Christmas Cantata (2019) 2
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I. Come, O Come, Emmanuel (intro) (Numbers 24:17) Words of hope sustained God’s chosen people as they awaited the promised Messiah. (Numbers 24:17) A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. “The Creation of Adam” - Michelangelo (1512) O come, O come, Emmanuel, "The Creation of Eve” - Michelangelo (1508-1512) And ransom captive Israel, "The Fall of Adam" - Michelangelo (1508-1512) That mourns in lonely exile here "The Expulsion From Paradise" - Michelangelo (1508-1512) Until the Son of God appear. "Labors of Adam and Eve" - Alonso Cano (1650) O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer "Cain and Abel" - Tintoretto (1550) our spirits by Thine Advent here; "The Lamentation of Abel” Pieter Lastman (1623) and drive away the shades of night, "Cain Flees" - William Blake (1825) and pierce the clouds and bring us light! Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel! (interlude) "The Flood” - J.M.W. Turner (1804) The King shall come when morning dawns “God’s Promise” Joseph Anton Koch (1803) and light triumphant breaks; “ God’s Covenant with Abram” Byzantine (6th Century) When beauty gilds the eastern hills “Jacob’s Dream” Lo Spangnoletto (1639) and life to joy awakes. ”Joseph Sold into Slavery" - Damiano Mascagni (1602) The King shall come when morning dawns ”Joseph Saves Egypt" – Bartholomeus Breenbergh (1644)) and earth’s dark night is past; “Hebrews Make Bricks” Tomb (1440 BC) O haste the rising of that morn, “Burning Bush” – Sebastien Bourdon (17th cent.) the day that e’er shall last. “Crossing of the Red Sea” Come, Emmanuel; “Israelites led by Pillar of Light” – William West (1845) Come, Emmanuel; “Israelites led by Pillar of Fire” The Morning Star shall soon arise, O Come, Emmanuel. (interlude) "Moses and the Law" - Rembrandt (1659) The King shall come when morning dawns "The Brazen Serpent" - Anthony Van Dyck (1620) and light and beauty brings; “Joshua Crossing the Jordan” – Benjamin West (1800) Hail, Christ the Lord! Your people pray, "The Triumph of David” - Nicolas Poussin (1628) Come quickly King of kings! ”Job” - Leon Bonnat (1880) Come, Emmanuel! "Daniel In The Lion's Den" - Peter Paul Rubens (1615) Come, Emmanuel! "Jonah Delivered" - Jan Brueghel the Elder (1600) The Morning Star shall soon arise. O Come, Emmanuel. II. Morning Star “Captivity of Jews in Babylon” - Léon François (1875) The endless despair of bondage enveloped the children of Israel for generations. “Captivity of Jews in Babylon” - Léon François (1875) Yet, they held to the promise that God’s chosen One would someday come to set them free, “Captivity of Jews in Babylon” - Léon François (1875) releasing them from the hopelessness of their long dark night. “Captivity of Jews in Babylon” - Léon François (1875) And so, they waited for the Morning Star to rise. “Isaiah Foretells the Birth of Christ” (Isaiah 60:19) The Sun shall no longer be your light by day, “Isaiah Foretells the Birth of Christ” (Isaiah 60:19) nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, “Isaiah Foretells the Birth of Christ” (Isaiah 60:19) for the Lord will be your Everlasting Light. (intro) Draped across a midnight sky, a veil of stars, a shroud of silent night; Hidden deep within the veil, an azure spark, a burst of glory bright. Emmanuel, Emmanuel, with Your brilliance mark the hour. Set us free from sin’s dark pow’r, banish shadows of the night. Shatter darkness with Your light, Emmanuel. (interlude) Rising out of Israel, a Morning Star to break into the night, To break into our night, our night! Emmanuel, Emmanuel, with Your brilliance mark the hour. Set us free from sin’s dark pow’r, banish shadows of the night. Shatter darkness with Your light, Emmanuel. Emmanuel, Emmanuel, with Your brilliance mark the hour. Set us free from sin’s dark pow’r, banish shadows of the night. Shatter darkness with Your light, Emmanuel. Morning Star, Incarnate Word, bring Your Light into our world. III. Chosen by God In accordance with the perfect plan of God, the time came for the Messiah to be born. The angel Gabriel was sent to a virgin named Mary who was pledged to a man named Joseph. (Luke 1:30-32) “Do not be afraid,” the angel said, “for you have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30-32) You will bear a Child, and you are to name Him Jesus. (Luke 1:30-32) He will be great and be called the Son of the Most High.” "Joseph’s Dream" – Herrera the Younger (1662) (Matthew 1:20) An angel also visited Joseph in a dream in which he was told to take Mary as his wife. "Joseph’s Dream" – Herrera the Younger (1662) (Matthew 1:20) “What is conceived in Mary is of the Holy Spirit,” the angel said. All of this took place to fulfill the prophesies of old. For Mary and Joseph had been divinely chosen by God. "Annunciation" – Leonardo da Vinci (1474) “Chosen by God, "Annunciation" – Leonardo da