JAy PALATUCCI SAM SHAW BOB WESTERDAHL

BaSS DENNIS M. STEELE, Part Captain BILL AMAzzINI EDWARD J. BROUILLARD** ROGER JACOBSON JOHN McKEON JAMES W. RASH** VAN SCHNELLBACHER ED SEIDLER*

active – not Singing in thiS concert STEVE AMARANTE JAMES J. BELLOTTI*** JEFFREy R. BERINATO* HERB COHEN* RAy DEJONGHE* STEVEN FELL* HENRy TREPICCHIO* PHIL WAxBERG

* Each star represents ten years of music making

H

honorary MeMBer FRANK STROBL***

H H congratulationS! John galvin H cliff gerenz H vernon reed 10 yEARS

H

celeBrating the Song anD Spirit of orpheuS 10

tHeRe is faint musiC Words by Nancy Buckley, music by Dan Forrest The “faint music” is a mother’s crooning to her baby, an image evoking thoughts of bright joy and comfort in the dark of night.

Dan Forrest (b. 1978) has won numerous awards as a young composer. He writes “All good things, including any beauty that we encounter, are from God, through God, and ultimately to God. All beauty is God’s beauty, wherever it is found. So I will make the most beautiful music I can, not because music-making is my ultimate end, but because I want to press my gifts to their maximum potential toward the true ultimate end: glorifying God.” He has earned a doctoral degree from the University of Kansas. This setting of a poem by Nancy Buckley was written this year. afRiCan noel South African folksong arranged by Donald Moore A sense of joyous vibrancy of life infuses this setting of a South African carol. As a contrast to the less percussive elements of many familiar Christmas carols, this piece has a rhythmic energy accentuated by the use of various drums, and is a reminder that the Christmas message is celebrated throughout the world and that the message transcends culture. salvation BelongetH to ouR god Words adapted by E.B.G, music by Paul Tchesnokov (1877-1944) This example of Russian church music, generally sung by all-male choirs, moves from quiet declaration to a sonorous “alleluyia.” Composer Paul Tchesnokov (1890-1941) came from a family where five brothers all studied vocal music. A 1917 graduate of the Moscow Conservancy, he became director of church choirs and by the time he was 30, had written hundreds of choral works for the church. Church music was being suppressed after the 1917 Russian revolution, so he turned to writing secular music and became director of the Moscow Academy Choir and the Boshoi Theatre choir. When barred from publishing his religious works, he stopped writing music altogether and taught directing until his death in 1944.

Cantique de Jean RaCine

by Gabriel Fauré, arranged by K. Lee Scott Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) was one of the foremost French composers of his time, having studied with Camille Saint-Saëns and at an early age achieved the prominent post of director at the Paris Conservatoire and organist at the Church of the Madeleine in Paris.

He was 19 when he wrote Cantique de Jean Racine, composing music for a poem by the 17th Century poet.

The hymn, written to be sung at morning prayer, asks God to look with grace upon the “longing souls” on earth so that as day approaches, the darkness of Hell will flee at the sound of God’s voice. tzena tzena tzena English lyrics by Pete Seeger and Gordon Jenkins, Hebrew lyrics by Yehiel Haggiz, music

by Issachar Miron, arranged by Donald Moore Originally written in Hebrew in 1941, this song has gone through various forms. When recorded by The Weavers in 1950, it hit the top of the charts along with “Goodnight, Irene” on the flip side of that record. We in the Orpheus Club sing it this season as a tribute to the late Pete Seeger, a member of The Weavers, who frequently featured this song in his concerts. Seeger, who died this year, believed in the power of music to do great things and always asked audiences to sing along with him. Pete brought “We Shall Overcome” to the attention of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and it became a principal anthem of the 1960s civil rights movement.

The words to “Tzena, Tzena, Tzena” have changed over the years, but the current ver15

sion – and the one important for today’s theme – is about people from every nation singing and dancing together in the public square. a ClaRifiCation

by Richard Lane Here’s a song just for fun. It was composed for the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus by the late Richard Lane, a superbly gifted musician who was our accompanist and composer in residence for 42 years. We honor his memory by presenting one of his works at each of our concerts. Our dear friend left us some deep and profound pieces of music. Although this one is light-hearted, it also displays his musical genius.

