5 5 The 2014–2015 Season AN EVENING OF ReaDINGS AND CarOLS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 PRINCETON UNIVERSITY CHAPEL Westminster Firsts A Classical Legacy 1920 1975 2002 Westminster Choir was established by John Finley Westminster Choir premiered William Schuman’s Casey at To commemorate the events of September 11, 2001, William son at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in the Bat with the National Symphony Orchestra. Westminster Choir was featured in the PRI national Dayton, Ohio. 1977 radio broadcast of “In the Shadow of the Towers.” They were joined by President George W. Bush and former 1926 Westminster Choir became the first chorus-in-residence New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Westminster Sym- The Westminster Choir School was founded. at the Spoleto Festival U.S.A. in Charleston, S.C., at the phonic Choir’s performance of Verdi’s Requiem with the invitation of Gian Carlo Menotti. 1928 New Jersey Symphony was broadcast nationally by PBS. Westminster Choir and the Cincinnati Symphony made 1978 2004 the nation’s first coast-to-coast radio broadcast, aired over Westminster Choir established its own recording label, Westminster Choir premiered Arise My Love by Stephen Station WLW. copyrighted “Westminster Choir,” and released its first Paulus, a gift from the composer to celebrate Joseph recording: Six Motets of Johann Sebastian Bach, with guest 1929 Flummerfelt’s extraordinary career. • Westminster’s conductor Wilhelm Ehmann. Westminster Choir College was established and moved to artistic director, Joseph Flummerfelt, was named Musical Ithaca College. 1980 America’s 2004 Conductor of the Year, the first choral conductor to be so honored. 1932 Westminster Choir was the first choir to be featured on the “ Live from Lincoln Center” telecast series over National Westminster Choir College moved to Princeton, N.J. 2005 Public Television. The Choir performed Verdi’s Requiem Westminster Symphonic Choir performed Ravel’s 1934 with the New York Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta. Daphnis et Chloë (complete) for the first time with the As the first official American guests of the Soviet 1982 New York Philharmonic, conducted by Lorin Maazel. Union, with whom the United States had just resumed Westminster Choir was part of the 10,000th performance diplomatic relations, Westminster Choir made the first 2006 of the New York Philharmonic, America’s oldest perma- broadcast from Russia to the United States. Westminster Symphonic Choir participated in the New nent orchestra. York Philharmonic’s first performance of Mozart’s Mass 1938 1988 in C, K. 317 “Coronation,” conducted by Lorin Maazel. Westminster Choir, with conductor and founder Dr. John Westminster Choir sang Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms • Joe Miller appointed director of choral activities and Finley Williamson, presented the first U.S. performance of with the New York Philharmonic under the composer’s conductor of the Westminster Choir and the Westminster Joseph Haydn’s Passion (The Seven Last Words). The perfor- direction in a performance at Carnegie Hall celebrating Symphonic Choir. mance also featured a volunteer orchestra of Princetonians, the 45th anniversary of Bernstein’s conducting debut with including Albert Einstein in the violin section. The 2007 • the orchestra. Choir sang at the dedication of the New York World’s Fair. Rider University established Westminster College of the 1990 Arts. • Westminster Williamson Voices presented the 1939 Westminster Symphonic Choir sang in the Leonard North American premiere of James Whitbourn’s Annelies: Westminster Choir sang for the first time with the New Bernstein memorial concert at the invitation of the The Anne Frank Oratorio. • Westminster Symphonic York Philharmonic. Since then, it has set a record for the Bernstein family. Choir opened the Carnegie Hall season performing number of joint performances—more than 350—by a Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Lucerne Festival 1991 single choir and orchestra. Orchestra, conducted by David Robertson. 1957 Westminster Symphonic Choir performed at Carnegie Hall’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. 