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If you enjoy listening to talented singer/songwriters, you won’t want to miss these upcoming concerts!

DECEMBER 12 JANUARY 16

Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands Chuck Brodsky

FEBRUARY 20 MARCH 19

Kat Eggleston Steve Seskin

Visit http://www.lightedwindow.org for more info and tickets Suggested donation price: $25.00 Adults • $15 Seniors/Teens Under 12 Free.

Lighted Window Concerts • 400 W. Campbell Ave. • Campbell, CA, 95008 • (408)-378-4418 Lighted Window is a Non-Pro t Organization. All proceeds, after paying musicians and expenses, will go to a mission project that will support musicians. (TBD)

Our Mission Rainbow Women’s Chorus works together to develop musical excellence in an atmosphere of mutual support and respect. We perform publicly for the entertainment, education and cultural enrichment of our audiences and community. We sing to enhance the esteem of all women, to celebrate diversity, to promote peace and freedom, and to touch people’s hearts and lives. Our Story Rainbow Women’s Chorus is a nonprofit corporation governed by the Action Circle, a group of women dedicated to realizing the organization’s mission. Chorus members began singing together in 1996, presenting concerts in venues such as Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Le Petit Trianon Theatre, the San Jose Repertory Theater and Triton Museum. The chorus also performs at church services, diversity celebrations, awards ceremonies, community meetings and private events. Rainbow Women’s Chorus is a member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA). In 2000, RWC proudly co-hosted GALA Festival in San Jose, with the Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus. Since then, RWC has participated in GALA Festivals in Montreal (2004), Miami (2008), Denver (2012) and we will return to Denver for Festival 2016 next year. In February 2006, members of RWC sang at Carnegie Hall in NYC with a dozen other choruses for a breast cancer and HIV benefit. In July 2010, RWC traveled to Chicago for the Sister Singers Women’s Choral Festival. But we like it best when we are here at home, singing for you! Support the Arts Rainbow Women’s Chorus and other arts organizations receive much valued support from Silicon Valley Creates, not only in grants, but also in training, guidance, marketing, fundraising, and more. Silicon Valley Creates also manages LiveSV, an online, up-to-date listing of arts events in Silicon Valley. Visit them at www.livesv.com the next time you’re looking for entertainment. Horizons Foundation helps fund RWC with generous grants. Please support Rainbow Women’s Chorus and other arts organizations with your donations. Keep the arts alive!

Strike the Harp and Join the Chorus! Our Chorus needs not only singers but also support staff and funding in order to continue to bring you beautiful music. The members of Rainbow Women’s Chorus encourage you to join us and share in our joy of singing and entertaining.

Visit our web site, www.rainbowwomen.org, or call (408) 857-3138 or (408) 603-9367 for more information. Singers Concert Production Staff Choralography: Betsy Wagner Sopranos Altos Production Manager: Laurie Pepin Bonnie Montgomery Betsy Wagner* Program Design and Layout: Eileen Gloria Perkins † Eileen Hamper Hamper Eileen Soeder Erin Brown Sound: Charles Ryan Enid Stahl Jan Peterson † Stage Manager: Brian Singer Jan Blossom Jean Hogan Karen Parker † Joanna De Sa Printing: Laurie Ellsworth Kathleen Eagan Kim Daniel-Mestaz Ticket Distribution: Maryalice Edson † Margaret Lindberg Kim Wallace Wardrobe Mistress: Jan Blossom Marjorie Pearson Laurie Ellsworth Program Notes composed by our singers. Maryalice Edson † Laurie Pepin † Lobby Volunteers: Al Bonvouloir, Bettie PJ Turnham Laurie Willis † Owen , Eileen Soeder, Heather Hartter, Roxanne Arnold Marion Steeg Libby Kava, Larry Edson, Mary Wall, Ruth Huber* Marnie Singer Matt Burrows and Michelle. Sari Van Otegham † Meg Sanders Tracy Popenhagen † Nancy Arvold In addition, members of the Chorus Sally Cooperrider contributed to every aspect of producing * Artistic Directors this concert for you. † Vocal InFusion We also depend on the unflagging support of our friends, family, partners, and many others. We couldn’t do this without you!

