PCO Presents Holiday Celebration - Part 2
Premieres 3 pm, Sunday, December 20, 2020
Today’s Program
with the State College Choral Society, Susan Russell, narrator & Mindela King, soprano
Welcome by Maestro Attar
Ralph Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on “Greensleeves” arranged by Greaves
Highlights from George Frideric Handel - “Messiah”, HWV 56
No. 1 Sinfony
No. 4 And the Glory
No. 12 For Unto Us
No. 13 Pifa
No. 14 There Were Shepherds
No. 15 And the Angel
No. 16 And Suddenly
No. 17 Glory to God
No. 18 Rejoice, O Daughter of Zion
No. 44 Hallelujah (Sing along! See text below)
Mindela King, soprano
'Twas the Night Before Christmas arranged by Douglas Meyer
Please join us in singing these familiar tunes!
Susan Russell, narrator
Closing comments by Yaniv Attar, PCO Music Director
Musicians of the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra
Thank you sponsors!
Program Notes
“Greensleeves” has been around since at least the 16th century. Shakespeare mentions it twice in The Merry Wives of Windsor, and it appeared widely throughout the 17th century in both song and lute publications. In the 19th century it was given new lyrics as “What Child is This?” Vaughan Williams used the tune several times, most notably in his opera Sir John in Love, which was based on Shakespeare’s above mentioned play. In 1934 Ralph Greaves grafted passages from various Vaughan Williams incarnations, (especially from Sir John in Love) of the familiar tune and created the “Fantasia on Greensleeves” as we know it.
George Frideric Handel was at heart a man of the theater, whether the opera stage or the “ecclesiastical theater” of the oratorio. He infused everything he wrote with drama. “Handel understands effect better than any of us,” wrote Mozart. “When he chooses, he strikes like a thunderbolt.” Lying on his deathbed, Beethoven asked for a volume of Handel to console him in his finality.
Handel received an invitation to produce a series of concerts in Dublin in 1741, and the idea of a change of scenery appealed to him. He traveled from London to Dublin in mid-November 1741 and remained until August 13, 1742. The high point of Handel’s Dublin season was without a doubt the premiere of his new oratorio Messiah. He had composed it while still in London during the summer of 1741, over the course of about three weeks. His librettist, Charles Jennens, had been pressed into service to assemble a text for the new work. This he apparently did in the early summer of 1741, drawing creatively on Biblical passages. With the libretto in hand, Handel leapt into action on August 22. He finished the draft of Part One on August 8, of Part Two on September 6, and of Part Three on September 12—and then he took another two days to polish details on the whole score.
This prodigious pace was not exceptional for Handel. The composer allowed himself about a week’s rest after finishing Messiah before embarking on his next oratorio, Samson, which he wrote in the relatively leisurely span of five weeks.
1. Symphony
Grave
Allegro moderato
4. Chorus
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together…
(Isaiah 40: 5)
12. Chorus
For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given…
(Isaiah 9: 6)
13. Pifa
Pastoral Symphony
14. Recitative
Soprano
There were shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flocks by night.
(Luke 2: 8)
Accompagnato
Soprano
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them,
and they were sore afraid.
(Luke 2: 9)
15. Recitative
Soprano
And the angel said unto them:
“Fear not, for behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy…”
(Luke 2: 10-11)
16. Accompagnato
Soprano
And suddenly there was with the angel,
a multitude of the heavenly host,
praising God, and saying:
(Luke 2: 13)
17. Chorus
“Glory to God in the highest,
and peace on earth,
good will towards men.”
(Luke 2: 14)
18. Air
Soprano
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O daughter of Jerusalem…
(Zecharaiah 9: 9-10)
44. Chorus
Hallelujah:
for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
(Revelation 19: 6)
The kingdom of this world
is become the kingdom of our Lord,
and of His Christ;
and He shall reign for ever and ever.
(Revelation 11: 15)
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
(Revelation 19: 16)
Hallelujah!
"A Visit from St. Nicholas", more commonly known as "The Night Before Christmas" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" was first published anonymously in 1823 and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who claimed authorship in 1837.
The poem has been called "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American” and is largely responsible for some of the conceptions of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today. It has had a massive impact on the history of Christmas gift-giving.
Meyer: For some time I’ve toyed with pairing the carols and songs of Christmas with the episodes of “Twas the Night before Christmas” as I would pair a tasty cheese with a holiday wine, or in this case a Stollen or Pfeffernusse with Glühwein. To my mind the image of the shepherds as they lay in the fields with their sheep so many years ago pairs easily with the children all snug in their beds, the swirling appearance of St. Nicholas with his octet of reindeer, with the jingling of sleigh bells in a wintery cross country sleigh ride and the bundle of toys he had slung on his back, with Toyland, Toyland, the little girl and boy land.
And, what could provide a better finale to our merry visit with St. Nick than a grand wish for some figgy pudding, a cup of good cheer and A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
1. The First Nowell the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds In fields as they lay,
In fields as they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter night that was so deep.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.
2. Sleep, my child and peace attend thee
All through the night
Guardian angels God will send thee
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are keeping
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping
I am loving vigil keeping
All through the night.
While the moon her watch is keeping
All through the night
While the weary world is sleeping
All through the night
O'er thy spirit gently stealing
Visions of delight revealing
Breathes a pure and holy feeling
All through the night.
3. Dashing thru the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'r the fields we go
laughing all the way
Bells on bobtails ring'
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way.
Oh! what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way.
Oh! what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh.
4. Up on the house top reindeer pause,
Out jumps good old Santa Clause.
Down thru the chimney with lots of toys,
All for the little ones,
Christmas joys
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click,
Down thru the chimney with good Saint Nick.
First comes the stocking of little Nell,
Oh, dear Santa fill it well.
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries,
One that will open and shut her eyes.
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click,
Down thru the chimney with good Saint Nick.
Look in the stocking of little Will,
Oh, just see what a glorious fill!
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks,
Whistle and ball and a whip that cracks.
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click,
Down thru the chimney with good Saint Nick.
5. Toyland, toyland, The little girl and boy land
While you dwell within it you are ever happy there.
Toyland, toyland, The little girl and boy land
While you dwell within it you are ever happy there.
Childhood's joy land Mystical merry toyland,
Once you pass its borders You can never return again.
Toyland, toyland, The little girl and boy land
While you dwell within it you are ever happy there.
6. Jolly old St. Nicholas Lean you ear this way!
Don't you tell a single soul, What I'm going to say;
Christmas Eve is coming soon; Now, you dear old man,
Whisper what you'll bring to me; Tell me if you can.
When the clock is strking twelve, When I'm fast asleep,
Down the chimney, broad and black,
With your pack you'll creep;
All the stockings you will find Hanging in the light,
Choose for me dear Santa Clause,
What you think is right.
7. We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Good tidings we bring for you and your kin,
We wish you a merry Christmas And a Happy New Year!
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
And a cup of good cheer!
Good tidings we bring for you and your kin,
We wish you a merry Christmas And a Happy New Year!
We won't go until we get some,
We won't go until we get some,
We won't go until we get some,
So bring it out here!
Good tidings we bring for you and your kin,
We wish you a merry Christmas And a Happy New Year!
We all like our figgy pudding,
We all like our figgy pudding,
We all like our figgy pudding,
With all its good cheer!
Good tidings we bring for you and your kin,
We wish you a merry Christmas And a Happy New Year!
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Program notes by Conductor Laureate, Douglas Meyer.
Video produced by CW Studios.