Virgo Dei throno digna – Johannes Tinctoris
Virgo Dei throno digna
O virgin worthy of the throne of God
spes unica musicorum
the only hope of singers
devotæ plebi cantorum
making music for the faithful masses
esto clemens et benigna.
be merciful and kind.
In exitu Israel – Josquin des Prez
In exitu Israel de Aegypto,
When Israel went out from Egypt,
domus Jacob de populo barbaro,
the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
facta est Judaea sanctificatio ejus;
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel potestas ejus.
Israel his dominion.
Mare vidit, et fugit;
The sea looked and fled;
Jordanis conversus est retrorsum.
Jordan turned back.
Montes exsultaverunt ut arietes,
The mountains skipped like rams,
et colles sicut agni ovium.
the hills like lambs.
Quid est tibi, mare, quod fugisti?
What ails you, O sea, that you flee?
et tu, Jordanis, quia conversus es retrorsum?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
montes, exsultastis sicut arietes?
O mountains, that you skip like rams?
et colles, sicut agni ovium?
O hills, like lambs?
A facie Domini mota est terra,
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
a facie Dei Jacob:
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
qui convertit petram in stagna aquarum,
who turns the rock into a pool of water,
et rupem in fontes aquarum.
water, the flint into a spring of water.
Non nobis, Domine, non nobis,
Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
sed nomini tuo da gloriam:
but to your name give glory,
super misericordia tua et veritate tua;
for your mercy and your truth;
nequando dicant gentes: Ubi est Deus eorum?
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
from Psalm 113
Tu pauperum refugium – Anonymous
Tu pauperum refugium, tu languorum remedium,
Thou art the refuge of the poor, remedy for afflictions,
spes exsulum, fortitudo laborantium,
hope of exiles, strength of those who labor,
via errantium, veritas et vita.
way for the wandering, truth and life.
Et nunc Redemptor, Domine, ad te solum confugio;
And now, Redeemer, Lord, in thee alone I take refuge;
te verum Deum adoro, in te spero,
thee, true God, I adore, in thee I hope,
in te confido, salus mea, Jesu Christe.
in thee I confide, my salvation, O Jesus Christ.
Adjuva me, ne unquam obdormiat in morte anima mea.
Help me, lest my soul ever sleep in death.
Oh Daedalus, fly away home – Trevor Weston
Drifting night in the Georgia pines,
Coonskin drum and jubilee banjo.
Pretty Malinda, dance with me.
Night is juba, night is conjo.
Pretty Malinda, dance with me.
Night is an African juju man
Weaving a wish and a weariness together
To make two wings.
O fly away home fly away
Do you remember Africa?
O cleave the air fly away home
My gran, he flew back to Africa,
Just spread his arms and
Fly away home.
Drifting night in the windy pines;
Night is a laughing, night is a longing.
Pretty Malinda, come to me.
Night is a mourning juju man
Weaving a wish and a weariness together
To make two wings.
O fly away home fly away
text by Robert Hayden (1913–1980)
God’s gonna trouble – Traditional, arr. Jonathan Woody
Follow the drinking gourd!
Follow the drinking gourd!
For the old man is a’waiting
for to carry you to freedom,
if you follow the drinking gourd,
follow the drinking gourd!
God’s gonna trouble
The river bank makes a mighty good road,
dead trees to show you the way.
Left foot, peg foot, traveling on,
just follow the drinking gourd.
The river ends between two hills,
follow the drinking gourd,
there’s another river on the other side,
God’s gonna trouble the water
Wade in the water,
wade in the water children,
wade in the water,
God’s gonna trouble the water.
Jordan river is chilly an’ cold,
God’s gonna trouble the water,
it chills the body but not the soul,
God’s gonna trouble the water,
If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed,
God’s gonna trouble the water,
Then follow me down to Jordan’s stream,
God’s gonna trouble the water.
For the old man is a’waiting
for to carry you to freedom,
if you follow the drinking gourd!
Blow, blow thou winter wind – George Walker
Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man’s ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.
Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remembered not.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly…
text by William Shakespeare (ca.1564–1616), As You Like It, Act II, Sc. 7
Stormy weather – Harold Arlen, arr. Gene Puerling
Don’t know why
There’s no sun up in the sky
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps raining all the time
Life is bare
Gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy weather,
Just can’t get my poor self together,
I’m weary all the time,
so weary all the time.
