Lord, oh the Great and Almighty,
Protect our beloved Ukraine,
Bless her with freedom and light
Of your holy rays.
 
With learning and knowledge enlighten
Us, your children small,
In love pure and everlasting
Let us, oh Lord, grow.
 
We pray, oh Lord Almighty,
Protect our beloved Ukraine,
Grant our people and country
All your kindness and grace.
 
Bless us with freedom, bless us with wisdom,
Guide us into a kind world,
Bless us, oh Lord, with good fortune
For ever and evermore.

How It All Began

 Now Is the Month of Maying – Thomas Morley
Now is the month of maying,
When merry lads are playing, fa la la . . .
Each with his bonny lass
Upon the greeny grass, fa la la. . . .

The Spring, clad all in gladness,
Doth laugh at Winter's sadness, fa la la . .
The nymphs tread out their ground, Fa la la . . .

Fie then! Why sit we musing,
Youth's sweet delight refusing? Fa la la. . . .

Say dainty nymphs, and speak
Shall we play barley-break? Fa la la. . . .

 The Silver Swan – Orlando Gibbons
The silver swan, who living had no note,
when death approached, unlocked her silent throat.
Leaning her breast against the reedy shore,
thus sung her first and last, and sung no more.
Farewell all joys, O death come close mine eyes.
More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise.

Cantate Domino – Claudio Monteverdi
Text from  Psalm 96:1,2 and Psalm 98:1,2   
Cantate Domino novum canticum;
cantate a benedicite nomine eius,
quia mirabilia fecit.
Cantate, exultate, e psallite
in cythara e voce psalmi,
quia mirabilia fecit.

Sing to the Lord a new song,
Sing and give praise to his name:
for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing and exult and praise
in songs with the harp and the voice:
for he has done marvelous deeds.

Domine Fili unigenite –  Antonio Vivaldi
Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe
Deus Pater
Laudamus Te, benedicimus Te
Adoramus Te, glorificamus Te
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Et in terra pax hominibus, bonae voluntatis

Lord the only begotten Son of Jesus Christ
God the Father
We praise You, we bless You,
We adore You, we glorify You,
Glory to God in the highest
And on earth, peace to men of good will.

Jesu meine Freude – J. S. Bach
Jesu, meine Freude,
Meines Herzens Weide,
Jesu, meine Zier,
Ach wie lang, ach lange
Ist dem Herzen bange
Und verlangt nach dir!
Gottes Lamm, mein Bräutigam,
Außer dir soll mir auf Erden
Nichts sonst Liebers werden.

Jesus, my joy, 
My heart's delight
Jesus, my treasure
Ah how long, ah how long
must my heart be anxious
And full of longing for you!
Lamb of God, my bridegroom
Besides you there is on earth 
Nothing else that is dearer to me.

Classical Era

Zadok the Priest, Coronation Anthems – George Frideric Handel
After 1 Kings 1:38–40
Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet
Anointed Solomon King.
And all the people rejoiced, and said:
God save the King! Long live the King!
May the King live forever.
Amen, Allelujah.

Ave verum corpus – W. A. Mozart
Ave, verum corpus
natum de Maria Virgine,
Vere passum immolatum
in Cruce pro homine,
Cujus latus perforatum
unda fluxit et sanguine,
Esto nobis praegustatum
in mortis examine.

Hail, true body
born of the Virgin Mary,
Who truly suffered, sacrificed
on the Cross for man,
Whose pierced side overflowed
with water and blood,
Be for us a foretaste
In the test of death.

