chicagoacappella holidaysacappella2015 (PDF)

Holidays a cappella
Sunday November, 29, 2015, 4:00 pm
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
5850 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago

Sunday December 13, 2015, 4:00 pm
Pilgrim Congregation Church
460 Lake St., Oak Park

Friday December 4, 2015, 7:30 pm
Fourth Presbyterian Church
Michigan Avenue at Delaware, Chicago

Friday December 18, 2015, 8:00 pm
Wentz Concert Hall
171 E Chicago Ave., Naperville

Sunday December 6, 2015 3:30 pm
St. Clement Church
642 W Deming Pl., Chicago

Saturday, December 19, 2015, 8:00 pm
Nichols Concert Hall
1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston

Chicago a cappella

Megan Bell, Soprano
Alexia Kruger, Soprano
Cari Plachy, Soprano
Sarah Ponder, Mezzo-soprano
Emily Price, Mezzo-soprano
Ace Gangoso, Tenor
Garrett Johannsen, Tenor
Carl Frank, Bass
Joe Labozetta, Bass
Benjamin Rivera, Bass

Founder and Artistic Director
Jonathan Miller
Guest Music Director
Benjamin Rivera

The performance at Fourth Presbyterian Church is generously underwritten by Dee Dee Whipple.

Chicago a cappella is partially supported by The MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus
Foundation; The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development;
the Oak Park Area Arts Council, in partnership with the Villages of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest; a CityArts
Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; and the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency. Media Sponsors: The Daily Herald, WBEZ, The Chicago Maroon

Holidays a cappella

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UPCOMING EVENTS
SHAKESPEARE A CAPPELLA

The words of William Shakespeare are illuminated through innovative and artful a cappella music as
we commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death. Actors from Chicago Shakespeare
Theater join us on stage to enhance the drama, as sonnets and soliloquies are set to music by
brilliant composers from around the world.
Evanston
Oak Park
Saturday, Feb. 13, 8:00 pm
Saturday, Feb. 20, 8:00 pm
Nichols Concert Hall
Pilgrim Congregational Church
Chicago (Hyde Park)
Sunday, Feb. 14, 4:00 pm
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel

Naperville
Sunday, Feb. 21, 4:00 pm
Wentz Concert Hall

THE HISTORY OF ROCK AND SOUL

For decades, Radio Hall-of-Famer Terri Hemmert has taught a college course called “The History
of Rock and Soul,” and now we bring it to musical life. From Louis Jordan and Elvis to Motown,
gospel, and R&B, we’ll trace the path of the 20th century’s popular music, with Terri herself as
onstage narrator and guide. This fascinating musical history lesson will be the most fun you’ve ever
had in school!

Oak Park
Friday, April 15, 8:00 pm
Pilgrim Congregational Church

Chicago
Sunday, April 17, 4:00 pm
Logan Center for the Arts

Evanston
Saturday, April 16, 8:00 pm
Nichols Concert Hall

Naperville
Sunday, April 24, 4:00 pm
Wentz Concert Hall

Gala Concert

GOOD VIBRATIONS: Music of the Beach Boys

Chicago a cappella performs unforgettable classics by the Beach Boys,
celebrating the 50th anniversary of their iconic sound, and guests enjoy great food,
wine, and performances by our High School Intern Ensemble.

Saturday, May 14, 2016
The Winter Garden at Chicago’s
Harold Washington Library

Tickets and information: chicagoacappella.org or (773) 281-7820
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Chicago a cappella

PROGR A M
I Wonder as I Wander.............................................................................................. John Jacob Niles,
arr. Steve Pilkington
*******
Blessed be that Maid Marie...........................................................................................Seán Doherty
The Angel Gabriel................................................................................Basque carol, arr. Alan Smith
*******
Ave Maria...........................................................................................................................Javier Busto
And The Glory of the Lord....................................................................... G. F. Handel, arr. J. Miller
*******
Magnificat...............................................................................................................................Arvo Pärt
*******
Today the Virgin..............................................................................................................John Tavener
*******
De Tierra Lejana Venimos............................................ Puerto Rican carol, arr. Ruben Federizón
We Three Kings............................................................................................John Henry Hopkins, Jr.,
arr. Darmon Meader
*******
Christmas Spiritual Medley............................................................................... arr. Joseph Jennings
INTERMISSION
The 12 Days of Everything...............................................................................................arr. J. Miller
*******
Who is the baby?.................................................................................................. Rosephanye Powell
Mary, Did You Know?.............................. M. Lowry & B. Greene, arr. Pentatonix/Paul Langford
*******
S’vivon..................................................................................................................Hebrew folk melody,
arr. J. Miller
S’vivon........................................................................................................................arr. Steve Barnett
*******
Ain’t Dat A-Rockin’ All Night?...................................................................spiritual, arr. Paul Carey
Amuworo ayi otu nwa...............................................................................................Christian Onyeji
*******
Lo V’chayil......................................................................................................................Elliot Z. Levin
*******
Si no me dan de beber lloro................................................................................ Puerto Rican carol,
arr. J. Miller
Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the ushers. Unauthorized photography or sound
recording of any kind are strictly prohibited. Smoking is prohibited in all venues. Food and
beverage are not permitted in the audience seating area. Thank you for your cooperation.
Holidays a cappella