“A Clarification” explains what actually happened in the ancient nursery rhyme when Jack and Jill met misfortune ascending that hill.

RudolpH tHe Red-nosed ReindeeR Johnny Marks It was fifty years ago – yes, 50 years ago! – that NBC first broadcast the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” television special in stop-motion animation, a relatively new technology. It is now one of history’s longest-running television specials.

The beloved story was created by Robert May in 1939 for the department store, Montgomery Ward, as a coloring book to be given away at Christmas time (you needed, of course, a red crayon). May’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, set it to music and the version by cowboy singer Gene Autry hit the top of the charts 1949. Autry’s recording sold 1.75 million copies that Christmas. Other recordings have sold over 150 million copies, making it second only to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.”

Marks (1909-1985) specialized in Christmas songs. In addition to “Rudolph” he wrote “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “A Caroling We Will Go,” “Christmas Time is Here,” some little-known tunes like “We Are Santa’s Elves,” “When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter,” and the very popular “I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day” also a part of this Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus concert.

A World War II veteran, he served as captain in the 26th Special Service company, receiving a Bronze Star and four Battle Stars for his service. let tHe RiveR Run Words and music by Carly Simon, arranged by Kirby Shaw First featured in the 1988 film, “Working Girl,” this song won an Oscar as the best original song of that year, along with a Golden Globe Award.

Simon (b. 1945) said that in writing a song for that movie about a woman learning how to be strong and self-reliant in the “man’s world” of Wall Street, she recalled Walt Whitman’s poem “Leaves of Grass,” where the poet celebrates the power of the self, and where men and women of all occupations and classes rise to “gain the day.”

While not composed as an anthem for any ideology, the song has taken an inspirational tone as the “sons and daughters,” the “great and small, stand on a star and blaze a trail” letting the “dreamers wake the nation” to create “the new Jerusalem.” two Ballads: dRink to me only witH tHine eyes / all tHRougH tHe nigHt Traditional, arranged by Howard Kasschau These two ballads bring gentle themes to a most personal expression. The first asks only that the beloved offer a “toast” with the eyes, that intensely intimate glance that can pass between lovers. The loving glance, a light kiss, the breath of a beloved enriching the scent of a rose: true, sublime joy for the one in love. The verse has its origins in lyrics by Philostratus, a Greek poet of the Third Century of the modern era.

In “All Through the Night,” a Welsh lullaby, a parent looks upon a sleeping child, prays for a peaceful night and “while the weary world is sleeping” sees purity and holiness in the slumbering infant.

16

offiCeRs Bob Husband .............................................................President Bill Amazzini .................................Vice President, Membership Dave Kerr,..................................Vice President, Administration Peter Bernich ..............................................................Treasurer Neil Neubert ................................................................Librarian Greg Farrell..................................Chairman, Board of Trustees

BoaRd of tRustees singing memBeRs

Steve Amarante

Steven Fell

Thomas Olszewski

Clifford Gerenz Henry Trepicchio

non-singing memBeRs

Walter White

Marcia Perry Committee CHaiRmen

Paul Berinato ..................................................................................................Music Peter Fenzel ...............................................................................................Publicity Dennis M. Steele .................................................................................Performance past pResidents George U. White Frank F. Knothe George W. Campbell Wilbur Morris Paul J. Howe Herbert R. Talbot George A. Steves Theodore Northrup Robert Nutt, Jr. Ray M. Gidney Harry Wiltshire Richard H. Long Chester S. Lawton William J. Crawford Arthur I. Demarest Leon A. Payne Albert W. Staub Clifford D. Ackerman

Howard R. Leroy Richard G. Mannheim Frederick A. Blanpied Charles R. Dewhurst Stanley M. Staples Howard M. Liechty John Bing Walter C. Doscher Frederick E. Ray Theodore H. Mastin, Jr. Herbert S. Buzzard Otis H. Grendler Jack D. Morrison Oliver H. Hiester Karel V. Ctibor Vincent G. Beck

9

Robert J. Egner Charles B. Hepburn George W. Billings Jerome Wyckoff E. Raymond Greve Carl F. Bilz Robert E. Duane Frank Strobl Roland L. Meyer James W. Rash Paul D. Berinato Dan Williams Lou Fucito Jim Lisanti Pat O’Brien Joe Lisella Robert Silvera Greg Farrell

sion – and the one important for today’s theme – is about people from every nation singing and dancing together in the public square. a ClaRifiCation

by Richard Lane Here’s a song just for fun. It was composed for the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus by the late Richard Lane, a superbly gifted musician who was our accompanist and composer in residence for 42 years. We honor his memory by presenting one of his works at each of our concerts. Our dear friend left us some deep and profound pieces of music. Although this one is light-hearted, it also displays his musical genius.

