PROGRAM Puer natus in Bethlehem ……………………………….. Gregorian chant, 14th century Puer natus in Bethlehem ……………………………… Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) Angelus ad pastores ait …………………………………. Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594)

Allons, gay bérgeres ………………………………….. Guillaume Costeley (1531-1606) The Lamb …………………………………………………………….. John Tavener (b.1944) O magnum mysterium ………………………………………….. William Hawley (b.1950) Fum fum fum……………………………. Catalonian carol, arr. Mack Wilberg (b.1955)

Kristine Anderson, Jeni Merilatt – piano How Still He Rests……………………………………………………………… Brent Pierce

Harrison Linsey – oboe; Lorilee Brasseur – soloist A Long, Long Time Ago………………………. French carol, arr. Gregg Smith (b.1931)

Jeni Merilatt, Kristine Bryan – soloists Birthday Carol……………………………………………………. David Willcocks (b.1919)

Kristine Anderson – piano

INTERMISSION

Three Carols……………………………………………………. Peter Warlock (1894-1930) Tyrley Tyrlow Balulalow (Laura Donnelly – soloist) The Sycamore Tree There Is No Rose of Such Virtue………………………………….. John Joubert (b.1927) Herself a Rose……………………………………………………... Craig Courtney (b.1965)

BBBELLEVUEELLEVUEELLEVUE CCCHAMBERHAMBERHAMBER CCCHORUSHORUSHORUS Fredrick Lokken, music director Fredrick Lokken, music director Fredrick Lokken, music director

PresentsPresentsPresents

A Child Is Born

Save the Date!

Bellevue Chamber Chorus sings at the Bravern in Bellevue on Saturday, December 12th, 2009, 3:00 p.m.

www.thebravern.com/events-promotions/season-of-wonder

Season of Wonder at the Bravern

Sunday, December 20th, 2009, 5:00 p.m. at the Westminster Chapel, Bellevue

Visit www.bellevuephil.org or call 425-455-4171

Handel’s Messiah with the Bellevue Philharmonic

Monday, December 21st, 2009, 7:00 p.m. departing from Kirkland City Marina

Visit www.argosycruises.com or call 206-623-1445

Argosy Christmas Ship Festival

Special Holiday Performances

SHOWTIME! Saturday, March 6th, 2010

2:00 PM and 6:00 PM Theatre at Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue

Marvelous music from the theater takes cen-ter stage in our exciting pops program! Enjoy excerpts from Gershwin’s classic Porgy and

Bess, and Bernstein’s lively Wonderful Town and Candide. Then

savor the incomparable songs of Richard Rodgers, as well as highlights from the

gorgeous, award-winning musical The Light in the Piazza, by Rodgers’ grand-

son, Adam Guettel. Don’t miss it!

Bellevue Chamber Chorus Season: For information and tickets call (425) 881-0445.

In Tribute Saturday, June 12, 2010—7:30 PM

Theatre at Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue

Sunday, June 13, 2010—3:00 PM Plymouth Congregational Church, Seattle

Together with the Northwest Chamber Chorus, directed by Mark Kloepper, we present a stunning

program of musical tribute and remembrance. Performing separately in pieces by Brahms,

Tchaikovsky, Gorecki and more, both choirs will also be featured in magnificent works for a cappella dou-ble chorus by Schumann (in honor of his 200th anni-versary year) and John Rutter (Hymn to the Creator

of Light, in memory of English composer Herbert Howells), as well as Howells’ intimate memorial to his

son: the sublime and moving Requiem.

Volunteer Opportunities: The Bellevue Chamber Chorus is

currently looking for volunteers to fill a variety of positions.

For more information call (425) 881-0445.

Come Sing With Us!

Are you interested in making great music with the Bellevue Chamber Chorus?

Call (425) 881-0445 or email us at BellevueChamberChorus@yahoo.com

to let us know of your interest.