 Psalm 23 – Franz Schubert 
Der Herr ist mein Hirt,
mir wird nichts mangeln,
Er lagert mich auf grüne Weide,
Er leitet mich an stillen Bӓchen,
Er labt mein schmachtendes Gemüt,
Er führt mich auf gerechtem Steige zu seines Namens Ruhm.
Und wall’ ich auch im Todes schatten Talle,
So wall’ ich ohne Furcht,
denn du beschützest mich,
Dein Stab und deine Stütze sind mir immerdar mein Trost,
Du richtest mir ein Freudenmahl im Angesicht der Feinde zu,
Du salbst mein Haupt mit Öle und schenkst mir volle Becher ein,
Mir folget Heil und Seligkeit in diesem Leben nach,
Einst ruh’ ich ewge Zeit dort in des Ew’gen Haus. 

The Lord is my shepherd:
therefore can I lack nothing.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me;thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of mine enemies;
my head with oil thou anointest; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 American Contemporary

The coming day of the Lord is near.
Yes, gone are the swords,
all strife and fear.
All wars and tumult soon shall cease.
All nations shall once more be at peace.

The day draws near, and gone is the night.
Awake, believers, walk in the light.

Yes, justice soon will come to the land.
The nations rejoice at God’s command.

Dirait-on – Morten Lauridsen
Poem by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926)
Abandon entouré d'abandon,
tendresse touchant aux tendresses . . .
C'est ton intérieur qui sans cesse
se caresse, dirait-on;
se caresse en soi-même,
par son propre reflet éclairé.
Ainsi tu inventes le theme
du Narcisse exhaucé.

Abandon surrounding abandon,
tenderness touching tendernesses . . .
Your oneness endlessly
caresses itself, so they say;
self-caressing
through its own clear reflection.
Thus you invent the theme
of Narcissus fulfilled.

Feliz Navidad

 Como Busca el Tierno Infante – Bruce Trinkley
Como busca el tierno infante, afligido y pesaroso,
El Descanso y el reposo en el seno maternal,
Así yo, desde que brilla la blanca luz de la aurora,
Vengo a buscar, oh, Señora, tu protección celestial.

 How they find the tender baby, afflicted and sad
Resting and relaxing in the bosom of the mother
Then on me shines the white light of the dawn
I come to find, oh lady, Your heavenly protection.

En Belén Tocan A Fuego – Conrad Susa
En Belén tocan a fuego,
Del portal salen las llamas.
Porque dicen que ha hacido
El Redentor del las almas.
Brincan y bailan llos peces en el río.
Brincan y bailan de ver a Dios nacido.
Brincan y bailan los peces en el agua,
Brincan y bailan de ver nacido el alba.
En el portal de Belén
Nació un clavel encarnado
Que por redimir el mondo
Se ha vuelto lirio morado.
La Virgen lava panales
Y los tiende en el romero.
Los pajarrillos cantaban
Y el agua se iba riendo.

There is a fire in Bethlehem,
Flames are coming out of the stable
Because they say that the
Redeemer of all souls has been born.
The fish in the river are jumping and dancing.
The fish are jumping and dancing in the water.
They are jumping and dancing to see the dawn born.
In the stable of Bethlehem
Was born a carnation made of flesh
Who to redeem the world
Changed to a purple lily.

The Virgin washes the swaddling clothes
And hangs them on the rosemary bush.
The little birds were singing
And the water was laughing.

Los Reyes Magos – Ariel Ramirez
Llegaron ya, los reyes y erantres
Melchor, Gaspar y el negro Baltazar
Arrope y miel le llevarán
Y un poncho blanco de alpaca real.

Changos y chinitas duermanse
Que ya Melchor, Gaspar y Baltazar
Todos los regalos dejarán
Para jugar mañana al despertar. 

 El Niño Dios muy bien lo agradeció
Comió la miel y el poncho lo abrigó
Y fué después que los miró
Y a media noche el sol relumbró.

They had arrived, the kings, and there were three:
Melchior, Caspar and the black Balthasar
Syrup and honey they will bring him
And a white poncho of royal alpaca.

Fall asleep little boys and girls
So that Melchior, Caspar and Baltasar
Can leave out all the gifts
For you to play with when you wake up tomorrow.