“A Clarification” explains what actually happened in the ancient nursery rhyme when Jack and Jill met misfortune ascending that hill.

RudolpH tHe Red-nosed ReindeeR Johnny Marks It was fifty years ago – yes, 50 years ago! – that NBC first broadcast the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” television special in stop-motion animation, a relatively new technology. It is now one of history’s longest-running television specials.

The beloved story was created by Robert May in 1939 for the department store, Montgomery Ward, as a coloring book to be given away at Christmas time (you needed, of course, a red crayon). May’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, set it to music and the version by cowboy singer Gene Autry hit the top of the charts 1949. Autry’s recording sold 1.75 million copies that Christmas. Other recordings have sold over 150 million copies, making it second only to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.”

Marks (1909-1985) specialized in Christmas songs. In addition to “Rudolph” he wrote “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “A Caroling We Will Go,” “Christmas Time is Here,” some little-known tunes like “We Are Santa’s Elves,” “When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter,” and the very popular “I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day” also a part of this Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus concert.

A World War II veteran, he served as captain in the 26th Special Service company, receiving a Bronze Star and four Battle Stars for his service. let tHe RiveR Run Words and music by Carly Simon, arranged by Kirby Shaw First featured in the 1988 film, “Working Girl,” this song won an Oscar as the best original song of that year, along with a Golden Globe Award.

Simon (b. 1945) said that in writing a song for that movie about a woman learning how to be strong and self-reliant in the “man’s world” of Wall Street, she recalled Walt Whitman’s poem “Leaves of Grass,” where the poet celebrates the power of the self, and where men and women of all occupations and classes rise to “gain the day.”

While not composed as an anthem for any ideology, the song has taken an inspirational tone as the “sons and daughters,” the “great and small, stand on a star and blaze a trail” letting the “dreamers wake the nation” to create “the new Jerusalem.” two Ballads: dRink to me only witH tHine eyes / all tHRougH tHe nigHt Traditional, arranged by Howard Kasschau These two ballads bring gentle themes to a most personal expression. The first asks only that the beloved offer a “toast” with the eyes, that intensely intimate glance that can pass between lovers. The loving glance, a light kiss, the breath of a beloved enriching the scent of a rose: true, sublime joy for the one in love. The verse has its origins in lyrics by Philostratus, a Greek poet of the Third Century of the modern era.

In “All Through the Night,” a Welsh lullaby, a parent looks upon a sleeping child, prays for a peaceful night and “while the weary world is sleeping” sees purity and holiness in the slumbering infant.

16

offiCeRs Bob Husband .............................................................President Bill Amazzini .................................Vice President, Membership Dave Kerr,..................................Vice President, Administration Peter Bernich ..............................................................Treasurer Neil Neubert ................................................................Librarian Greg Farrell..................................Chairman, Board of Trustees

BoaRd of tRustees singing memBeRs

Steve Amarante

Steven Fell

Thomas Olszewski

Clifford Gerenz Henry Trepicchio

non-singing memBeRs

Walter White

Marcia Perry Committee CHaiRmen

Paul Berinato ..................................................................................................Music Peter Fenzel ...............................................................................................Publicity Dennis M. Steele .................................................................................Performance past pResidents George U. White Frank F. Knothe George W. Campbell Wilbur Morris Paul J. Howe Herbert R. Talbot George A. Steves Theodore Northrup Robert Nutt, Jr. Ray M. Gidney Harry Wiltshire Richard H. Long Chester S. Lawton William J. Crawford Arthur I. Demarest Leon A. Payne Albert W. Staub Clifford D. Ackerman