Program Notes and Translations

Part I

Welcome to A Child is Born, the opening concert of Bellevue Chamber Chorus’ 26th season! As the title suggests, our holiday program focuses on the birth of a child, and the surrounding cast of characters, which is at the heart of the Christmas story. The theme is introduced by two settings of the medieval Christmas hymn Puer natus in Bethlehem, whose Latin text is found in many different versions ranging from six to twelve stanzas. The oldest extant source of the Gregorian chant dates from the early 14th century, while the lively setting by the late-Renaissance master Praetorius is based on a tune thought to have originated in Germany or Bohemia also during the 1300’s.

What Child is This?………………………………………………………… arr. Rich Heffler Harrison Linsey – oboe; Kristine Anderson – piano

Wexford Carol………………………………….. Irish carol, arr. Dale Warland (b.1932) Louise Baldwin – flute

Coventry Carol………………………………………… English carol, arr. Dale Warland

A Child is Born (Variations on Puer natus in Bethlehem)…….. Leo Nestor (b.1948) Kristine Anderson – piano

Puer natus in Bethlehem, Unde gaudet Jerusalem. Alleluia! Refrain: In cordis jubilo, Christum natum adoremus Cum novo cantico. Assumpsit carnem Filius, Dei Patris altissimus. Per Gabrielem nuntium, Virgo concepit Filium. Hic jacet in praesepio, Qui regnat sine termino. Reges de Saba veniunt, Aurum, thus, myrrham offerunt. In hoc natali gaudio, Benedicamus Domino.

A child is born in Bethlehem, For which Jerusalem rejoices. Alleluia! Refrain: With a jubilant heart, let us adore the new-born Christ with a new song. He takes on human flesh, The Son of God the Father most high. By the angel Gabriel announced, The virgin has conceived a Son. Here lies in a manger, He who reigns without end. Kings from the East arrive,

Offering gold, incense, and myrrh.

In this joyful birth, Let us bless the Lord.

The news of the birth as proclaimed by the angel to the shepherds, and their excited response, is the focus of two more classics from the Renaissance: di Lasso’s majestic motet Angelus ad pastores ait, and Costeley’s sprightly and charming chanson Allons, gay bérgeres. Angelus ad pastores ait, The angel said to the shepherds: “I announce to you tidings of great joy, for born to you today is the saviour of the world.” Alleluia.

There are no biblical references to animals at the manger, but they have been depicted there by artists and poets from early in Christian history. Though not a Christmas text per se, William Blake’s The Lamb (from his “Songs of Innocence and Experience”) cap-tures with child-like innocence and wonder the connection between the animals, the holy infant, and all children; it receives an eloquently simple - and occasionally ear-twisting - setting by minimalist British composer John Tavener (who dedicated the piece to his then

three-year-old nephew). Following that, American composer William Hawley provides a

lush, neo-Renaissance setting of the familiar liturgical text O magnum mysterium.

The Lamb Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee? Gave thee life, and bid thee feed By the stream and o‟er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, wooly bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice? Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I‟ll tell thee, Little Lamb, I‟ll tell thee. He is called by thy name, For he calls himself a Lamb, He is meek, and he is mild, He became a little child. I, a child, and thou a lamb, We are called by his name. Little lamb, God bless thee! Little Lamb, God bless thee! William Blake (1757-1827)

Allons, gay bérgeres Refrain: Let us go gaily, Shepherds, Let us go, be quick, follow me.

Let us go see the King who from heaven is born on Earth.

Oh, oh, hush! I see him; He suckles well without his thumb, the little King!

I'll make him a fine present. Of what? This little whistle that I have, so gay.

I will give him a cake. And me, I'll offer him a full drinking cup.

Let us go gaily, Shepherds Let us go, be quick: the King is drinking!

The Bellevue Chamber Chorus is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which means that all donations to the chorus are tax-deductible.

