with special guests Nicole Joseph and the African Children’s Choir December 9-10, 2019 December 9, 2019, 7:30pm Long Center, Austin December 10, 2019, 7:30pm Tobin Center, San Antonio Craig Hella Johnson Artistic Director Nicole Joseph Guest Artist The African Children’s Choir Guest Artists Thomas Burritt Percussion Mitch Watkins Guitar Season Sustaining Underwriter Formerly South Texas Money Management SAN ANTONIO | AUSTIN | HOUSTON | DALLAS Performance Sponsors CORPUS CHRISTI | BRENHAM 1 Welcome, friends! We are delighted to come together with you tonight. In our fast-moving modern world, it seems we are all navigating an ever-increasing complex set of tasks, expectations and obligations. As we continue along this life path together, we acknowledge our hopes and “We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; dreams, and our disappointments and losses. This year, we are each other’s magnitude and bond.” we find ourselves in a particularly challenging, and at — Gwendolyn Brooks times even painful, cultural climate. Tonight we gather to begin a shared season of singing. All of us who are a part For each child that’s born of the Conspirare musical family feel the importance of our annual return to this a morning star rises gathering and we cherish the opportunities this season holds. This singing season and sings to the universe who we are. is all about stopping and allowing music and silence to mark these moments that remind us who we truly are. This season serves as a clarion call back to this much We are our grandmothers’ prayers. needed remembrance. It is a reminder that our greatest strength, our deepest We are our grandfathers’ dreamings. peace, and our most robust joy comes when we experience this life as a ‘we’ We are the breath of our ancestors, together, not separate from one another. Everything that we try to do in shaping We are the spirit of God. tonight’s program for you is to serve this clarion call, this reminder to awaken and remember. We are Mothers of courage, Each year, we have the opportunity to collaborate with wonderful friends and Fathers of time, guest artists who, with their voices, unique perspectives, styles, ways of being and Daughters of dust, life experience, show us new perspectives and shed new light on this age-old Sons of great vision. practice of seasonal refreshment. This year we are overjoyed to be joined by the We are Sisters of mercy, African Children’s Choir — our young friends from across the ocean — who are Brothers of love, here to illuminate this space and inspire us. Also, we welcome back star soprano Lovers of life and the builders of nations. Nicole Joseph who joins us from Detroit. She is a superb vocal artist, and a profoundly gifted communicator. We are Seekers of truth And keepers of faith, Tonight’s concert is our invitation for you to return home to your deepest self. Makers of peace and the wisdom of ages. We hope that in the music you will hear strains of comfort, joy, peace and delight. May our singing and listening together nourish this One Heart we all share. We are our grandmothers’ prayers. We are our grandfathers’ dreamings. We are the breath of our ancestors, We are the spirit of God. — Ysaye Barnwell 2 3 PROGRAM PROGRAM These concerts are dedicated to the children of the world. III Build My House Leonard Bernstein Please refrain from applause except where indicated by Ubi caritas Maurice Duruflé +++++++++++++++ True Love (Love is all We need) African Children’s Choir #42 Closer to Fine Indigo Girls I INVITATION AND ADVENT LAMENT Unity Daniel M. Cason III Veni Emmanuel Traditional I Need you to survive David Fraizer Prayer of the Universal Heart He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands African American Spiritual O Come Little Children/ Children We Can Mend the Sky Jake Runestad of the Heavenly Mother arr. Craig Hella Johnson Joy to the World G. F. Handel, arr. Mervyn Warren Prayer of the Children Kurt Bestor The Foundling Hall Johnson +++++++++++++++ Kumbaya Traditional Workin for the Dawn of Peace/ The Water is Wide Ron Jeffers/Traditional IV COME LOVE, CAROLING Hold On! Spiritual, arr. Moses Hogan O Come, All Ye Faithful John Francis Wade Come Down Angels Undine Smith Moore Hark the Herald Angels Sing Charles Wesley Wahamba Nathi African Children’s Choir La Primera Navidad Traditional Away in a Manger Traditional +++++++++++++++ Your little ones Dear Lord are We Traditional Sweet Little Jesus Boy Robert MacGimsey II America the Beautiful Samuel A. Ward “you cannot tell the children there is no hope” Hymn for America Stephen Paulus Beauty Frosty the Snowman Walter “Jack” Rollins & Steve Nelson Will there really be a “Morning?” Craig Hella Johnson Angels We Have Heard on High Traditional Stay Alive Jose Gonzalez Silent Night Traditional Lo., How a Rose E’er Blooming Traditional My Lord, What a Morning