Howard R. Leroy Richard G. Mannheim Frederick A. Blanpied Charles R. Dewhurst Stanley M. Staples Howard M. Liechty John Bing Walter C. Doscher Frederick E. Ray Theodore H. Mastin, Jr. Herbert S. Buzzard Otis H. Grendler Jack D. Morrison Oliver H. Hiester Karel V. Ctibor Vincent G. Beck

9

Robert J. Egner Charles B. Hepburn George W. Billings Jerome Wyckoff E. Raymond Greve Carl F. Bilz Robert E. Duane Frank Strobl Roland L. Meyer James W. Rash Paul D. Berinato Dan Williams Lou Fucito Jim Lisanti Pat O’Brien Joe Lisella Robert Silvera Greg Farrell

Howard Kasschau On the twentieth anniversary of his death, the Orpheus Club remembers the many years of musical leadership he provided to our organization. With his father Frank as conductor, Howard served as accompanist from 1937 to 1944. He then took over the podium as Orpheus conductor, where he served until 1962.

A man of immense musical talent, Howard was a renowned composer, arranger and teacher. His books for piano students are still used today. We are pleased to perform several of his works at these concerts.

Program from the first Orpheus Club concert June 22, 1910

Orpheus Musical Leadership BReAkFAST • LUNCH • DINNeR Serving the Community for 50 Years

18

1909-1915 1915-1922 1922-1930 1930-1944 1944-1962 1962-1963 1963-1977 1977-1978 1978-1990 1990-

Conductors DeWitt Clinton, Jr. Wilbur A. Luyster Bruno Huhn Frank Kasschau Howard Kasschau Richard Bloch Gerald Weale Bailey (Oats) Harvey James Bender John Palatucci

accompanists 1909 George Young 1910-1922 Bevier Smith 1922-1937 Charles M. Hobbes 1937-1944 Howard Kasschau 1944-1950 Ralph Stoughton 1950-1951 Gates Wray 1951-1963 Harry Thurber 1963-2004 Richard Lane 2004Ron Levy

7

Orpheus Club Scholarship Program Roland L. Meyer Orpheus Club Scholarship To keep “the song alive” the members of the Orpheus Club are committed to support future generations of musicians in their endeavors. To that end, for more than two decades the Orpheus Club has been proud to sponsor a scholarship program designed to honor and assist a graduating high school senior who has demonstrated extraordinary accomplishments in music and who intends to continue musical studies on the collegiate level.

Since taking it current form in 1993, the program has made grants totaling $21,000.00.

Students from Ridgewood, Indian Hills, Paramus, Pequannock, Glen Rock, Ramapo, Northern Valley (Old Tappan), Eastern Christian, Northern Highlands, Fair Lawn, Verona, Roxbury, Montclair, Leonia and Lakeland high schools and the Bergen County Academy have been past recipients of Orpheus Club awards. These outstanding young musicians have gone on to study at Oberlin College, the University of Miami, the University of North Carolina, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Boston University, the Mannes College of Music, Miami University (Ohio), Rutgers University, Calvin College (Michigan), the Manhattan School of Music, Boston College, the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Hamilton College (New York), Brandeis University and the Cleveland Institute of Music.

At our concert this past April, we awarded the 2014 Roland L. Meyer Orpheus Club Scholarship grant of $2000.00 to Emmett Rapaport from Ridgewood High School. He is now attending the University of Michigan.

We hope to be able to honor other outstanding musicians in coming years.

Applications for our 2015 award will soon be mailed out to area schools and will also be available on our web site. If you know of a promising high school senior who might be eligible, encourage them to apply We thank all those individuals and groups who have made donations to this valuable effort and encourage you to continue your support of our students in the arts. Donations of any size are welcomed. Make your check payable to the Orpheus Club Scholarship Fund and give it to any singing member or mail it to:

Orpheus Club, Inc. P.O. Box 114 Ridgewood, NJ 07451 All contributions are tax-deductible.

8

These songs were arranged for us by Howard Kasschau, a Ridgewood composer, conductor and pianist. Howard became the accompanist for the Orpheus Club in 1937 and in 1944 succeeded his father, Frank, as music director, serving until 1962. He wrote more than 100 compositions for piano, orchestra and chorus, and was the author of The Howard Kasschau Piano Course, a series of instruction books published in 1959. He died in 1994.