Donations are accepted at performances or via mail at:

Bellevue Chamber Chorus P.O. Box 1714

Bellevue, WA 98009-1714 (425) 881-0445

www.BellevueChamberChorus.net

Assistant Director ............................................................................................................... Frank Trujillo

Rehearsal Accompanist ............................................................................................... Kristine Anderson

Rehearsal Midi File generation ...................................................................................... David Williams

Score Management/Music Librarian ........................................................... Maria Bayer, Jeni Merilatt

Sound Engineer & Recording .................................................................................................. Kim Hofer

Video Recording ................................................................................................................. Jennifer Hofer

Volunteer Coordination ..................................................................................................... Lee Huffman

Printed Materials......................... Kristine Bryan, Pam Younghans, Dennis Defotis, Sonja Handeland Postcard Printing................................................................................................................ Savage Color Poster Printing.................................................................................................................. G&H Printing

Website Management ................................................................................................... Sonja Handeland

Additional Credits

Saturday, December 5th: Tenaya Bien, Lady Cathryn Buchanan, Mark and Kelly Cheever, Sue Crain, Madeline Dietz.

Sunday, December 6th: Alyce Caldwell, Paul Heneghan, Hollis Ryan, Carrel Sheldon, Hal Smith, John and Phyllis Sproul.

Thank you to our Volunteers!

Thank you to our Generous Donors

Maestro - $5000 +

Doug and Maria Bayer

Crescendo - $2500-4999

Bellevue Arts Commission

Virtuoso - $1000-2499

Louise Baldwin

Kristine Bryan

Debra and Dennis Defotis

Microsoft Corporation*

Judy Jesiolowski and Dave Thompson

Fred Lokken and Marsha Thomas

James and Vicki Walch

Time/Warner*

Diva - $500-999

Boeing Co.*

Marta Chaloupka

Eastside Summer Sings

Sonja Handeland

Doris Lokken

Jerome Lyons

Frank and Cora Trujillo

Aria - $250-499

Jennifer and Patrick Carter

Consolidated Restaurants—Pam Casey

* indicates corporate matching grants

** indicates in-kind donations

Bravo - $100-249

Vanessa Bradford Melissa and Douglas Byrkit

Allan Chartrand Laurie Dietz

James and Krista Ferguson Mike and Melanie Grube

Marilyn Handeland George and Patsy Holzapfel

Science Kilner Diane and DJ Kovarik

Dawnell Lamb Susan Liechty

Jeff Pierce Pat Rice

Brion Richardson Shannon Walch

Tutti - Up to $99

Sue Ann Allen

Anonymous Lorilee Brasseur Michael Bishop Gordon Buck Mat Caugh

James and Judy Davenport Miriam Espeseth

John and Joan Gorrow Heidi Kim

David Lyon Eva Mader

Jenifer Merilatt Mary Osborn

Marcus and Patricia Osterhout Liz Shimamura

Barbara and Delmer Taylor

O magnum mysterium O great mystery and wondrous sign, that animals should see the birth of the Lord, lying in the manger! Blessed virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ: Alleluia. Also describing the animals at the manger is the familiar Spanish carol Fum, fum, fum!, here in a delightful setting by Mack Wilberg (long associated with the famed Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and named music director of the organization last year). The atmospheric How Still He Rests has been Los Angeles-based composer Brent Pierce’s signature piece for over 30 years. We are happy to feature our young guest artist Harrison Linsey on this lovely work. Following that, we present a version of an old French carol, A Long, Long Time Ago, hauntingly arranged by renowned American choral conductor / composer Gregg Smith. (As a personal aside, I first heard this piece as a youngster in the early 60’s on a marvelous Christmas LP by the then recently-formed Gregg Smith Singers that my family played every year during the holidays. Even then I remember being captivated by the mysterious melody and harmonies, and the beautiful interweaving of the solo voices. After discovering a few years ago that the music was permanently out of print, I contacted Mr. Smith, who graciously sent a copy of the piece with his permission for the Chorus to use. We do so with great appreciation and admiration. FL) How Still He Rests How still the child rests in quiet splendor. How peacefully he lies in the manger so bare. He rests in peace while the angels in heaven Sing Glory to God on the night of his birth. Sleep on, sleep on, oh infant divine. How quiet the night. Sleep, sleep, oh sleep, little child, sleep on. Oh holy child, son of God, hear us praise thee. Our hearts sing with joy on this night of your birth. How still he rests. How still he lies asleep. Sir David Willcocks holds a preeminent position in contemporary British choral music due to his over 60-year career as organist, conductor, composer, and music educator at many English cathedrals and choral societies, most especially the London Bach Choir, and King's College Choir Cambridge, whose annual productions and broadcasts of “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” are heard worldwide. His numerous arrangements of traditional carols are sung by countless choirs every year; with its constantly shifting meters and keys, Sir David’s original Birthday Carol exudes the joyous energy of the angels’ annunciation of the nativity.