Action Circle Chorus Volunteers (Board of Directors) Chorus Contact: Eileen Hamper President: Maryalice Edson Databases: Marnie Singer Vice President: Laurie Pepin Grants: Margaret Lindberg and Eileen Hamper Treasurer: Laurie Ellsworth Facebook Page: Marnie Singer Secretary: Eileen Soeder GALA Liason: Kim Wallace Members at Large: Membership: Laurie Pepin Eileen Hamper Music Librarian: Gloria Perkins Larry Edson Performance Booking: Jan Blossom Website: Greg Elmensdorp Tax Returns and Legal Advice: Sally Cooperrider Big THANKS to Our Donors! Thanks from the bottom of our musical hearts Haselden, Julie Ann Vargas Meneses, Kathy to the following donors for their support: Madden, Katie Simonton, Kerry Newkirk, Lee Ann Slaton & Gary Schaffer, Linda and William $500+ Lucitt, Lois and Kenneth Gerchman, Lynne Betsy Wagner, Eileen Hamper, Micki & Becky, Miller, Margaret Lindberg, Marjorie Pearson, Anne Hansen, Cathy McLain Mary Lyons, Maryalice Edson, Maureen Gray, $100 - $499 Nancy Arvold, Nancy Tieszen, Peg Chappars, Bettie Owen, Brian Singer, Don Jolly, Eileen and Phyllis Chai, Randi Secrest, Ruth Huber, Serina Sher, Jan Blossom, Jan T. Guffey, Joyce Sogg, Beauparlant Kate Engelberg, Katherine Dawson, Kathleen Eagan, Laurie Ellsworth, Laurie Pepin, Kim Grants and Corporate contributions Wallace, Lynne McLaughlin, Margie Streuble, Apple; Horizons Foundation; Silicon Mick Davoudian, Niki Davis, Renee Jones, Valley Creates, County of Santa Clara Richard Nancarrow, Terry E. Shoup, Donations-in-kind: Contributors Laurie Ellsworth, Eileen Hamper, Jan Blossom, Brian Kuhn, C. A, Looper, Carol (Anderson) Sally Cooperrider, Terry Shoup, and more King, Diane James, E.C. and L.L. Wong, Ellyn We sincerely apologize if we left your name off Wood, Enid A Stahl, Gerri Hettenbach, Jackie the list. Jolly, Jean Hogan, Al & Winn, Joanna Hill, John

SALLY COOPERRIDER Attorney at Law

Family Law Mediation & Collaborative Law Estate Planning Probate 142 George St., San Jose, CA 95110 www.Cooperriderlaw.com (408) 287-7717

Toby Adams, Attorney at Law – experienced in same-sex divorces, transgender name and gender changes, and estate planning for alternative families. www.TobyAdamsLaw.com [email protected] 530-863-7153 Rainbow Women’s Chorus Staff Ruth Huber, Co-Artistic Director, Composer-in-Residence Ruth Huber was instrumental in founding both RWC and Tapestry Singers (the Austin Women’s Chorus). She holds three music degrees, including a Master of Music in Composition from the San Francisco Conservatory, and has studied conducting at San Jose State University. Her compositions and songs have won awards from the American Choral Directors Association, the San Francisco ArtSong Competition, and the Austin Music Umbrella Songwriters Competition, and she receives commissions from choral groups around the country. A certified member of Music Teachers National Association, she teaches piano, serves as Music Director for Campbell United Congregational Church and resides in San Jose with her wife, Brenda Meng, and an assortment of adorable cats.

Betsy Wagner, Co-Artistic Director, Choralographer Betsy Wagner has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education with a dual major in voice and piano from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA. She has been teaching music to students in grades K-12 since 1978. Since coming to the Bay Area in 1990, she has built an award-winning choir program at Morrill Middle School in San Jose. Betsy has been singing with Rainbow Women’s Chorus since 1997 and has been co-director since 2000. She creates the choralography for RWC performances and, in the fall of 2003, helped found RWC’s small ensemble, Vocal InFusion. According to her mom, her natural musical ability showed up at the early age of two, when she played “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” by ear on her toy piano. Doug Forsyth, Accompanist Doug Forsyth graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, concentrating on piano performance. He has performed as a singer and an instrumentalist with the Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus, and he has accompanied numerous other performers and choruses. He is appreciated by both chorus and directors for his unfailing musicianship. Mr Forsyth was accompanist for RWC from 1998 through 2009 and has generously agreed to replace Kathy Disney, our regular accompanist, while she is on temporary leave. We are very lucky to have him. Rainbow Women’s Chorus Celebrates the Holidays First Half Second Half The Wexford Carol The Man With the Bag and Santa Baby Traditional, arranged by Ruth Elaine Schram Arranged by Paul Langford “Everybody’s Waitin’ for the Man with the Bag” All the World Is Winter words and music by Harold Stanley, Irving Taylor Words and music by Ruth Elaine Schram and and Dudley Brooks Chelsie Staggers “Santa Baby” words and music by Joan Javits, Phil A Social Madrigal Springer and Tony Springer Words and music by Nathan Howe Percussion: Kim Wallace Patapan Carol, composed by Bernard de La Monnoye, Durme, Durme arranged and adapted by Ed Lojeski Sephardic Folk Song, arranged by Audrey Snyder Percussion: Kim Wallace, flute: Sally Cooperrider Star of Glory [Vocal Infusion] Solstice Words and music by Jay Althouse Words and music by John Purifoy Twelve or So Days of The Chanukah Song (We Are Lights) [Vocal Infusion] Music by Stephen Schwartz, lyrics by Steve Young, Traditional English Carol, arranged by Paula arranged by Mac Huff Foley Tillen Solos: Joanna De Sa and Maryalice Edson Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, arranged by English words by John S. Dwight, music by Adolphe Jeff Funk Adam, arranged by Kirby Shaw Go Where I Send Thee! Solos: Gloria Perkins and Jan Peterson Gospel Spiritual, arranged by Paul Caldwell and Percussion: Kim Wallace, Doug Forsyth and Sean Ivory Betsy Wagner Song of the Refugees / INTERMISSION / Words and music by Ruth Huber Enjoy the snacks provided for your enjoyment Because We Believe by our singers. Also, consider receiving a CD or Words and music by Andrea Bocelli, David Foster T-shirt from the donation gift table. Either would and Amy Foster-Gillies, arranged by Mac Huff. make a great holiday gift! Solos: Roxanne Arnold And Karen Parker Program Notes

