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Program Notes: "The Best of the FCCC"

The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers is a sparkling seasonal favorite. At midnight,

the toy shop comes to life! Wooden soldiers, flashing bayonets and clinking

sabers, march to the delight of the dolls as they are dressed in their finest

attire, standing by enjoying the parade.

Ríu, Ríu, Chíu is the call (or sounds) of the nightingale and it is featured

throughout this Spanish carol which dates back to 1556. The meter of the

melody alternates between two and three and, combined with the text, gives

the piece a very percussive feel. The English text is secular and is not a

translation of the original sacred Spanish text.

Our second offering by John Rutter is All Things Bright and Beautiful. The

text was penned by Cecil F. Alexander in his Hymns for Little Children of 1848.

Based on a traditional Caribbean tune, Halle, Hallelujah was arranged by Dr.

John Michniewicz. He is currently on the faculty of Sacred Heart University

in Fairfield where he teaches Music History. The refrain begins with a unison

melody and then a descant is added above the melody. The two verses in

between are in unison with words written by Lisa Bettke especially for the

holiday season. The syncopated piano accompaniment highlights the flavor of

the Caribbean melody.

Carol of the Bells was originally a Ukrainian folksong that was sung around

New Year’s heralding the coming spring. The original title translates to

“bountiful” and the lyrics describe a swallow arriving to the home of its master

and singing of the upcoming spring and the wealth that it would bring. The

currently known lyrics were written and then copyrighted in 1936 by the

American choral director Peter Wilhousky. After hearing a performance of

the piece, it reminded him of bells and so he wrote new lyrics to perform

with his choral group. Since then it has become one of the most popular

songs performed during the holiday season.

Our third selection by John Rutter is based on poetry by F.S. Pierpoint. It first

appeared in 1864 in a book of poems entitled The Sacrifice of Praise. For theBeauty of the Earth was commissioned by the Texas Choral Director's Association.

Shine on Me is a gospel style arrangement of a spiritual accompanied by two

countermelodies and an outstanding keyboard setting. The text metaphorically

represents a search for guidance and direction on both a physical and a spiritual level.

Concert Choir & Chamber SingersYo Le Canto Todo el Dia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David L. Brunner

Angels’ Carol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Rutter

Total Praise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Richard Smallwood

ChorusCarol of the Angels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Croatian Carol, arr. Hatch

Hanerot Halalu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baruch Cohon, arr. Chass

Parade of the Wooden Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leon Jessel, arr. Leavitt

ChoraleRiu, Riu, Chiu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spanish Carol, arr. Linda Spevacek

All Things Bright and Beautiful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Rutter

Halle, Hallelujah . . . . . . . . . .Traditional Caribbean, arr. Michniewicz & Bettke

Concert ChoirCarol of the Bells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mykola Leontovich, arr. Wilhousky

For the Beauty of the Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Rutter

Shine on Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spiritual, arr. Rollo Dilworth

Chamber SingersO Holy Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Adolphe Adam, arr. Noyes

I Wonder as I Wander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Appalachian Carol, arr. Niles

This Is the Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gerald T. Smith

Combined ChoirsJubilate Deo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michael Praetoruis

Longing for Spring (K. 596 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .W.A. Mozart

Angels We Have Heard on High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .French Carol, arr. Noyes

Ocho Kandelikas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Flory Jagoda, arr. Jacobson

New Year Carol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Benjamin Britten

Winter Wonderland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dick Smith/Felix Bernard

Fairfield County Children’s ChoirJon Noyes, Music Director & Founder presents

Program Notes: "The Best of the FCCC"

Welcome to the Fifteenth Anniversary Winter Concert of the Fairfield County

Children's Choir! Our theme for this year will be "The Best of the FCCC."

Today's program features many of the favorite selections of the past fourteen

years of the FCCC, as chosen by our conductors. We hope you enjoy them all!

For our Spring Concert in May, we invite you to help us choose the program

by indicating your favorite selections on the survey that can be found on our

website. Thank you for joining us in this most musical time of the year.