Part II English composer Peter Warlock (a pseudonym for the eccentric and troubled Philip Heseltine] wrote several wonderful choral works for the Christmas season, including the versions of old English texts that make up his set of Three Carols: the jaunty shepherds’ jig Tyrley Tyrlow, the tender cradle song Balulalow, and the rousing The Sycamore Tree. The next two pieces focus on the figure of Mary, symbolized by the poetic image of a rose: first, English composer John Joubert’s beautifully simple rendition of the medieval text There Is No Rose of Such Virtue; followed by American composer Craig Courtney’s gorgeous setting of English poet Christina Rossetti’s (author of In the Bleak Midwinter) marvelous poem Herself a Rose. There Is No Rose of Such Virtue There is no rose of such virtue As is the rose that bare Jesu: Alleluia. For in this rose contained was Heaven and earth in little space: Res miranda. [A thing of wonder] By that rose we may well see There be one God in Persons Three: Pares forma. [Equal in form] Then leave we all this worldly mirth And follow we this joyous birth: Transeamus. [Let us go] Herself a Rose Herself a rose, who bore the Rose, She bore the Rose and felt its thorn. All Loveliness newborn took on her bosom its repose, And slept and woke there night and morn. Lily herself, she bore the one Fair Lily, Sweeter, whiter, far than she or others are: The Sun of Righteousness her Son, She was His morning star. She gracious, He essential Grace, He was the fountain, she the rill: Her goodness to fulfill and Gladness, with proportioned pace He led her steps through good and ill. Christ‟s mirror she of grace and love, of beauty and of life and death: By hope and love and faith transfigured to His Likeness, „Dove, Spouse, Sister, Mother,‟ Jesus saith. Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

Dr. Fredrick Lokken is in his tenth season as Music Director and Conductor of the Bellevue Chamber Chorus. He received his doctoral degree in choral con-ducting from the University of Washington, where he studied under Abraham

Kaplan and Joan Conlon. He has done further study with renowned choral con-ductors Joseph Flummerfelt, Helmuth Rilling, and Jon Washburn, and spent several years in The Netherlands doing choral research and writing. Dr. Lokken also holds a degree in vocal performance from the University of Wisconsin and sang with the professional Dale Warland Singers. In addition to his work with the Bellevue Chamber Chorus, Dr. Lokken serves as Director of Choral Music and Instructor of Voice at Shoreline Community College.

Kristine Anderson graduated with a music degree from the University of Mon-tana at Missoula. She is well-known in the Puget Sound region for her artistic and sensitive work with singers as well as instrumentalists ranging from tuba to piccolo. Equally at home with jazz, pop, and classical, she can adjust her style from Sondheim to Gershwin to Strauss. Her clients include winners in local and national competitions, including the Seattle Young Artist Music Festival, Metro-politan Opera semifinals, and concerto contests. She was music director for the Seattle Musical Theater, formerly known as Civic Light Opera, during their pro-duction of High Society. In addition to holding two church-pianist positions in Seattle, she has been the accompanist for Bellevue Chamber Chorus for the past three seasons.