Together the Kasschaus served the Orpheus Club for some 32 years, starting in 1930. i HeaRd tHe Bells on CHRistmas day Words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, music adapted by Johnny Marks, arranged by Roy Ringwald Longfellow wrote this poem on Christmas Day in 1863, shortly after hearing that his son had been severely wounded in the Civil War. The most popular American poet of his day, Longfellow was still mourning the accidental death of his wife two years earlier. His grief over her death had made it difficult for him to write and he feared it was driving him insane.

The Christmas bells did not at first bring joy to the poet. Verses of the poem not included in the musical setting speak of the cannons of war thundering in the South, their sound drowning out the Christmas message. He bows his head in despair, but the pealing bells “more loud and deep” continue and he hears their message: “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; the Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail with peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Several composers later set the poem to music, but this version by Johnny Marks has become the standard.

The declaration made in Longfellow’s poem still rings as loudly as the Christmas bells pealing from a thousand belfries: no matter what sounds of evil destruction may thunder in the world, the message of peace on earth, good-will to men can never die and will prevail.

Program notes written by Charles Austin

a new way to suppoRt oRpHeus

Now you can support as you shop! Amazon.com has a program whereby they will donate ½ percent of the purchase price of whatever goods and services you purchase to Orpheus. You pay nothing extra for this program and it looks exactly as you’re used to seeing when you access the regular Amazon web site. To login to Amazon Smile merely Scan this code to reference this link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/22-3597641 and you go directly to the will see our name displayed at the top of the screen. Shop exactly the Orpheus link. same as you would under regular Amazon. There is also a download link that will install an icon on your PC that will start you in Amazon Smile: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1002402211

Keep up with the

Orpheus Club

www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org 17

Kenny medina is an avid percussionist and educator in the New York/New Jersey area. Mr. Medina has performed with the Oratorio Society of New Jersey, The Martina Arroyo Foundation of New York, the Christ Church Symphony Orchestra of Long Island, as solo concerto competition winner with the Hudson Symphony orchestra, and under the auspices of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as a percussion instructor for InterSchool Orchestras of New York.

He holds a BFA from St. Peter's College in Jersey City and a BA in Music from Kean University in Union. david dai, violin, is a student at Montclair State University. Before embarking on his studies here, he performed with a number of orchestras in his native Shanghai, China where he also received numerous awards.

Our Guest PeteR ogRodniK, baritone, is a Senior BFA Musical Theater major at Montclair State University. His regional theater credits include Shrek the Musical (Shrek) and Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik). At MSU, Peter has performed as Chester in Klemperer’s New Clothes, Abner Dillon in 42nd Street, Admiral Byrd in Take Flight, 1st Officer in Dialogue of the Carmelites Opera, David Bascombe in Carousel, Guard and Ensemble in Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Eddie in The Rocky Horror Show. He has also performed in MSU’s Brush Up Your Shakespeare, in scenes from the operas The Merry Wives of Windsor (Mr Ford and Falstaff) and Kiss Me, Kate (Fred and Petruchio).

Translation

Cantique de Jean RaCine In dVerbe, égal au Très Haut, Notre unique espérance, Jour éternel De la terre et des cieux, De la paisible nuit Nous rompons le silence.

Divin Sauveur, Jette sur nous les yeux!

Word of God from on high, Our hope and expectation, The eternal radiance Of heaven and the earth.

Before Thy peaceful throne, We call to Thee for mercy.

Dear Savior, Guard us with Thy watchful eye!

Répands sur nous le feu de ta grâce puissante que tout l’enfer fuie au son de ta voix.

Dissipe le sommeil D’une âme languissante, qui la conduit à loubli de tes lois!

Pour down on us the flames Of Thy grace strong and mighty.

The powers of death Fell at Thy sounding voice.

Our slumbering souls awake, In languish long repining, That we may walk In the light of Thy law!

O Christ, sois favorable à ce peuple fidèle pour te bénir maintenant rassemblé.

Reçois les chants quil offre à ta gloire immortelle, et de tes dons qu'il retourne comblé!

