Piccolo Spoleto 2022: Reaching for the Light
5pm, May 30 at Second Presbyterian Church
7pm, June 1 at Circular Church
7pm, June 2 at Summerville Presbyterian Church
Note from the Conductor:
Thank you for attending our concert today! We are so happy to be presenting live concerts within a festival atmosphere again! Today’s concert derives its title in part from the middle piece of the program: “His Light Still Shines” which “shines a light” on the life and career of the great Martin Luther King Jr., The program begins and ends with two famous settings of the Miserere text–one being the legendary Allegri setting that for generations was only heard in the Sistine Chapel; the second being Sir James macMillan’s modern setting that I believe to be the greatest unaccompanied piece of choral music by a living composer. All of the works express what is so important in our world right now: that we must reach for the light of truth, of peace, of justice, of brotherhood, of love, and of God.
Please enjoy our concert
Rob
Reaching for the Light Program
Taylor Festival Choir, conducted by Robert Taylor
Miserere
Gregorio Allegri (5882-1665)
Sei liebertag willkommen
Johann Michael Bach (1648-1694)
His Light Still Shines
Moses Hogan (1957-2003)
Reverend Cecelia D. Armstrong - narrator
Bill Gesin - pianist
Now May We Singen
Cecilia McDowall (b. 1951)
Alleluia (Incantations)
Michael McGlynn (b. 1964)
Miserere
James MacMillan (b. 1959)
Program Notes
The opening and closing pieces of our program are both settings of the Miserere mei, Deus text. This Latin text cries out for mercy and asks for spiritual cleansing and is traditionally sung during the Tenebrae services in Holy Week. The setting by Gregorio Allegri was composed during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, probably during the 1630s. Legend has it that Urban and subsequent Popes were so enamored with Allegri’s setting that performances of this work were restricted to the Sistine Chapel. Thankfully, over time, this composition has become known throughout the world, and stands as one of the world’s most loved choral masterpieces. Set for double chorus, the setting you will hear today will incorporate the traditional embellishments which were not in the original score, but which were introduced almost certainly by virtuosic castrati in the Vatican choir–including the iconic high C that is part of the small choir’s ritornello. The second setting of the Miserere is by a gentleman that I regard as the world’s greatest living composer: Scotland’s Sir James MacMillan. MacMillan’s setting pays homage to Allegri’s with chantlike sections set in similar fashion, but the remaining sections offer a more dramatic and anguished musical approach. That is, until the final segment, which, by way of a simple folk-like original tune by MacMillan, serves to salve the anxiety and anguish that has been expressed and offer the listener a concluding musical ray of hope.
Sei liebertag willkommen is a wonderful, joyful motet I have known since my days in the University of Central Arkansas Concert Choir, led by my mentor and friend John Erwin. Written by Johann Sebastian Bach’s uncle Johann Michael Bach this music literally bubbles with the joy expressed in the text. A similarly joyful motet is Cecilia McDowall’s Now May We Singen. Whereas Sei Liebertag willkommen is a celebration of the New Year, McDowell celebrates the birth of the Christ-child with a rhythmic and harmonic language that can best be described as neo-medieval—in the most appealing ways! Michael McGlynn’s Incantations stems from his complete Celtic Mass, which the Taylor Festival Choir happily recorded in 2014 (the world premier recording). The text mixes Christian and Pagan praises, set contrapuntally for the soprano/alto lines, and supported by ostinato figures that Michael expresses were inspired by the sounds of his first moped!
The work standing in the middle of this program as a foundation is His Light Still Shines by the late, great American composer Moses Hogan. Written for piano, narrator and choir, this wonderful work celebrates the life work and impact of Martin Luther King Jr. Using familiar spirituals set within a rich piano/choral texture and punctuated by narrative delivered by the wonderful Rev. Cecelia Armstrong, Hogan has crafted a masterpiece of its kind, a work that serves to honor the legacy of MLK, and inspire us to continue his legacy of “Reaching for the Light.”
Translations
Miserere
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.
According unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies remove my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquities, and cleanse me from my sin.
I knowingly confess my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against Thee only have I sinned, and done evil before Thee: that they may be justified in Thy sayings, and might they overcome when I am judged.
But behold, I was formed in iniquity: and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, Thou desirest truth in my innermost being: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, make me whiter than snow.
Open my ears and make me hear of joy and gladness: and my bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.
Turn away Thy face from my sins: and remember not all my misdeeds.
Create in me a clean heart, O God: and make anew a righteous spirit within my body.
Do not cast me away from Thy presence: and take not Thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
I will teach those that are unjust Thy ways: and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.
Deliver me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips: and my mouth shall spring forth Thy praise.
For Thou desirest no sacrifice, where others would: with burnt offerings Thou wilt not be delighted.
Sacrifices of God are broken spirits: dejected and contrite hearts, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
Deal favorably, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with small and large burnt offerings: then
shall they lay calves upon your altar.
Sei Liebertag Willkommen
O joyful time we greet you, We greet you on this day.
This day all men of virtue praise the holy God, God their creator,
And ever laud his favor, Redeemed from all their need.
For on this day from heaven the gracious Son of God in gladness
Now has given, from his high abode, a bountiful year.
Joy, health, and every blessing, unbounded and unceasing to Christians everywhere.
Then come O Christian brethren, come now to Jesus Christ.
Come worship him together, that you may now be blest.
Come thank him, pray to him that in this year that greets you
His kindness, which protects you, again may come to you.
With all your voices ringing, with instruments of joy
Praise Him with happy singing, Let all things joyful be.
Singing to your great God, Sing, praise him, thank him now, before your Jesus go now – He saves you from all need.
Alleluia: Incantations
You are the stag, you are the bird, you are the fish, Alleluia
You are the wind, you are the cold, you are the sea, Alleluia
You are the sun, you are the star, you are the sky, Alleluia
Alleluia my Jesus, Alleluia my heart,
Alleluia my Lord, Alleluia my Christ.