Harrison Linsey, 15, is a sophomore at Garfield High School. He is Principal Oboe for Seattle Youth Symphony, Academy Chamber Orchestra, the Northwest Woodwind Quintet, and Garfield

Symphony Orchestra. His oboe teacher is Dan Williams. Harrison won first place, regional and statewide, in the Washington State Solo and Ensemble competition in 2009, performing the Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto. Other solo performances include the Marcello Oboe Concerto in 2008, and Benjamin Britten’s “Metamorphoses” in 2009. When he isn’t practicing, making reeds, performing, or going to school, Harrison enjoys rock climbing.

About the Artists

Bellevue Chamber Chorus consists of professional and avocational musicians of

diverse backgrounds, performing choral literature with varied accompaniment from all musical periods. Throughout its 26-year history, the Chorus has col-laborated with other vocal and instrumental musicians of all ages, as well as dance troupes and visual artists, to present major works or unusual repertoire, including special commissioned pieces by local composers. The Chorus also per-forms for events such as the Bellevue Fourth of July festivities, Argosy Christmas Ship, galas and other community activities, has performed twice at the Leaven-worth Choral Festival, and was selected as one of the regional participants in the American Masterpieces Choral Festival in Seattle in 2007. In July 2008, the Cho-rus was awarded first prize in the Adult Mixed Choir division at the prestigious

Kathaumixw International Choral Festival in Powell River, B.C. Other perform-ances include New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Salzburg, Austria Church Music Fes-tival, the International Choral Festival in Sydney, Australia, and festival concerts in spectacular venues in Switzerland, Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic. The Chorus has released two CDs: "Timeframes” and “Retrospective.” The Belle-vue Chamber Chorus is a nonprofit organization, which receives its support from the generous donations of people interested in fine musical experiences on the Eastside.

Bellevue Chamber Chorus

TENOR Erik Eliason Mike Grube

Lee Huffman Jeff Pierce

Larry Richardson David Williams

SOPRANO * Maria Bayer

Lorilee Brasseur ** Debra Defotis

Laurie Dietz Laura Donnelly Kara Huntley Jeni Merilatt

* Shannon Walch

ALTO * Louise Baldwin * Kristine Bryan

Marta Chaloupka Melanie Grube

Sonja Handeland * Susan Liechty Kathie Patten

Pam Younghans

BASS Gordon Buck

* Allan Chartrand Dennis Defotis * Jerome Lyons

James McTernan Pat Rice

* Frank Trujillo

** Denotes Executive Director. * Denotes Board Member.

We are currently searching for two community board members. If you are interested in serving on our board of directors, please email or call us.

In 1865, English hymn-writer William Chatterton Dix was struck with a sudden near-fatal illness and confined to bedrest for several months. During that period he wrote many hymn lyrics, including the now beloved What Child is This? (later set to the traditional tune “Greensleeves"). Renowned American choral conductor Dale Warland provides two more arrangements of traditional carols from Ireland and Britain. Paired together, the closing line of the lyrical Wexford Carol (“who came on earth to end all strife”), seems particularly ironic followed by the conflict portrayed in the poignant Coventry Carol. Our program comes full circle with the return of the opening chant Puer natus in Bethele-hem, now in the magnificent arrangement A Child is Born, by American composer Leo Nestor (director of the Institute of Sacred Music at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and artistic director of the American Repertory Singers).

With it, we wish you and yours a holiday season full of new songs, joyful hearts, and childlike wonder!

Hic jacet in praesepio, Qui regnat sine termino. In cordis jubilo, Christum natum adoremus Cum novo cantico. De Matre natus Virgine, Qui Lumen est de Lumine. In hoc natali gaudio, Benedicamus Domino.

Here lies in a manger, He who reigns without end. With a jubilant heart, let us adore the new-born Christ with a new song. Born of a virgin mother, He who is Light of Light. In this joyful birth, Let us bless the Lord.

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please call (425) 881-0445 for information and rates.

The Bellevue Chamber Chorus greatly appreciates the support of our vendors. Please mention where you saw their ad when you patronize their businesses!