Vinci (1474) you’ve been chosen by God,” "Annunciation" – Leonardo da Vinci (1474) the angel said unto me. "Annunciation" – Leonardo da Vinci (1474) “You shall bear the Son of the Most High God; "Annunciation" – Leonardo da Vinci (1474) He shall come to set His people free.” "Joseph's Dream" - Georges de La Tour (1630) “Chosen by God, "Joseph's Dream" - Georges de La Tour (1630) you’ve been chosen by God,” "Joseph's Dream" - Georges de La Tour (1630) the angel said unto me. “The Dream of St. Joseph” – Anton Raphael Mengs (1773) “You shall raise the Son of the Most High God; “The Dream of St. Joseph” – Anton Raphael Mengs (1773) He shall come to set His people free.” “Annunciation” – John William Waterhouse (1914) “Do not be afraid,” “The Annunciation” – (1620) the angel said, “The Annunciation” (15th cent.) “this Child is sent “Virgin Mary” – Luca Giordano (1672) from heav’n above: “Annunciation” – Joos van Cleve (1525) the fulfillment of “The Annunciation” - Botticelli (1485) God’s promises, “The Annunciation” –Botticelli (1489) the Messiah, the King of love, King of love.” Mosaic (12th cent.) “Chosen by God, Luco Giordano (1672) you’ve been chosen by God,” “The Annunciation” - Jacob de Wit (1723) the angel said unto me, to me. “The Annunciation” – (1425) “This Child shall be the Prince of Peace, “Annunciation” – Rembrandt van Rijn (1650) and His reign on earth shall never cease.” “The Annunciation” - Tintoretto (1563) Gloria to God who reigns on high! “Annunciation” Jan de Beer (1520) Let heav’n and earth resound in praise, “The Annunciation” - Fra Angelico (1438) For the promised One shall soon be born! “Annunciation” – Paolo de Matteis (1712) God is faithful in all His ways, all His ways. “Annunciation” – Paolo de Matteis (1712) (interlude) “Annunciation” – Matthias Stom (early 17th cent.) “He shall come to set His people free.” IV. O Little Town of Bethlehem “The Census at Bethlehem” - Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1566) A royal decree was issued by Caesar Augustus that a census be taken of the entire Roman world. “On the Way to Bethlehem” - Hugo van der Goes (1475) Everyone was to return to their own towns to register. “On the Way to Bethlehem” - Hugo van der Goes (1475) So Joseph took Mary, to whom he was pledged, and they traveled to Bethlehem. Unknown (1150) While they were there, the time came for the Child to be born. Unknown (1150) She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, Unknown (1150) for there had been no room for them in the inn. Anonymous (1400) (Micah 5:2) This fulfilled the prophecy of Micah: But you, O Bethlehem, though you are small Anonymous (1400) (Micah 5:2) among the clans of Judah, out of you will come One who will be ruler over Israel. “Nativity” – Fra Angelico (14th cent.) O little town of Bethlehem, “Nativity” – Fra Angelico (14th cent.) how still we see thee lie; “Nativity” – Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1665) above thy deep and dreamless sleep “Nativity” – Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1665) the silent stars go by: “Birth of Christ” - Geertgen tot Sint Jans (1489) yet in thy dark streets shineth “The Christ” –Botticelli (1489) the everlasting Light; Giotto di Bondone (1306) the hopes and fears of all the years “Adoration of the Child” - Gerrit van Honthorst (1620) are met in thee tonight. “Adoration of the Child” - Gerrit van Honthorst (1620) (interlude) “Nativity” – Girolamo Romanino (1524) For Christ is born of Mary, “Nativity” – Girolamo Romanino (1524) and gathered all above, “The Nativity” – Antoniazzo Romano (1400) while mortals sleep, the angels keep “The Nativity” – Antoniazzo Romano (1400) their watch of wond'ring love. Caravaggio (1609) O morning stars, together “Holy Nativity” - Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre (16th cent) proclaim the holy birth! Lorenzo Leonbruno da Mantova (1515) And praises sing to God the King, Rogier van der Weyden (1448) and peace to all the earth. Rogier van der Weyden (1448) (interlude) “Nativity” Guido da Siena (1250) Sing Gloria, Sing Gloria, Gloria! Zanobi Strozzi (1433) Sing Gloria, Sing Gloria, Gloria! “Mystic Nativity” – Sandro Botticelli (1500) How silently, how silently, “Mystic Nativity” – Sandro Botticelli (1500) the wondrous gift is giv'n! “Nativity with The Trinity” Giovanni Battista (1740) So God imparts to human hearts “Nativity with The Trinity” Giovanni Battista (1740) the blessings of his heaven. Jacob van Oost (16th cent.) No ear may hear His coming, Hugo van der Goes (1475) but in this world of sin, Pieter Bruegal the Elder (1556) of sin, “Nativity” – Ludovico Mazzolino (1506) where meek souls will receive Him still, Ghirlandaio (1488) the dear Christ enters in. Ghirlandaio (1488) (interlude) “Nativity” Guido da Siena (1250) Sing Gloria, Sing Gloria, Gloria! Zanobi Strozzi (1433) O holy Child of Bethlehem, (Sing Gloria!) Rubens (16th cent.) Our Lord, Emmanuel.