Premiering December 7, 2020 at 7:30pm Central Streaming through January 6, 2021 Conspirare Craig Hella Johnson, Artistic Director With Guest Artists Joyce DiDonato Frederica von Stade Patty Griffin Carrie Rodriguez Members of the Dallas Street Choir (Jonathan Palant, conductor) African Children’s Choir Conspirare Symphonic Choir Thomas Burritt Percussion Mitch Watkins Guitar Season Underwriter In-Home Concert Sponsors This performance is made possible in Presenting Sponsor part by generous support from Sustainers Conspirare Christmas 2020 With gratitude and love, we dedicate these musical offerings to all the frontline workers and their daily dedication and courage in sustaining our community through these challenging times. I. NIGHT Lost in the Night/Veni Emmanuel Nordic hymn; tr. Olav Lee / Anonymous Õhtul Pärt Uusberg Looking for the Dove Peter Mayer I was Sleeping Adi al-Riga How Can I Keep from Singing Robert Lowry, arr. Adam and Matt Podd II. GATHER: SHARING OUR STORIES AND SONGS For the Mountains Shall Depart Felix Mendelssohn The Little Road to Bethlehem Margaret Rose Evening Prayer (When at Night I Go To Sleep) Engelbert Humperdinck from Hänsel & Gretel" All Creatures of Our God and King Traditional Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones Healey Willan Reflections on Hope Members of the Dallas Street Choir Tomorrow Charles Strouse, arr. Craig Hella Johnson Joy to the World G. F. Handel arr. arr. Mervyn Warren III. COME LOVE, CAROLING O Come, All Ye Faithful John Francis Wade Hark the Herald Angels Sing Charles Wesley La Primera Navidad Traditional Los Peces en el Rio Traditional O Tannenbaum Melchior Franck arr. Jim Clements Image de Noël, No. 2 from Trois Chants de Noël Frank Martin Peace, Peace Rick and Sylvia Powell Silent Night Franz X. Gruber IV. THE LONGEST NIGHT The Longest Night Peter Mayer All Through the Night Trad., arr. Andrew Emmet We Clasp the Hands Craig Hella Johnson I Could Have Danced All Night Frederick Lowe, arr. Craig Hella Johnson 2 Text & Translations I. NIGHT Lost in the Night Lost in the night do the people yet languish, longing for morning the darkness to vanquish, plaintively sighing with hearts full of anguish. Will not day come soon? Will not day come soon? Veni Emmanuel Veni veni, Emmanuel O come, O come, Emmanuel, captivum solve Israel, and ransom captive Israel, qui gemit in exsilio, that morns in lonely exile here privatus Dei Filio. until the Son of God appear. Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel, Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel, nascetur pro te Israel! to thee shall come Emmanuel! Must we be vainly awaiting the morrow? Shall those who have light no light let us borrow, giving no heed to our burden of sorrow? Will you help us soon? Will you help us soon? - Nordic hymn; translation by Olav Lee Veni, veni O Oriens, O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, solare nos adveniens, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh; noctis depelle nebulas, disperse the gloomy clouds of night dirasque mortis tenebras. and death's dark shadow put to flight. Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel, Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel, nascetur pro te Israel! to thee shall come Emmanuel! Veni, veni, Adonai, O come, o come, Thou Lord of might, qui populo in Sinai who to thy tribes on Sinai's height legem dedisti vertice in ancient times did give the law, in maiestate gloriae. in cloud, and majesty, and awe. Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel, Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel, nascetur pro te Israel! to thee shall come Emmanuel! - Anonymous 3 Õhtul Vaikib linnukene The little bird grows silent ühes tuulega as the wind blows. uinub lillekene The small flower falls asleep kaste kaisussa caressed by the dew. Eha punastades Twilight blushes ööle annab suud as she kisses the night. mälestus ja vaikus, The forest trees sleep uinund metsapuud in memory and silence. Igatsedes ainult They are wistful minu lauluke for my song, nagu mälestus, kui vaikus now a silent memory, sõuab kaugele. as it paddles far away. --Ernst Enno, translation Katie Kring Looking for the Dove I remember she was here It seemed to be her place to rest Until a flood of blood and tears Washed away her nest Was it when we felt afraid? Or when we became us and them? Or when the plans of war were laid? Can you tell me, was it then That the bird of peace escaped our hands To find an olive branch Of kindness and of love Flew away, leaving us to stand Scanning the horizon And the dreary skies above Looking for the dove I’ve seen hawks and I’ve seen crows And I’ve heard their angry cries I’ve seen buzzards