Program
Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal (American Hymn) — arr. Alice Parker
The very first music performed at the McAninch Arts Center at the Gala Opening Concert, October 11, 1986.
Invention (Premiere) — J. S. Bach, arr. Lee R. Kesselman
Based on Prelude #3 in C#, from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Vol. II.
Make Me A World — Ruth Watson Henderson (b. 1932)
Text by James Weldon
Johnson (1871-1938)
Make Me A World is a setting of The Creation by James Weldon Johnson
from his collection of poetic sermons, God’s Trombones: Seven Negro
Sermons in Verse. Published in 1918, The Creation is one of the
best-known poems by this gifted poet, who was also a novelist, teacher,
diplomat and civil-rights leader. In it, Johnson celebrates the
creativity found in Afro-American religion. He offers an image of God
with human qualities, who speaks in a Southern dialect and decides to
“make himself a world” because he is lonely. – Ruth Watson Henderson
Kasar Mie La Gaji — Alberto Grau (b. 1937)
The inhabitants of the African Sahel say: “Kasar mie la gaji.” (“The Earth is tired.”)
The Sahel is Arabic for ‘shore’ — it is the southern boundary of the Sahara desert, which is likened to a sea. Kasar Mie La Gaji was written in 1991 for an international
mobilization to SAVE THE EARTH and a conscientious effort regarding the
problems of the environment.
This Grand Show is Eternal (2006) — Lee R. Kesselman
Text by John Muir (1838-1914)
William Buhr, organ
John
Muir (April 21, 1838 – December 24, 1914) was a Scottish-American
polymath: environmentalist, naturalist, explorer, writer, inventor,
engineer and geologist. He is, however, probably best remembered as one
of the greatest champions of the Yosemite area's natural wonders. This
tone poem for chorus and organ is meant to evoke the grandeur of
John Muir’s profound and eloquent words and the monumental landscapes
he is so famous for describing to the world. This Grand Show is Eternal
was written for the San Francisco Lyric Chorus to be premiered at
Trinity Episcopal Church in San Francisco, and to be played on the
historic 1924 E. M. Skinner organ at that church.
INTERMISSION
How Can I Keep from Singing? (Quaker Hymn) — arr. Gwyneth Walker
The Road Home — Stephen Paulus
Based on Prospect, from Southern Harmony, 1835.
And I Saw A New Heaven — Edgar L. Bainton (1880-1956)
Text from Revelations XXI: v. 1-4
My Spirit Sang All Day, Op. 17, #3 — Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)
Text by Robert Bridges (1844-1930)
Kas Tie Tadi (Latvian) — arr. Steven Sametz
I Have Had Singing (1993) — Steven Sametz
In 1961, Ronald Bly visited the village of Akenfield, (population 298)
in order to record the tales of the lives of English country laborers –
farmers, pigmen, grave diggers, fruit pickers and the like – vanishing
breeds in the face of progress. He was startled by the harshness and
beauty of their lives. These words are from one Fred Mitchell, age 85,
a horseman.
In the Heart of the World (2002) — Bob Chilcott
There Will Be Rest (1999) — Frank Ticheli
Text by Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)
Sara Teasdale is regarded as one of the great American lyric poets.
Haunted by depression, Teasdale took her own life. Many of her poems
address the pain that tormented her spirit, but to the end she seemed
to draw strength and hope from the stars and their permanent radiance.
This piece was written in memory of Cole Carsan St. Clair, the son of
conductor Carl St. Clair. Cole St. Clair drowned at the age of 18
months.
Auld Lang Syne (Scottish) — arr. Lee R. Kesselman
Lyrics: Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide (1956)) — Leonard Bernstein, arr. Robert Page
Lyrics by Richard Wilbur