O Christ, grant us Thy favor, Thy flock true and faithful Who gather here To adore Thy great name.

Attend the praise we offer To Thy glory everlasting.

Receive our gifts We return to Thy hand!

English text by K. Lee Scott

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Orpheus Club www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org Scan the code at left with your smartphone to go there 6

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Ron Levy, internationally acclaimed pianist, has been called "first-class" by the New York Times. He regularly appears as a soloist, and in partnership with many of the world's leading singers and instrumentalists. A graduate of Oberlin, Mr. Levy is a founding member of the Hudson Trio, Kaleidoscope, the New World Trio, the Manchester Chamber Players, the Breucklen Trio and the award-winning Palisades Virtuosi, resident chamber ensemble at Bergen Community College and the University of Hawaii. He has been pianist and harpsichordist of the Oberlin Orchestra, the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra, the New Jersey and North Jersey Philharmonics, the Westchester Symphony, and the Albany Symphony. Presently he is Associate Artist with the All Seasons Chamber Players. For over 20 years, Mr. Levy was associated with the Manchester (VT) Music Festival, of which he was a faculty and Board member.

While living in Vermont, he was Music Director & Conductor of the Opera Theatre in Weston, and impresario of the "Third Saturday" chamber music series at the historic Equinox Hotel, as well as the "Music on the Hill" series at the Southern Vermont Art Center. A champion of new music, he has been the recipient of a considerable number of works written for him by prominent composers. Mr. Levy has taught at numerous colleges, and is currently an instructor at Montclair State University; he maintains an active and on-going affiliation with the Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard, and NJ PAC. Mr. Levy conceived two "mini-festivals" which were presented by the NY Public Library at Lincoln Center.

In 2008 Mr. Levy played in St. Petersburg, Russia, and at the venerable Stratford (CA) Summer Music Festival (with Palisades Virtuosi).

Recently, Ron performed the inaugural concert of the new faculty recital series at MSU. He was joined by legendary clarinet virtuoso Stanley Drucker, and Ann Kim, solo cellist with the NY City Ballet. On November 29, 2013 Ron presented a concert at Carnegie Hall, performing sixteen works written for him (including two for the Orpheus Club). A twoterm President of the Professional Music Teachers' Guild of NJ, he is a contributing editor to BIM Music Publications, Switzerland. Recently Mr. Levy was appointed to the Board of the Rockland (NY) Symphony.

Mr. Levy served on the jury of the The 2013 Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition. Recordings by Mr. Levy are available on the Albany, Centaur, Eroica, Koch International, MMF and High Point labels.

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striven to uphold and enhance the OCMC’s proud history, tradition and reputation. These efforts include performances of Johannes Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody with the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra, Randall Thompson’s The Testament of Freedom and Giuseppi Verdi’s Hymn to the Nations with the Orchestra of Saint Peter-by-the-Sea, Howard Hanson’s Song of Democracy, Ottorino Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity, Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs and the revised finale to Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser with the Ridgewood Concert Band.

Mr. Palatucci led the OCMC in its 2005 Lincoln Center debut, performing at the Lincoln Center Library with the Palisades Virtuosi chamber ensemble. During the OCMC’s centennial year in 2009 he led a Ridgewood community choral festival which culminated in a performance with orchestra and soloist Ron Levy of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. In 2011, with Mr. Levy he again prepared the OCMC and its sister ensemble, the Ridgewood Choral, for a performance of the Beethoven Choral Fantasy with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra while also leading members of the OCMC in a 2013 performance at Carnegie Recital Hall.

Assistant Conductor Jim Rash is in his 24th year as a singing veteran of the Orpheus Club and has been President along with several other leadership positions. For 25 years he has served as Music Director at Hackensack United Methodist Church and previously directed two church choirs in Virginia. Jim performed at Carnegie Hall in 2009 and 2010, and Avery Fisher Hall-Lincoln Center in 2012, singing with a 400-member international chorus and orchestra. He serves as General Manager of the Atempo Chamber Ensemble and is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Associated Male Choruses of America, Chorus America, the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music, and the National Association for Music Education. Jim is Vice President – Sales Development at Dittman Incentive Marketing in New Brunswick, NJ.