The God Child was really pleased.
He ate the honey and wrapped himself in the poncho.
And afterward he saw them
And the sun shone at midnight.

A King Is Born – Sy Gorieb and Tim Hosman
A King is born this day in Bethlehem
Hallelujah
No crown is worn,
But angels worship Him
Halle, hallelujah
Almighty God so meek, so mild
Salvation comes through this holy child.

A King is born
He is in the manger now
A King is born
Humbly come and humbly bow
The tiny Lord
Reaching out a tiny hand
A King is born this day
In Bethlehem!

His palace is lowly,
His throne is made of hay, hallelujah.
The shepherds bow down to see
His holy face, hallelujah.
Heaven is singing of peace on earth
Filled with the wonder of this birth.
A King is born
This day in Bethlehem!

European Tour

Verleih uns Frieden – Felix Mendelssohn
Text by Martin Luther (1483–1546)
Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich,
Herr Gott zu unsern Zeiten,
es ist doch ja kein andrer nicht,
der für uns könnte streiten,
denn du, unser Gott, alleine.

In these our days so perilous,
Lord, peace in mercy send us;
No God but thee can fight for us,
No God but thee defend us;
Thou our only God and Saviour.

O schöne Nacht! – Johannes Brahms
Text by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800–1875)
O schöne Nacht!
Am Himmel märchen haft
erglänzt der Mond in seiner ganzen Pracht;
Um ihn der kleinen Sterne liebliche
Genossenschaft.
O schöne Nacht!
Es schimmert hell der Tau am grünen Halm;
mit Macht im Fliederbusche schlägt die Nachtigall;
Der Knabe schleicht zu seiner Liebsten sacht—
O schöne Nacht! (Deutsch) 

O lovely night!
In the heavens, the moon gleams magically
in all its splendor;
about it, the sweet comradeship of tiny stars.
O lovely night!
The dew glimmers brightly
on the green blades of grass; with great power,
the nightingale sings out in the elder-bush;
the young man steals quietly to his sweetheart—
O lovely night!

Cantique de Jean Racine – Gabriel Fauré
Text by Jean Racine (1639-1699)
Verbe égal au Très-Haut,
notre unique espérance,
jour éternel de la terre et des cieux,
de la paisible nuit nous rompons le silence;
Divin Sauveur, jette sur nous les yeux!
Répands sur nous le feu de ta grâce puissante,
que tout l'enfer fuie au son de ta voix>
Dissipe le sommeil d'une âme languissante,
qui la conduit à l'oubli de tes lois!
O Christ sois favorable à ce peuple fidèle
pour te bénir maintenant rassemblé,
reçois les chants qu'il offre
à ta gloire immortelle
et de tes dons qu'il retourne comblé.

Word equal to the Most High,
our unique hope,
eternal day of the earth and of the heavens,
we break the silence of the peaceful night;
Divine Savior, cast your eyes upon us;
Spread out over us the fire of your mighty grace
so that hell itself flees at the sound of your voice.
Dispel the slumber of a pining soul
which drives it to forget your laws!
O Christ, show favor to these faithful people
now assembled to praise you.
Receive these songs that they offer
to your immortal glory,
and these full offerings returned to you.

The Anvil Chorus – Guiseppe Verdi
Coro di Zingari (Gypsy Chorus)
Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie
de' cieli sveste l'immensa vôlta:
sembra una vedova che alfin si toglie
i bruni panni ond' era involta.

All'opra, all'opra!
Dagli.
Martella.

 Chi del gitano i giorni abbella?
Chi del gitano i giorni abbella,
chi? Chi i giorni abbella?
La zingarella, la zingarella,
La zingarella!
Versami un tratto; lena e coraggio
il corpo e l'anima traggon dal bere.
Oh guarda, guarda . . . del sole un raggio
brilla più vivido nel tuo bicchiere!
All'opra, all'opra  etc.

