Cathedral Choir Mark Potvin, conductor 2019 Wisconsin Tour From the Conductor CATHEDRAL CHOIR Cathedral Choir is one of five auditioned choirs at Luther Welcome, one and all! We are delighted you have chosen College. The ensemble is composed of select singers drawn to join us for this performance. mostly from the rich talent of the college’s sophomore class. Cathedral Choir participates actively in campus worship, Cathedral Choir’s program evokes faith experiences in Christmas at Luther, and at special events and concerts that stem from disparate emotional states and cultural throughout the academic year. backgrounds. In Praise and Petition, the choir explores Cathedral Choir has collaborated with Collegiate Chorale, prayers representative of deep despair and certain hope. Nordic Choir, and the Luther College Symphony Orchestra to perform major choral/orchestral works, such as Brahms’ Two of the selections in this selection—“Hear My Prayer” A German Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Handel’s and “Timor et Tremor”—are vastly different settings of Messiah, and the premiere of Luther Mass by Stephen similar texts. The first is a chromatic, angst-ridden prayer Paulus. In October 2017, Cathedral joined Collegiate Chorale of penitence. The second hearkens to divine mysteries and Concert Band to premiere a collage cantata composed by Luther alumni and students to commemorate the 500th through peaceful, crystalline tone clusters. The final piece anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. in the set offers the assurance of salvation in the midst Active in the creation of new music, Cathedral Choir has of trials and tribulation, a theme expanded upon in the premiered choral works by Ola Gjeilo, Mack Wilberg, Daniel remainder of the program. Kallman, Sir David Willcocks, Gwyneth Walker, Ben Allaway, Daniel Pinkham, Eric Whitacre, Stephen Paulus, Amy Adoration and Exaltation juxtaposes two settings of the Engelsdorfer, Sandra Peter, and Jennaya Robison. Gloria from the Mass Ordinary. Poulenc’s masterwork for The ensemble also takes great pride in reintroducing landmark, chorus and orchestra is angular, colorful, and exuberant, small-scale masterworks to contemporary audiences and evidenced even in the piano reduction accompanying the performing choral music from non-Western traditions. choir. Hyo Won Woo, a contemporary Korean composer, Cathedral Choir is proud of its commitment to the larger treats a truncated version of the same text to an a cappella community. In the past year, the ensemble has collaborated rhythmic and tonal firestorm. Each setting jubilantly and with over 500 high school students in workshops and shared performances, engaged in multiple service projects to benefit uniquely proclaims “Glory to God!” residents of Decorah and Winneshiek County, and partnered The third set, Dreams, Memories, and Disorientation, is with Minnesota Public Radio to produce Luther College’s first “Bring the Sing” community singing event. performed without pause to allow the overarching theme to emerge. These selections trace a narrative common to those of advanced age: recollections of childhood, dreams SPRING 2019 APPEARANCES from vibrant lives well-lived, and ruminations on waning bodies and minds. The set includes three folk songs/ Saturday, April 6, 12:00 p.m. dances from Islamic, Christian, and Jewish traditions. Informal performance Spencer High School Our final five selections provide reassurance of our richest Spencer, Wisconsin blessing—Faith That Abides—in the way only well-worn Saturday, April 6, 7:30 p.m. hymns and spirituals can. Concert Al. Ringling Theatre Finally, I offer a brief comment regarding the texts set in Baraboo, Wisconsin the music of this concert. Although scripture and texts †Sunday, April 7, 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. of historic, sacred pieces most often use male pronouns Worship services when referring to community and to God, it is helpful to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church remember that God is beyond human gender and that the Madison, Wisconsin promise of peace on earth is given to all people and all Sunday, April 7, 2:30 p.m. creation. Artistic choices are made, whenever possible, to Concert incorporate inclusive language. Baraboo High School Baraboo, Wisconsin —Mark Potvin *Wednesday, April 10, 7:30 p.m. Homecoming Concert Center for Faith and Life Luther College Decorah, Iowa *Live streamed at stream.luther.edu/music †worship services 2 Tour Program I. PRAISE AND PETITION With a Voice of Singing Kenneth Jennings (1925–2015) Text: Isaiah 48:20, Psalm 66:1–2 With a voice of singing, prepare ye and tell this; Utter it even to the end of the earth. Hallelujah! The Lord hath redeemed His servant Jacob. Hallelujah! Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands. Sing forth the honor of His Name; make His praise glorious. Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the Holy Ghost; MARK POTVIN, CONDUCTOR As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world Mark Potvin is conductor of Cathedral Choir and the without end. Amen. Norsemen Choir at Luther College, where he also teaches conducting, secondary choral methods, and musical theatre. Potvin graduated from Luther College in 2001. He holds Hear My Prayer, O Lord a master of music degree from St. Cloud (Minn.) State Henry Purcell (c. 1659–1695) University. He is ABD in music education through Boston University. His conducting mentors include Weston Noble, ed. Watkins Shaw Timothy Peter, Lee Nelson, and Matthew Ferrell. Potvin is in Text: Psalm 102:1 high demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Upper Midwest. Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my crying come unto Thee. From 2001 to 2017, Potvin was director of choirs at Princeton (Minn.) High School. He served as the K–12 and high school department chair, taught three curricular choirs, four extracurricular jazz/pop choirs, two chamber ensembles, Timor et Tremor and music theory; and directed the district’s annual musical Terry Schlenker (b. 1957) theatre productions, madrigal dinner, and summer drama camp. Under Potvin’s direction, the Princeton High School Text: Psalm 54:6, 56:2, 30:3–4; 30:18 Concert Choir was invited to perform for three conferences Sung in Latin of the Minnesota Music Educators Association, two conferences of the American Choral Directors Association Fear and trembling have taken hold of me, (ACDA) of Minnesota, and the 2014 conference of North- And darkness has descended upon me. Central ACDA. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, have mercy, Aside from his duties at Princeton High School, Potvin For my soul has trusted in Thee. served as artistic director for the East Central Minnesota Hear, O God, my supplication, Chorale (ECMC) from 2007 to 2014. ECMC is a civic For Thou art my refuge and strength; choir representing more than ten east central Minnesota communities in Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and O Lord, I have called upon Thee, Pine counties. He is the founding director of Unum Vox, Let me never be confounded. ECMC’s regional high school honor choir, and led that ensemble through its first three seasons. From 2008 to 2011, Potvin fulfilled various teaching duties at St. Cloud Ndikhokhele Bawo State University (SCSU). His positions included assistant conductor of the SCSU Concert Choir and conductor of both Traditional Xhosa Prayer the SCSU Chamber Singers and Men’s Chorus. arr. Mzwandile Mabuza (b. 1991) An active member of ACDA, Potvin was named Outstanding Text: Traditional Xhosa Young Choral Director by the ACDA of Minnesota in 2008. Sung in Xhosa He edited ACDA–MN’s statewide journal, Star of the North, from 2008 to 2011, and served as repertoire and standards Guide me, O Lord, chair for men’s choirs from 2011 to 2013. He currently serves Guide me, O Great Redeemer the Iowa Choral Directors Association as repertoire and Through the troubles of this world. resources chair for college and university choirs. Lord, I thank you for watching over me thus far. Potvin is happily married to Susan Potvin, adjunct faculty You are forever by my side. in education and a member of the music marketing team at Luther College. They are the proud parents of Noah and Simon. 1 Tour Program II. ADORATION AND EXALTATION Excerpts from Gloria Francis Poulenc (1889–1963) Text: Mass Ordinary Sung in Latin I. Gloria Glory to God in the highest. And on earth, peace to all those of good will! II. Laudamus Te We praise Thee. We bless Thee. We worship Thee. We glorify Thee. NICHOLAS SHANEYFELT, PIANO We give thanks to Thee according to thy great glory. Nicholas Shaneyfelt is an assistant professor of music in III. Domine Deus collaborative piano at Luther College. He completed his doctoral studies in the collaborative piano studio of Martin Lord God, Heavenly King, Katz at the University of Michigan. Prior to Michigan, he God the Father almighty: Glory to Thee! served as staff accompanist for the Department of Music and Dance at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, with IV. Domine Fili Unigenite regular involvements at the Northampton Community Music Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son! Center. He regularly accompanies Luther College choirs and has accompanied the Chamber Choir and University V. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei Chorale at UMass under the direction of Tony Thornton, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, the UMass Conducting Institute, the South Hadley Chorale, Who takes away the sins of the world: and regional honor choirs and choral societies in Iowa, Have mercy on us. Receive our prayer. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Maine. Shaneyfelt is codirector of the International Music Festival of VI. Qui Sedes ad Dexteram Patris the Adriatic, a summer festival for instrumentalists, vocalists, Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, and composers in Duino, Italy. Have mercy on us, for Thou alone are holy.