flying low But haven’t heard her lullaby But we were foolish to believe She’d be an easy bird to keep We gave her a nest, a bed to rest But didn’t know that even though she dreams The dove of peace can never sleep 4 So the bird of peace escaped our hands To find an olive branch Of kindness and of love Flew away, leaving us to stand Scanning the horizon And the dreary skies above Looking for the dove Come back to us Come back to us Sweet Dove - Peter Mayer And the songbirds keep singing like they know the score. And I love you, I love you, I love you . like never before. I was Sleeping I was sleeping, and being comforted by a cool breeze, when suddenly a gray dove from a thicket sang and sobbed with longing, and reminded me of my own passion. I had been away from my own soul so long, so late-sleeping, but that dove’s crying woke me and made me cry. Praise to all early-waking grievers! - Adi al-Riga You can’t tell the children there is no hope. - James Baldwin How Can I Keep from Singing? My life flows on in endless song above earth’s lamentation I hear the real, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation, No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to that rock, I’m clinging Since love prevails in heaven and earth How can I keep from singing? While though the tempest round me roars, I know the truth, it liveth And though the darkness round me close songs in the night it giveth. No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to that rock, I’m clinging Since love prevails in heaven and earth How can I keep from singing? 5 I lift my eyes, the cold grows thin; I see the blue above it. And day by day, this pathway smooths, since first I learned to love it. No storm can shake my inmost calm, I hear the music ringing It sounds an echo in my soul, How can I keep from singing? How can I keep from singing. .? Keep singing. - Traditional II. GATHER: SHARING OUR STORIES AND SONGS For the Mountains Shall Depart For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but Thy kindness shall not depart from me; neither shall the covenant of Thy peace be removed. - Isaiah 54:10 The Little Road to Bethlehem As I walked down the road at set of sun The lambs were coming homeward one by one I heard a sheepbell softly calling them Along the little road to Bethlehem Beside an open door as I drew nigh I heard sweet Mary sing a lullaby She sang about the lambs at close of day And rocked her tiny King among the hay Across the air the silver sheepbells rang "The lambs are coming home," sweet Mary sang "Your star of gold, your star of Gold is shining in the sky. So sleep, my little King, go lullaby." As I walked down the road at set of sun The lambs were coming homewards one by one I heard a sheepbell softly calling them Along the little road to Bethlehem - Margaret Rose 6 Evening Prayer (When at Night I Go To Sleep) from "Hänsel and Gretel" When at night I go to sleep Fourteen angels watch do keep Two my head are guarding Two my feet are guiding Two are on my right hand Two are on my left hand Two who warmly cover Two who o’er me hover Two to whom ’tis given To guide my steps to heaven - Adelheid Wette, based on the Brothers Grimm' fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel". All Creatures of Our God and King All creatures of our God and King Lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice, Ye lights of evening, find a voice! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou rushing wind that art so strong Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along, Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice, Ye lights of evening, find a voice! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou flowing water, pure and clear, Make music for thy Lord to hear, Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou fire so masterful and bright, That givest man both warmth and light Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! - St. Francis of Assisi 7 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones Ye watchers and ye holy ones, Bright Seraphs, Cherubim and Thrones, Raise the glad strain-Alleluya! Cry out Dominions, Princedoms, Powers, Virtues, Archangels, Angels' choirs, Alleluya, Alleluya, Alleluya, Alleluya, Alleluya! - Athelstan Riley Tomorrow The sun'll come out /Tomorrow Bet your bottom dollar / That tomorrow There'll be sun! Just thinkin' about / Tomorrow Clears away the cobwebs And the sorrow / 'Til there's none! When I'm stuck with a day That's grey / And lonely I just stick out my chin And grin / And say / Oh! The sun'll come out / Tomorrow So ya gotta hang on / 'Til tomorrow Come what may Tomorrow, tomorrow! I love ya tomorrow! You're only / A day / Away! The sun'll come out.