See how the clouds melt away
from the face of the sky
when the sun shines, its brightness beaming;
just as a widow, discarding her black robes,
shows all her beauty in brilliance gleaming.
So, to work now!
Lift up your hammers!

Who turns the Gypsy's day from gloom to brightest sunshine?
Who? Who from gloom to brightest sunshine?
His lovely Gypsy maid! 
Fill up the goblets! New strength and courage
flow from lusty wine to soul and body.
See how the rays of the sun play and sparkle
and give to our wine gay new splendor.
So, to work now! etc.

From Ordinary Prayers – Scott Hamilton
Poems by Jill Bigler

The Way of Things
Sometimes the beauty of the world
is so painful I want to cry.
To look upon this earth
and see its perfection
Is to reaffirm my faith in Thee.
The way of things; the order of
the universe;
A Master Plan too vast for man to see.
But this, my Lord, is why I want to cry:
Why did you create creatures like me,
Too weak to understand
But strong enough to destroy?

My Baby Sleeps
My baby sleeps;
how hard I pray I pray for love
and patience every hour of every day
Through the days and
through the years.
And when the time of parting comes,
Let me be strong, let me be brave
and hold my tears
Knowing I have done my best
For this sweet child, my baby,
My life.

From Heart Mountain Choral Suite – Sarah Mattox
The Mountain Spoke
The mountain spoke to the Issei, one of God’s creations drawing the mind and eye. A living symbol, fickle goddess to even the most prosaic mind. To the Issei, she spoke of the eagerness of a remembered youth, in another mountain’s shadow. Heart Mountain, sentinel above her namesake, above her overnightly built city of ten thousand souls. Heart Mountain.

To this we’d come; to row after row of tarpaper barracks. And always above, Heart Mountain, rising from sage plains, her raiment mauve and brown and royal purple. And always with a Pegasus of straggling juniper embroidered to her bosom. Heart Mountain, God’s Pulpit and our Sepulcher Stone.

Heart Mountain . . . The essence of our inspiration and of our unbroken spirit. The human heart of the mountain . . . This we remember. Ah!

Sing On!

Make Our Garden Grow – Leonard Bernstein
From Candide
You've been a fool
nd so have I,
But let’s be man and wife.
And let us try,
Before we die,
To make some sense of life.
We're neither pure, nor wise, nor good
We'll do the best we know.
We'll build our house and chop our wood
And make our garden grow . . .
And make our garden grow.

I thought the world
Was sugar cake
For so our master said.
But now I'll teach
My hands to bake
Our loaf of daily bread.
We're neither pure, nor wise, nor good
We'll do the best we know.
We'll build our house and chop our wood
And make our garden grow . . .
And make our garden grow.

Let dreamers dream
What worlds they please
Those Edens can't be found.
The sweetest flowers,
The fairest trees,
Are grown in solid ground.
We're neither pure, nor wise, nor good
We'll do the best we know.
We'll build our house and chop our wood
And make our garden grow.And make our garden grow!

How Can I Keep from Singing – Robert Lowry, arr. Matt and Adam Podd
My life goes on in endless song
Above earth´s lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I´m clinging.
Since love prevails in heav’n and earth.
How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest ’round me roars,
I know the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I´m clinging.
Since love prevails in heav’n and earth.
How can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes, the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it.
And day by day, this pathway smooths,
since first I learned to love it.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
I hear the music ringing.
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

Hope for Resolution – Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory
Of the Father’s love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending he,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.
O that birth forever blessed,
when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bare the Savior of our race;
And the babe, the world’s redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven, adore him;
Angel hosts his praises sing;
Pow’rs, dominions, bow before him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Ev’ry voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore.

Thula sizwe
Ungabokala
UJehova wakho uzokunqobela
Inkulule ko
Sizoyithola
UJehova wakho uzokunqobela  

Nation, do not cry, 
Jehovah will protect us.
We will attain freedom.
Jehovah will protect us.