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F R O M T H E A R T I S T I C D I R E C TO R
Welcome to “Holidays a cappella.” We’re glad that you’re here. This show
marks the first concert music-directed by Benjamin Rivera, who also
celebrates his tenth anniversary as a singer with Chicago a cappella this
month. Benjamin is a thoughtful, multitalented colleague. He suggested
much of the repertoire on this program, including the Tavener and Pärt
pieces. He also brought ideas for the Puerto Rican selections, reflecting
part of his own heritage and adding a new dimension to our
programming; his own introduction appears below.
*******
I am writing these “Holidays” introductory notes in mid-October. It’s not winter yet, but
we’re headed there. The sun is pouring in my kitchen window. The red, yellow, and orange
leaf colors kicked in a few days ago. After a long, sunny, dry, glorious early autumn, it finally
turned chilly last night, with frost advisories. While taking the dogs outside this morning, I
met an in-breath of bracing, crisp fall air. Daylight, recently so lavishly prolific that we could
fool ourselves into taking it for granted, is now of increasing scarcity.
Choral conductors have to do a sort of seasonal time-travel when it comes to picking music.
We often program our December concerts in the summer and our spring concerts sometime
when it’s cold. In addition to the sense of “Christmas in July,” I had a new experience
recently: “Chanukah in October.” On October 5th, Matt Greenberg and I, along with my
mom, spent a morning with producer Cydne Gillard at WFMT Studios, where we taped
the narrative portion of our first-ever Chanukah radio special. Steve Robinson joined us
for some of the time, and together we created something wonderful. For some reason,
taping this Chanukah show helped me first make the transition into the colder, drier, darker
season. We kept talking about lighting candles and just looking at them, about miracles that
happened long ago and still inspire us. All that may have had something to do with my sense
of moving into the holidays. Of course, the story of the birth of Jesus is also awe-inspiring,
and the stories and lyrics about Christmas give rise to most of the songs on today’s concert.
When in the calendar do you typically have that shift into feeling that the holiday season
is now here? Is it the weather, perhaps some critical mass of customs, traditions, or rituals?
Is there one thing that you do every year that provides the transition point? There are also
people who never really feel something like that, mostly feeling out of sync with all the bustle
around of them; if you’re one of those people, then I hope that our concert at least gives you
beauty and joy, if not the feeling that the season is finally here.
*******
2015 was a rough year in my family. Between May and September we lost Sandy’s mom,
my dad, my stepmother, and our cat. I imagine that many of you likewise are dealing with
various sorts of life transitions or situations now, be they joyous or sad, transcendent or
difficult, brief or chronic. I hope that taking some time to connect with the wonderful lyrics
and music on today’s program, and of sharing in the generous gifts of our musicians’ talents
and hearts, will add brightness and depth to whatever is happening in your life.
We deeply appreciate your being here. We wish you a wonderful remainder to your holiday
season and a happy and healthy 2016.
Warmly,
Jonathan Miller
Founder and Artistic Director
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Chicago a cappella