The Wexford Carol A Social Madrigal Singer Caitriona O’Leary said that 17th Have you ever wondered how other historical century Irish carols like this one, bring a “depth periods might have fared using our social of emotion in the words, a very understated media technology as part of their courtship subtle kind of emotion, but nonetheless very, rituals? Take the courting rituals used in very profound. Beautiful imagery, as well. And the 16th century and sung in the form of a the tunes that are very humble, very folk-like madrigal—a song sung in jest. The composer in origin - well, they are folksongs - and yet has offered us one such 16th century courtship they’re - well, not and yet they’re ... noble and scenario using Google, Facebook, Twitter and the unfortunate Friendster! Also, if you’re they stand alone and they are just beautifully- not sure, LOL means laughing out loud and crafted songs.” Gloria Perkins ROTFL rolling on the floor laughing. Margaret Lindberg All the World Is Winter For those of us who live Durme, Durme in California, this may Jews lived in Spain in significant numbers be the closest we get to for hundreds of years BCE until the Spanish experiencing the stark beauty Inquisition of 1492. This haunting lullaby of winter in other parts of is written in Ladino, with a loose English the country. For others it will translation. Ladino is a remind you of home, and still-living Judeo-Spanish you might imagine the barren Romance language written in trees and the icy wind. Through haunting, Hebrew script. The essence lush harmony and melodic accompaniment, of the lullaby is as follows: the song is a beautiful musical description “Sleep, sleep mother’s that conveys the harshness of the dead of little boy/free from worry winter, when it is “hard to remember the and pain. Listen (with) joy warmth of spring in December.” Yet it is a to your mother’s words/ the words of Sh’ma reminder to appreciate the special moments Yisrael….” (The most important of all Jewish – “winter’s saving grace” like the feeling of a prayers, mentioned here to keep her baby safe.) snowflake on your face and the silent sparkle Margaret Lindberg of untouched snow. Nancy Arvold each verse. Each number reminds the singer Twelve or So Days of Christmas of a Biblical meaning: 4 gospel writers, 10 (Vocal InFusion) commandments, 12 disciples, 11 of them going Everyone knows “The Twelve Days of to heaven. Some are more obscure, which Christmas,” but it takes so long to sing! This challenge any Bible study you might have had. light-hearted setting streamlines all the days Each verse is tied together by the repeated into about two minutes, with a clever touch that endearing reference to the “little bitty baby” will delight! (), “born in .” Nancy Arvold