When he went away
the blues walked in and met me,
if he stays away
ol’ rocking chair will get me,
All I do is pray
the Lord above will let me
walk in the sun again.
Can’t go on,
Everything I had is gone
Stormy weather,
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps raining all the time.
text by Ted Koehler (1894–1973)
Both sides now – Joni Mitchell, arr. Vince Peterson
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere.
I’ve looked at clouds that way.
But now they only block the sun.
They rain and they snow on everyone.
So many things I would have done
but clouds got in my way.
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now,
from up and down and still somehow
it’s cloud illusions I recall.
I really don’t know clouds at all.
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels,
the dizzy dancing way that you feel,
as ev’ry fairy tale comes real,
I’ve looked at love that way.
But now it's just another show.
And you leave ‘em laughing when you go.
And if you care, don’t let them know.
Don’t give yourself away.
I’ve looked at love from both sides now,
From give and take and still somehow,
It’s love’s illusions that I recall.
I really don’t know love at all.
Tears and fears and feelin’ proud,
to say “I love you” right out loud,
dreams and schemes and circus crowds,
I’ve looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange.
They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
somethin’s lost, and somethin’s gained
in living every day.
I’ve looked at life from both sides now,
from win and lose and still somehow
it’s life’s illusions I recall.
I really don’t know life,
I really don’t know life at all.
My way home – Christopher H. Harris
I know that sorrow's been here and peace may long be gone,
I know my touch is fading though my memory lingers on.
Still your heart, calm your mind, if tears must flow and pain
must grow, mourn me with grace, I've finished my race.
I know disdain has spoken and heartache's had its say,
In spite of what seems hopeless this is what I must pray.
Still your heart, calm your mind, if tears must flow and pain
must grow, mourn me with grace, I've finished my race.
Weep not for me.
I have seen my struggle cease.
I have seen my fight's end.
I have found my way home.
Text by Christopher H. Harris
Calling my children home – Doyle Lawson, Charles Waller, Robert Yates, arr. Joseph H. Jennings
Those lives were mine to love and cherish,
To guard and guide along life’s way.
Oh, God forbid that one should perish,
that one alas should go astray.
Back in the years with all together,
around the place we’d romp and play.
So lonely now, I often wonder,
oh, will they come back home someday?
I’m lonesome for my precious children,
they live so far away.
Oh, may they hear my calling,
and come back home someday.
I gave my all for my dear children,
their problems still with love I share.
I’d brave life’s storms, defy the tempest,
to bring them home from anywhere.
I lived my life, my love I gave them,
to guide them through this world of strife.
I hope and pray we’ll live together,
in that great glad hereafter life.
I’m lonesome for my precious children…
Goin’ home to God – Traditional Spiritual, arr. Steve Barnett
Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world,
Goin’ home to God.
I want to meet my mother,
I want to meet my father,
I want to meet my sisters and brothers,
Goin’ home to God.
Soon I will be done…
I want to see my Jesus,
I want to see my Jesus,
I want to see my Lord, my Jesus,
Goin’ home to God.
Soon I will be done…
No more weepin’ and a-wailin’
No more weepin’ and a-wailin’
No more weepin’ and a-wailin’
Goin’ home to God.
Soon I will be done…
Rock a my soul – Traditional Spiritual, arr. Joseph H. Jennings
Rock a my soul in the bosom of Abraham,
Rock a my soul in the bosom of Abraham,
Rock a my soul in the bosom of Abraham,
Oh, rock a my soul!
My soul is glad,
From sin set free,
I’m going home to live with Thee!
Rock a my soul…
I may be weak,
But Thou are strong,
I’m leaning on His mighty arm!
Rock a my soul…
I’ll fly away – Albert E. Brumley, Dean Webb, Mitch Jayne, arr. Tim Keeler
I'll fly away, oh, Glory
I'll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I'll fly away
Some glad morning when this life is o’er
I'll fly away
To a home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away
I'll fly away, oh, Glory…
Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joy shall never end
I'll fly away
I'll fly away, oh, Glory…