African American Spiritual V CLOSING Advent Lament Craig Hella Johnson We Are Each Other’s Angels African Children’s Choir Hallelujah, Amen! George Frideric Handel We Clasp the Hands Craig Hella Johnson When You Believe Stephen Schwartz I Could Have Danced All Night Frederick Lowe, arr. Craig Hella Johnson Ndikhokole Bawo Lhente-Mari Pitout Walk Together, Children African American Spiritual, arr. Moses Hogan +++++++++++++++ 4 5 TEXT AND TRANSLATIONS TEXT AND TRANSLATIONS I. INVITATION AND ADVENT LAMENT Can you feel the hearts of the children? Aching for home, for something of their very own O come, o come, Emmanuel Reaching hands, with nothing to hold on to, And free your captive children here But hope for a better day, a better day Who mourn in lonely exiled here Until the Son of God appear Crying Mother, help me To feel the love again in my own land Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel But if unknown roads lead away from home, Shall come to thee, O Israel Give me loving arms, away from harm — Ancient Antiphons Can you hear the voice of the children? O come little children, o come one and all… Softly pleading for silence in a shattered world? Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate, O come, little children, O come, one and all. Blood of the innocent on their hands To Bethlehem haste, to the manger so small. — Christoph von Schmid Isa-Masih, help me To feel the sun again upon my face, Oh, Thou, the sustainer of our Bodies, Hearts and Souls – For when darkness clears I know you’re near, We pause this day, joining with others across the world Bringing peace again who, like us, yearn for peace and harmony and understanding. We pause to celebrate the joy of people coming together; Guiding Wisdom, help me serving one another with common goals and concerns. To feel the sun again upon my face, We pause to ask Your blessing on this, our time together, For when darkness clears I know you’re near, on gatherings like ours, across our land and across the world. Bringing peace again — Laurel Hallman Dali cujete sve djecje molitive? And may we be dedicated to the service of that great family of all souls. ¿Puedes escuchar a los niños rezar? When there is peace in the heart, there will be gentleness in the person. Can you hear the prayer of the children? When there is gentleness in the person, there will be fairness in the nation. — Kurt Bestor When there is fairness in the nation, there will be peace in the world. May we be centers of peace and help speed the day where we all may be O come, o come, Emmanuel one. And free your captive children here Amen. — Sufi Prayer The Foundling Left on a doorstep, hungry and cold, Prayer of the Children Young as your birthday, already so old. Can you hear the prayer of the children? Nothing to know you by, nameless, alone, On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room Who brought you here to stay? Who are your own? Empty eyes with no more tears to cry Who is your father? Turning Heavenward, toward the light Who is your mother, Poor little stranger, fresh from above? Crying Jesus, help me Who could not want you? To see the morning light-of one more day Who could not love you, But if I should die before I wake, Poor little stranger, seeking for love? I pray my soul to take Rosebuds for fingers and diamonds for eyes, 6 7 TEXT AND TRANSLATIONS TEXT AND TRANSLATIONS What are you telling me, looking so wise? The water is wide, I cannot get o’er Clutching my fingertip, holding my eyes, Neither have I wings to fly Tell me this mystery straight from the skies. Give me a boat that can carry two “I know my Father, I know my Mother, And both shall cross my true love and I I am no stranger, here or above. God is my Father, Life my Mother, The water is wide… I am no stranger. — Traditional Scottish Folk Song I’m at home now, in Love!” I’ve been in the storm so long, — Hall Johnson I’ve been in the storm so long, children, I’ve been in the storm so long, O come, o come, Emmanuel Oh give me little time to pray. And free your captive children here — Spiritual Hold On! Kumbaya Hold on! Hold on! Somebody’s crying, Oh Lord…Kumbaya Just a’ hold on! Somebody’s crying, Oh Lord…Kumbaya I need you Lord, today…Kumbaya Nora, Nora let me come in; I need you right away…Kumbaya de door’s all fastened an’ de winders pinned! Somebody’s in despair Just keep yo’ hand on de plow, Somebody feels like no one cares an’ you hold on, Oh Lord, Kumbaya yes, you just hold on! Oh Lord, Kumbaya Nora said, “You lost yo’ track, Somebody’s in despair you can’t plow straight an’ keep a lookin’ back.” Somebody feels like no one cares Oh Lord, Kumbaya Well, my brother hold on! — Traditional Yes, you gotta hold on! Yes, just keep yo’ hand on de plow, Workin’ for the Dawn of Peace an’ you hold on, Two brothers on their way, yes, you gotta hold on! One wore blue and one wore gray.