Star of Glory (Vocal InFusion) An exciting, original, modern-day a cappella The Man With the Bag and Christmas spiritual. Santa Baby This medley of two popular Christmas novelty Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy songs written in the 1950s both have some Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy controversy around them. “The Man with the is one of the movements from Bag” is obviously , “who’s got the The , a ballet, stuff,” and “you’ll get yours, if you’ve been by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. very, very good.” But there was a rumor at the The libretto is adapted from time it was written that it may be a reference to E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story “The a heroin dealer (OMG!). Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” It was given The political incorrectness of the song its première in St. Petersburg on Sunday, “Santa Baby” – both the commercialization December 18, 1892. The ballet’s first complete of Christmas and the sexual objectification United States performance was on December of women - usually elicits either a groan or 24, 1944, by the San Francisco Ballet, starring a chuckle from listeners. Ertha Kitt’s most Gisella Caccialanza as the Sugar Plum Fairy. popular hit, it represents an obviously not- After the enormous success of this production, so-subtly coy lady implying that because San Francisco Ballet has presented Nutcracker she’s “been an awfully good girl” her sugar every and throughout the daddy could provide simple gifts like a yacht winter season. Betsy Wagner (“not a lot”), and that if he does she’ll make him very happy when he “hurries down the Go Where I Send Thee! chimney tonight.” Ironically, Ertha Kitt died This well-known Gospel spiritual was on Christmas day 2008. Nancy Arvold discovered in a Kentucky school for black children by Jean Ritchie, famous Appalachian Patapan folk singer/composer in the mid-1900s, and is “Pat-a-Pan” was composed by Bernard de La Monnoye (1641 - 1729), a French literary likely of traditional African American origin. A scholar who studied with the Jesuits, then “cumulative song” with many versions, it is a practiced law for a time, hated it, and left teaching song that repeats and adds lyrics with for the life of a poet, critic, and linguist, movement of the Sun’s path comes to a stop contributing to translations and dictionaries, before reversing direction. Betsy Wagner as well as producing many well known poems and other written works. The Chanukah Song (We Are “Pat-a-Pan” was first published in 1720 in a Lights) book of Burgundian Carols, de la Monnoye Chanukah is the celebration of using the pseudonym of Gui Barozai. “Some the Jews’ winning their religious priests saw in these carols a hidden attempt to freedom from the Syrians more mock the Bible, and the question got as far as than 2000 years ago. When the being submitted to a committee of Sorbonne Jews returned to their destroyed professors, who prudently avoided the issue.” temple, oil to light the lamp to purify the (Wikipedia) temple, was only supposed to burn for “Pat-a-Pan” is the only carol from this one day, so the story goes. The oil lasted collection to enjoy current popularity. It has eight days. “The Chanukah Song” not only been recorded by many artists including Bing celebrates the miracle of the burning lights Crosby, Mannheim Steamroller, and Julie and its 2000 years of history, but the miracle Andrews, and sung by many many children’s of people today celebrating with lights and adult choirs. Jan Blossom sparkling in their eyes. Margaret Lindberg

Solstice O Holy Night John Purifoy’s musical Music composed by 1847 crafting of solstice through to the French poem “Midnight Christians” lyric and music captures the by Placide Cappeau. Artistically translated magical sense of seasons, in 1855 from French by Unitarian minister spheres, light and life ever and music scholar, John Sullivan Dwight, in turning. Massachusetts, providing the familiar words. A solstice is an astronomical event that occurs “.a star is brightly shining... twice each year (June and December) as the “O Holy Night” was broadcast by Reginald sun reaches its highest or lowest point relative Fessenden, a Canadian inventor, in the first to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. AM radio program on December 24, 1906. Both the solstices and the equinoxes are He played the piece on his violin and sang the connected with the seasons of the year. The final verse in this live production. term solstice can refer to the day when this Recorded by artists from Enrico Caruso to Lea occurs. The solstice is either the longest day Michele in Glee, this song remains a favorite. of the year (summer solstice) or the shortest Jan Blossom day of the year (winter solstice). The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and Song of the Refugees sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, In September, the world was shocked by the the Sun stands still; that is, the seasonal image of a small boy’s lifeless body washed up on a beach in Turkey. As thousands Because We Believe of desperate refugees, fleeing war and In 2006 the amazing Italian tenor Andrea devastation, poured into Europe from Syria, Bocelli sang “Because We Believe (Ama Credi Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa, the global E Vai)” in the closing ceremony of the 2006 community was challenged to respond, Olympic Games, with 18,000 athletes, 30,000 sometimes with open arms, sometimes with spectators and 1.5 billion TV viewers in total vitriol and rejection. More than ever, in this awe. The music moves us today as it moved season of “peace on earth” the Buddhist so many in 2006. The words seem to speak adage seems relevant: “hatred never ceases personally to us, as each of us, in our own way, by hatred, but by love alone is healed.” has experienced a time in our lives when we Ruth Huber had to step out alone into the light and came to believe that we were indeed born to shine. We celebrate the winter holidays with shining stars and burning candles, common symbols at this time of year for Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, and Diwali. Marion Steeg

W NDER

DEC 11 FRIDAY, 8:00 PM DEC 12 SATURDAY, 8:00 PM DEC 13 SUNDAY, 3:00 PM

Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 1550 Meridian Avenue San Jose, CA 95125 Tickets: $20 General $15 Student with valid ID Purchase online: www.svgmc.org