F R O M T H E M U S I C D I R E C TO R
They say good things come to those who wait. I doubt this is always the
case, but it has certainly been true for me. While it is common knowledge that I gave my singing debut with Chicago a cappella in 2005 for
their Holidays program, how this came about is a rather long story. The
short version is that Jonathan came to hear His Majestie’s Clerkes (now
Bella Voce) in concert in 2000, in which I was a soloist. We met for the
first time after the concert, and he asked if I’d be interested in auditioning for Chicago a cappella. I said yes, but time passed and we didn’t
connect. In 2003, he asked me again, and I obliged. I passed the audition and was placed on
the alternate roster, meaning that I would be considered when a substitute was needed in the
bass section. This didn’t happen until 2005, when Jonathan decided to test the new concept
of directing the rehearsal process as a non-singing member. It went well enough, and I was
offered a position in the ensemble for the entire 2006-07 season, while he and Patrick
Sinozich took on the role of (non-singing) Music Director. Upon Patrick’s retirement as
Music Director, Jonathan was tasked with finding music directors for various programs over
the next few years. After another wait, the circumstances and timing have worked out so that
I am able to take on the role of Guest Music Director for this program. I am thrilled, just as I
was when I finally landed that first “Holidays a cappella” show ten years ago.
In forming and shaping the program with Jonathan, I wanted to include a few components
that show a little of my background and musical journey:
The first component is a sort of through-line from the beginning of the program to intermission, proceeding from prophecy, and the reasons for Christ’s incarnation, to stories of Mary
and the birth of Jesus, to songs about the star, angels, shepherds, and the three wise men. It’s
not a straight line as much as it is a spiral, with certain aspects of the story overlapped with
others; but the progression to the star is clear, and the spirituals medley rounds out the first
half in style. For me, this narrative—the Christmas story—is a source of great inspiration; it
has been with me since before I can remember, and it remains embedded in my soul. The remainder of the program allows you to enjoy some lighter moments, some Chanukah pieces,
and some more music in the tradition of the spiritual.
The second is the inclusion of music in which I have developed a specialization. I have
included a work by Tavener—about whom I wrote my doctoral dissertation—spirituals, and
even one of the choruses from Messiah to represent my work in the choral/orchestral field.
While these might seem disparate, I suppose that is who I am as a musician. I enjoy all sorts
of music, and I like to keep my musical life from being too homogeneous.
The final element is a small taste of my ethnic heritage. My father is Puerto Rican, the first
member of his family born in the States. While there is a large Spanish-speaking community
in Chicago, Puerto Ricans are a relatively small percentage. (In the year I was born, the numbers of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in Chicago were nearly identical. Now, there are four or
five times as many Mexicans as Puerto Ricans.) As a result, much of what surfaces in Chicago by way of Latino culture these days—food, music, art, etc.—is not from my tradition. So I
thought I would include a couple of songs that are very well known to Puerto Ricans, but not
typically sung or heard outside of those circles.
I hope you enjoy the story. I hope you enjoy the variety. And I hope you enjoy hearing music
that may be your favorite or may be new to you. This is me, and this is Chicago a cappella.
—Benjamin Rivera
Holidays a cappella

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N O T E S O N T H E M U S I C B Y J O N AT H A N M I L L E R
J. J. Niles, arr. Steve Pilkington: I Wonder as I Wander
This much-loved tune is partly traditional and partly composed. The “original” melody for
this carol was pieced together by John Jacob Niles from three lines which he cajoled out of
a young girl in 1933, in Murphy, North Carolina (the mountainous far west of the state, in
the Appalachians). Niles paid Annie Morgan twenty-five cents per performance; after eight
tries, he notes, “I had only three lines of verse, a garbled fragment of melodic material—and
a magnificent idea.” He fleshed out the melody and wrote additional verses, first recording
the song in 1938 on a 78-rpm disc for RCA Red Seal. The melody has found an exquisite
home in this a cappella choral setting by Steve Pilkington, who teaches at the acclaimed
Westminster Choir College (Rider University) in Princeton, New Jersey.
For the record: “I Wonder as I Wander” appears on our CD Christmas a cappella.
Seán Doherty: Blessed be that Maid Marie
Seán Doherty is a rising star in the current generation of young composers from Ireland. For
this piece, while contemplating the refrain of the medieval carol, which reads “Eya! Ihesus
hodie natus est” (something like “Hey! Christ is born today”), Doherty was reminded of
the hip-hop song Hey Ya!, performed by the group Outkast as well as the plainchant Hodie
Christus natus est from the vespers service on Christmas Day. The rhythmic drive of hip-hop
makes its way into this piece, a delightful stylistic mashup that retains great integrity and
fidelity to the text.

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Chicago a cappella

N O T E S O N T H E M U S I C B Y J O N AT H A N M I L L E R

c o n t.

Blessed be that Maid Marie;
Born He was of her body;
Very God ere time began,
Born in time the Son of man.
Refrain:
Eya! Ihesus hodie
Natus est de Virgine.

Hey! Today Jesus was
born of a Virgin

In a manger of an ass
Jesus lay and lulled was;
Born to die upon the Tree
Pro peccante homine.

For man’s sin.

Refrain
Sweet and blissful was the song
Changed of the Angel throng,
“Peace on earth,” Alleluya.
In excelsis gloria.

Glory in the highest.

Refrain
Fare three Kings from far-off land,
Incense, gold and myrrh in hand;
In Bethlehem the Babe they see,
Stelle ducti lumine.

Led by the light of a star.