2008 Westminster Choir completed a five-month, globe- Westminster Kantorei participated in the world premiere 1992 circling tour under the auspices of the U.S. State recording of John Magnussen’s Psalm, composed for the Department’s Cultural Exchange Program. The Choir Westminster Choir College merged with Rider José Limón dance company. performed in 22 countries, traveled 40,000 miles and University. • Westminster Symphonic Choir performed appeared before 227,000 people. in “A Tribute to Riccardo Muti” with The Philadelphia 2009 Westminster Choir and Joe Miller released their first 1964 Orchestra and Maestro Muti, a performance televised nationally on the Arts & Entertainment Cable Network. recording, Flower of Beauty. Westminster Choir sang on the Telstar World-Wide Telecast in the spring for the opening ceremonies of the 1993 2010 New York World’s Fair. This reportedly was the largest Conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch, Westminster Sym- Westminster Williamson Voices premiered James audience ever to see a television show at that time. phonic Choir participated in The Philadelphia Orches- Whitbourn’s Requiem Canticorum, and the tra’s first performance of Britten’s War Requiem. Westminster Choir premiered Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s 1965 To a Locomotive in Winter. For the first time the Choir appeared with three major 1996 orchestras in one year: the Berlin Philharmonic, the Westminster Choir, conducted by Joseph Flummerfelt, 2011 American Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia traveled on a concert tour of Korea and Taiwan and per- The Westminster Symphonic Choir performed with Orchestra. formed in the Colmar Music Festival in Colmar, France. The Philadelphia Orchestra for the first time under the baton of Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. 1971 1999 Westminster Choir performed at the John F. Kennedy Westminster Symphonic Choir performed the world 2012 Center for the Performing Arts during the inaugural week premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s Oltra Mar, 7 Preludes for the Westminster Symphonic Choir performed with Gustavo of concerts with the Piedmont Chamber Orchestra under New Millennium with the New York Philharmonic Dudamel and the Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchrstra for the direction of Nicholas Harsanyi. The work performed conducted by Kurt Masur. the first time. The Dawn of Glory was by Christian Latrobe. 2001 2014 1972 Westminster Choir and the New York Philharmonic, The Westminster Williamson Voices’ and James Jordan’s The Choir began its first summer as the chorus-in- conducted by Joseph Flummerfelt, performed the world recording of James Whitbourn’s Annelies, the first major residence for the Festival dei Due Mondi (Festival of Two premiere of Stephen Paulus’ Voices of Light, commissioned choral setting of The Diary of Anne Frank, was nominated Worlds) in Spoleto, Italy, at the invitation of Gian Carlo by Rider University to celebrate the 75th anniversary of for a GRAMMY Award for Best Choral Performance. Menotti. the founding of Westminster Choir College. Ryan James Brandau James Jordan Joe Miller Amanda Quist Kathleen Ebling Shaw Westminster Concert Bell Choir Westminster Chapel Choir Westminster Schola Cantorum Westminster Symphonic Choir Eric Plutz, organ With guest artists Solid Brass New Jersey Youth Chorus Patricia Joyce, conductor Phillip Steffani, piano Robert Young McMahan, accordion Please note the unauthorized use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited by law. Out of courtesy to the performers and everyone in the audience, please refrain from using cell phones and electronic devices. † All who are willing and able are invited to stand and join in the singing The audience is asked to withhold all applause until after the recessional. Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, OVERTURE Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above; Glory to God In the highest: Heroic Music Georg Philipp Telemann Refrain. Solid Brass; Eric Plutz, organ (1681-1767) Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning, Jesu, to thee be glory giv’n. Deck the Halls Traditional Welsh Carol Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing: Solid Brass; Eric Plutz, organ arr. Carmen Dragon Refrain. (1914-1984) Four Christmas Carols Traditional English Carol In the Bleak Midwinter Gustav Holst IV. I Saw Three Ships arr. Mack Wilberg Westminster Concert Bell Choir (1874-1934) Westminster Schola Cantorum (b. 1955) arr. Karen Lakey Buckwalter Westminster Concert Bell Choir; Dominic Lam and Joel Trekell, piano Toccata: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” Mark Miller Friday Afternoons, Op. 7 Benjamin Britten Eric Plutz, organ V. A New Year’s Carol (1913-1976) Westminster Chapel Choir; Robert Young McMahan, accordion I Wonder as I Wander John Jacob Niles Westminster Chapel Choir (1892-1980) Masters in This Hall Marin Marais Margaret Bergmark, soprano arr. Steve Pilkington Westminster Concert Bell Choir (1656-1728) arr. Arnold B. Sherman Missa Carolae: Introit and Kyrie James Whitbourn Westminster Schola Cantorum (b. 1963) LIGHT Westminster Symphonic Choir; Solid Brass Eric Plutz, organ; Christopher Hochstuhl, piccolo CAROL: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing † F. Mendelssohn Kathryn Trave, soprano; Marigrace Maley, soprano (1809-1847) Joel Michalchuk, percussion; Jacob Ezzo, percussion arr. Craig Phillips Hark! the herald angels sing glory to the newborn King! WELCOMING Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all