Yo Le Canto Todo el Dia is infused with infectious rhythms and playful melodies

that are both very challenging and great fun. The text includes the wonderful

message “I sing to you all day long with affection and joy!” The piece was composed

in the style of a Venezuelan folk song, from a culture in which rhythm and

drumming are central. Embodied in the accompaniment is a sense of the rhythm

section (piano, bass and percussion) all in one. David L. Brunner (b. 1953) is a

prominent composer, conductor and educator presently teaching at the University

of Central Florida in Orlando.

Ya me voy de corazon So I am moving with my heartYa me voy con un tambor So I am leaving with a drumYo le canto todo el dia I sing to you all day long Con carino y alegria With affection and joyCon carino y emocion. With affection and emotion.

This afternoon's concert includes three pieces by contemporary English

composer John Rutter (b. 1945). His sublime Angels' Carol illustrates his

sense of legato melodic line and his stunning harmonies.

Gospel music has been a part of the FCCC repertoire from the beginning.

Total Praise is Richard Smallwood's anthemic mega-hit, from his album

Adoration.

Carol of the Angels is an anthem for Christmas and Christmastide that is

arranged from a traditional Croatian carol. Listen for the canon on the third verse.

In the style of a Jewish folk song, Hanerot Halalu has a spirited melody in a

minor key accompanied by a vocal ostinato. This selection has varying tempi and

then culminates in a boisterous shout.

We kindle these lightsFor the wonders and the redemptionsThou didst perform for our fathersThrough Thy holy priestsThese Hanukah lights are holyAnd through them we sanctify Thy name.

Sunday, December 13, 2009 3:00pmThe Klein Memorial Auditorium • Bridgeport, CT

15th Annual Winter Concert

The Best of the FCCC

Program Notes: "The Best of the FCCC"

O Holy Night, also known as the Cantique de Noel, is a setting by Adolphe

Adam of the poem by Placide Clappeau from 1847. There is an unsubstantiated

anecdote to this song, which illustrates the feelings many people have for the

song, whether true or not. It is said that during the Franco-Prussian War of

1870-1871, with French and German soldiers facing each other in trenches on

Christmas Eve, a French soldier stepped out of his trench and sang the

Cantique. Not only did the Germans hold their fire, a German soldier then

responded with an equally beloved German carol. If only music could thus

inspire all those who find themselves in conflict!

The ethnomusicologist John Jacob Niles made frequent trips to the Appalachian

mountain region to collect the folk music, which was carried on mainly through an

oral tradition. This exquisite arrangement of the beautiful I Wonder As I Wanderwas included in his "Songs of the Hill Folk," published in 1934.

Our next selection became part of our repertoire in 2001 when we participated

in the Crescent City Children’s Choral Festival in New Orleans. This Is the Dayis a joyous Gospel song in rondo form with an expanded introduction, under

which we have added an improvised background. It combines classic Gospel

with a Calypso feel. The text is based on scripture with additional original

text by the composer. Gerald T. Smith is Assistant Director of Music at Mt.

Jezreel Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Jubilate Deo is a song of rejoicing. The theme is stated once in unison, followed

by a three part canon, creating the rich, polyphonic cathedral-like quality of

a Renaissance motet. This was the opening selection of our Premiere Concert

of December, 1995!

Rejoice in the Lord, Alleluia.

Longing for Spring (Sehnsucht Nach Dem Fruhlinge, K. 596) is the most popular

of Mozart's songs in Europe. Under the title Drei teutsche lieder (Three German

Songs), it was entered into his catalogue on January 14, 1791, a few days before

his 35th, and last, birthday. The set was commissioned by a wealthy patron who

asked Mozart to write some winter songs for his children. It is a stunning

example of the elegant simplicity of the musical genius of Mozart.

Angels We Have Heard On High is a well-known French carol. For this

arrangement, the harmonization was borrowed in part from a Vienna Boy’s Choir

recording and from the Pilgrim Hymnal. It is an excellent teaching piece for the

development of part-singing, which includes three types of harmony: parallel

thirds, contrary motion and counterpoint.