Refrain
Make we merry on this fest,
In quo Christus natus est;
On this Child I pray you call,
To assoil and save us all.

In which Christ was born;

—Text and translation printed by permission of Saint
James Music Press

Basque carol, arr. Alan Smith: The Angel Gabriel
The translation of this text is at least as famous as the Basque-country tune with which it has
been paired. This much-loved English version is by Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924),
who was not only a county vicar but also a prolific folk-song collector, and his scholarly
treatment of werewolves is one of the most frequently cited studies on the topic. Alan Smith’s
classy a cappella setting borrows some of its spirit from the classic version in the Oxford Book
of Carols.
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
“All hail,” said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favored lady,” Gloria!

Holidays a cappella

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N O T E S O N T H E M U S I C B Y J O N AT H A N M I L L E R

c o n t.

“For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honor thee,
thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
most highly favored lady,” Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
“To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said,
“my soul shall laud and magnify His holy Name.”
Most highly favored lady, Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say-“Most highly favored lady,” Gloria!

—Trans. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, Text printed by permission of Alliance Music Publications

Javier Busto: Ave Maria
There are many musical settings of Gabriel’s message to Mary. This one has a particularly
well-defined sense of repose and peacefulness. Javier Busto also is from the Basque country
and directed his first choir in the city of Hondarribia. Busto is a remarkable musician, a
physician by training who is self-taught as a composer and one of the most respected figures
in the choral community worldwide. The upper voices seem to have a way of floating, almost
like angels, while the whole piece remains grounded and calm.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
—Liturgical text

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and in the hour of our death.
—trans. Choral Public Domain Library

G. F. Handel, arr. Jonathan Miller: And The Glory of the Lord
One of the beloved choruses from early in Handel’s Messiah, this jubilant movement sets the
well-known words from the prophet Isaiah. We perform the music here in a new a cappella
arrangement, created for these performances.
Arvo Pärt: Magnificat
After experimenting with the various postwar musical trends such as serialism, the Estonian
composer Arvo Pärt had his life changed through an encounter with Gregorian chant in the
1970s. He created an intense, personal style of composition (which he calls tintinnabulum,
after the sounds of bells) that is almost completely derived from the number of syllables in
each word. In this austere style, the structure of each word dictates, in large part, the melodic
contour and rhythmic stress of each word, and these in turn give shape to each phrase. His
works are astounding in their combination of simplicity and power. The Magnificat is one of
Pärt’s best-known compositions, a stunning exposition of Mary’s heartfelt prayer after she is
visited by the angel.

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Chicago a cappella

N O T E S O N T H E M U S I C B Y J O N AT H A N M I L L E R

c o n t.

Magnificat anima mea Dominum.

My soul magnifies the Lord.

Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae.
Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent

For He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden.
Behold, from henceforth, I will be called blessed

omnes generationes.

by all generations.

Quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius.

For the Mighty One has done
great things for me, and holy is His name.

Et misericordia a progenie in progenies,
timentibus eum.

His mercy is for those who fear Him
from generation to generation.

Fecit potentiam in bracchio suo,
dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.

He has shown strength with His arm,
He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

Deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles.
Esurientes implevit bonis,
et divites dimisit inanes.

He has brought down the powerful from their
thrones and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

Suscepit Israel puerum suum
recordatus misericordie suae.

He has helped His servant Israel
in remembrance of His mercy.

Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros,
Abraham et semini eius in saecula.

According to the promise He made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to His descendants forever..

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,
sicut erat in principio
et nunc et in saecula saeculorum,
Amen.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and for ever and ever,
Amen.
—trans. Pamela Dellal,
courtesy Emmanuel Music Inc.

John Tavener: Today the Virgin
The late John Tavener, an Englishman, became a member of the Orthodox Church in
1977, when he was in his early thirties. Much of his output was inspired by Russian and/or
Byzantine chant traditions. His music typically has an ethereal quality to it, similar in some
ways to that of Arvo Pärt, whom you’ll hear later. However, in this piece, Tavener takes a
more direct, angular approach, drawing on the tradition of the medieval English carol in
his setting of a Christmas text by Mother Thekla (1918-2011), who was an important force
in his life. A remarkable woman, she was born Marina Scharf in the northern Caucasus
and escaped to England with her family during the Russian Revolution; eventually she took
orders, later becoming Abbess of the small Orthodox community in the south of England,
which relocated to the Yorkshire Moors in 1974. She played many influential roles in
Tavener’s life, including spiritual (and commercial) advisor, librettist, and counselor; Tavener
later said that he could not have worked so well with another librettist, writing that she
“helped me put my music and my life together.”

Holidays a cappella

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