In memorIam

Edward E. Brouillard 1913 – 2014 These concerts are dedicated to his memory 4

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O Holy Night O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees!

O hear the angel voices!

O night divine!

O night when Christ was born!

O night divine!

O night, O night divine!

Deck the Hall Deck the hall with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la la la la la.

'Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la la la la la la la.

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, Fa la la la la la la la la.

Auld Lang Syne Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We’ll raise a cup o’ kindness yet, For auld lang syne.

Rock of Ages Rock of ages, let our song raise thy saving power Thou amidst the raging foes, wast our sheltering tower.

Furious they assailed us, but thine arm availed us And thy word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us.

And thy word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us.

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Welcome!

Welcome to the annual holiday concerts of the Orpheus Club. One of the oldest male choruses in the Northeast, Orpheus is dedicated to the continuance of men’s choral singing, fellowship and to providing audiences with an eclectic repertoire of enjoyable music.

Our singing membership is made up of men from all walks of life drawn together by the common bond of music. Our singers now come from northern and central New Jersey. We welcome your inquiries about singing with us. If singing is not for you but you enjoy attending our concerts, we invite you to consider becoming a subscribing member. As such, you will be kept apprised of our upcoming concerts and will enjoy significant savings on the cost of tickets.

For more information feel free to speak with any singing member after the concert, visit our website (www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org), or write to us (PO Box 114, Ridgewood).

JOHN J. PALATUCCI enjoys a distinguished career as a performing musician, conductor, clinician, an adjudicator and educator. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and a Master of Arts degree in music performance from Montclair State College of New Jersey as well as a Master of Education degree in educational leadership with the accompanying supervisory and administrative certifications from NJ EXCEL. Mr. Palatucci has performed in concert under the batons of such noted conductors as Henry Brant, Lucas Foss, Morton Gould, Skitch Henderson, Alan Hovhaness, and Karel Husa. Appearances with other musical luminaries range from Placido Domingo, Jerome Hines and Robert Merrill to Dave Brubeck to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. In 1991, he recruited and managed a 3,000 voice choir for appearances by the Rev. Billy Graham in what was then the Brendan Byrne Arena. Several pieces composed for men's chorus have been dedicated to Mr. Palatucci and his setting of The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol has been published by the International Percy Grainger Society.

Beginning in the fall of 1990, Mr. Palatucci assumed the directorship of the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus of Ridgewood. During his tenure, he has 3

Special Thanks to the ownership and management of

Care One at the Cupola W. 100 Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus, NJ

Perry’s Florist

660 Harristown Rd., Glen Rock, NJ

Daily Treat Restaurant 177 Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ

Town & Country Apothecary 60 East Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ

Lewis Drugs 298 Westwood Avenue, Westwood, NJ

Benny’s Luncheonette

D E T S N r e A g n i WMen S H eu h p r o for

H

Our Wednesday evening rehearsals start again January 7, 2015 8 to 10 p.m.

The Georgian Room Care One at the Cupola W. 100 Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus

11-04 Saddle River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ

Call for more information!

Rock Ridge Pharmacy

Greg Farrell 201-652-2873 Bill Amazzini 551-404-3976 Bob Husband 201-602-9092

191 Rock Road, Glen Rock, NJ

S

The Wine Seller

• Enjoy the Camaraderi e • It’s a great weekly bre ak • Come to rehearsal –tr

H

y us out!

6 West Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ

Wine & Spirit World 626 North Maple Ave., Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

Save the DateS! The annual Orpheus Club

The Orpheus Club appreciates your help and support!

Spring Concerts will be held on

Saturday • April 18, 2015 Sunday • April 19, 2015 Mark your calendars now so as not to miss these gala events.

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Orpheus Club Men’s ChOrus Presents its annual

Holiday ConCerts John Palatucci** Conductor

James Rash** Assistant Conductor

Ron levy* Pianist

Kenny medina Percussion

david dai Violin

sPecial Guest

PeteR ogRodniK Baritone

saturday, december 20, 2014 7:30 p.m. sunday, december 21, 2014 4:00 p.m. ridgewood united Methodist church Ridgewood, new Jersey

usheRs: FRiends oF the oRPheus club

w w w. r i d g e wo o d o r p h e u s cl u b . o r g