Nordic Choir Allen Hightower, Conductor
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Nordic Choir Allen Hightower, conductor WINTER TOUR 2015 1 TOUR PROGRAM WINTER 2015 APPEARANCES OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT Saturday, January 24 / 7 p.m. Spirit, Moving Over Chaos Our Savior’s Lutheran Church David Ashley White (1944–) Montevideo, Minnesota Text: Patricia B. Clark Sunday, January 25 / 3 p.m. Selah Publishing Co. First Lutheran Church Sioux Falls, South Dakota Spirit, moving over chaos, bringing light where there was none, Saturday, January 31 / 7 p.m. be to us a light, First Baptist Church Columbia, Missouri revealing where the work is to be done. Praise to God, among us dwelling, Sunday, February 1 / 2 p.m. praise the Spirit giving light. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church Hiawatha, Iowa Breath, instilling animation, Monday, February 2 / 7:30 p.m. giving life, informing soul, Grace Lutheran Church breathe into all our beings River Forest, Illinois life that makes the Body whole. Tuesday, February 3 / 7 p.m. Praise to God, among us dwelling, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church praise the Spirit giving light. Davenport, Iowa Power, Life-force, Inspiration, Wednesday, February 4 / 7 p.m. Bethel Lutheran Church blowing, breathing, brooding here, Madison, Wisconsin call, enliven, and empower for your work, both far and near. Thursday, February 5 / 7 p.m. Praise to God, among us dwelling, First Lutheran Church praise the Spirit giving light. Duluth, Minnesota Friday, February 6 / 7 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church Ave Verum Corpus Moorhead, Minnesota William Byrd (1543–1623) Text: Sequence Hymn for Corpus Christi by Pope Innocent VI Saturday, February 7 / 7 p.m. Westwood Lutheran Church Oxford University Press St. Louis Park, Minnesota (Sung in Latin) Sunday, February 8 / 8:45 and 11 a.m. Hail, true Body, born Church Services of the Virgin Mary, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church who having truly suffered, was sacrificed Rochester, Minnesota on the cross for mankind, Sunday, February 8 / 7 p.m. whose pierced side Zumbro Lutheran Church flowed with water and blood: Rochester, Minnesota May it be for us a foretaste Tuesday, February 10 / 7:30 p.m. in the trial of death. Tour Homecoming Concert O sweet Jesus, O pious Jesus, Luther College, Center for Faith and Life O Jesus, son of Mary, Decorah, Iowa have mercy on me. Amen. Watch the tour homecoming concert live online or on demand: stream.luther.edu 2 *Songs marked with an asterisk available on recordings in the lobby Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied ALLEN J. S. Bach (1685–1750) HIGHTOWER, Text: Psalm 149:1–3 CONDUCTOR C.F. Peters Corp. Recently appointed the first (Sung in German) Weston Noble Endowed Chair in Music, Allen Hightower is Sing to the Lord a new song! professor of music at Luther The congregation of the saints shall praise Him, College, where he conducts Israel rejoices in Him, who has created it. the renowned Nordic Choir Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. and is artistic director of Let them praise His name in dances, Christmas at Luther. As with drums and harps let them play to Him. director of choral activities, he leads a program that includes four conductors, six choirs, and more than 500 singers. Prior to joining the Luther faculty, Hightower served TO LOVE AND TO PRAISE as professor of music and director of choral activities at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in Huntsville, Trois Chansons Texas. During his tenure, the SHSU Chorale performed for the 2007 National Convention of the American I: Dieu! qu’il la fait bon regarder Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the 2010 Claude Debussy (1862–1918) Southwestern Division of the ACDA, and the 2003, Text: Charles D’Orleans 2006, and 2010 conventions of the Texas Music CPDL Educators Association. (Sung in French) Before joining the faculty at Sam Houston, Hightower conducted the Chamber Choir at California State God, what a vision she is; University, Long Beach. His high school teaching one imbued with grace, true and beautiful! experience includes positions at Klein High School in For all the virtues that are hers Houston, Texas, and at Odessa (Texas) Permian High everyone is quick to praise her. School. Who could tire of her? From 2005 to 2010, Hightower was music director of Her beauty constantly renews itself; the Houston Masterworks Chorus. He served as the On neither side of the ocean Duesenberg Concert Choir Chair for the Lutheran do I know any girl or woman Summer Music Academy and Festival during the who is in all virtues so perfect; summers of 2007, 2011, and 2013. Hightower it’s a dream even to think of her; presently serves as a worship pastor at the Autumn God, what a vision she is. Ridge Church in Rochester, Minnesota. Hightower holds degrees from Sam Houston State University, Baylor University, and the Eastman School Messe of Music, and earned a D.M.A. from UCLA. He was IV: Sanctus* the first-prize winner in the graduate division of the Frank Martin (1890–1974) ACDA Conducting Competition in 1997. He has been mentored by choral conductors such as B. R. Henson, Text from the Mass Ordinary Donald Neuen, Paul Salamunovich, and Weston Bärenreiter Noble. (Sung in Latin) Since he joined the Luther faculty in 2010, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; performance, guest conducting, and teaching opportunities have taken Hightower to 24 states and heaven and earth are full of thy glory. three European countries. He recently completed Hosanna in the highest. residencies at the University of Alabama, Colorado Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. State University, Vandercook College of Music, and Hosanna in the highest. Pepperdine University. In March of 2014, Hightower conducted the Nordic Choir in performance at the North Central Division of ACDA. Hightower is married to soprano Kristin Hightower. They reside in Decorah, Iowa, with their daughters, Caroline and Julianne. 3 TOUR PROGRAM CHELANGA I was glad when they said unto me LANGASON ‘16 C. Hubert H. Parry (1848–1918) Minneapolis, Minn. Text: Psalm 72:1–3,6,7 Music major, Alfred Publishing Co., Inc. mathematics minor I was glad when they said unto me, Plans after Luther: We will go into the house of the Lord. Any job where I can Our feet shall stand in thy gates, O Jerusalem. work with kids! Jerusalem is builded as a city, that is at unity in itself. What do you love about Nordic Choir? O pray for the peace of Jerusalem, It’s pretty rare in life they shall prosper that love thee. that you are lucky Peace be within thy walls, enough to be a part of and plenteousness within thy palaces. a team in which everyone is committed 100 percent to creating the absolute best of anything. The fact that the Nordic Choir is full of 74 people working their hardest to make beautiful music is incredible. It’s INTERMISSION an experience I will value forever. What do you do when you are not singing? I am in Top Banana, Luther College’s improv comedy troupe. LET US GIVE THANKS I am also involved with the Luther College Black Student Union and am a resident advisor in Olson Sigalagala* Hall. Traditional Spiritual arr. S.A. Otieno Earthsongs JAMES (Sung in Luo) ODEGAARD ‘15 Hiawatha, Iowa He is calling: Music major, Come, we all go to heaven. management minor Jesus has brought salvation. Let there be ululation. Plans after Luther: Applying for jobs in non-profit world or college residence life What do you appreciate most about the liberal arts experience? I appreciate the opportunity to explore different subjects. Often when you enter college you do not know what you plan to major in, and the liberal arts experience allows you to truly find your niche. What’s the best thing about Jenson-Noble Hall of Music? I like that Jenson-Noble is a place not only for practicing, but for studying and socializing. You’re able to go to a quiet area and write a paper or hang out in the lounge to talk about your day. 4 *Songs marked with an asterisk available on recordings in the lobby Otche Nash* CHRISTINE Alexander Gretchaninov (1864–1956) O’BRIEN ‘15 Text: Liturgy No. 2 from Russian Orthodox Liturgy Western Springs, Ill. (Sung in Church Slavonic) English and music major, education minor Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Plans after Luther: thy kingdom come; Student teaching and thy will be done, applying for positions in earth as it is in heaven. teaching high school Give us this day our daily bread. English. And forgive us our trespasses, What would surprise as we forgive them that trespass against us. people about Nordic And lead us not into temptation; Choir? I think people but deliver us from evil. would be surprised to find out how silly and fun For thine is the kingdom, Nordic Choir can be. Nordic demands a high level the power, and the glory, of commitment, but we truly enjoy ourselves in for ever and ever. rehearsal and in performance. We balance focus Amen. and dedication with friendship and relaxation. From In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. potluck dinners to scavenger hunts, we always make Amen. time for fun! Psalm 50* What’s the best thing about Jenson-Noble Hall of Music? I love the sheer amount of music that is F. Melius Christiansen (1871–1955) made in Jenson-Noble every day. Walking through Augsburg Publishing House the halls, you can hear lessons on every instrument; choir, band, and orchestra rehearsals; and all kinds of II. Andante practicing! Jenson-Noble is hardly ever a quiet place, Offer unto God the sacrifice of thanksgiving and I love hearing the beautiful work of my peers and and pay the vows unto the Lord.