The King’s Singers
Christmas Time Is Here
Friday, December 13, 2024 at 8pm
Artist Sponsor
The Gerrit & Amy Cole Foundation
This performance will include a 15-minute intermission.
PROGRAM
Subject to change
Carols from King’s
Once in Royal David’s city †
Henry James Gauntlett, arr. Nick Ashby
The Shepherd’s Carol †
Bob Chilcott
In dulci jubilo
Robert Pearsall, arr. Daniel Hyde
Northern Lights
Northern Lights
Ola Gjeilo
Deilig er jorden
Bernhard Severin Ingemann, arr. Ole Faurschou
Ave maris stella
Edvard Grieg
The New World
La peregrinación †
Ariel Ramirez, arr. Peter Knight
Riu, riu, chiu
Anonymous, arr. Philip Lawson
O magnum mysterium
Tomás Luis de Victoria
A siolo flasiquiyo
Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla
Finding Harmony at Christmas
Christmas Time is here
Vince Guaraldi, arr. Nick Ashby
Stille Nacht/Silent Night †
(Preceded by a reading of Christmas 1915)
Franz Gruber, arr. John Rutter/Keith Roberts
God rest ye merry, gentlemen †
Traditional, arr. Geoffrey Keating
-INTERMISSION-
Sérénade d’hiver †
Camille Saint-Saëns
Celebrating 100 Years of Disney
When you wish upon a star †
Leigh Harline, arr. John Rutter
A further selection of seasonal songs celebrating the magic of 100 years of Disney
The Christmas Stocking
Festive favorites and brand-new surprises from The King’s Singers world-famous close-harmony library
* Written for The King’s Singers
† Recorded in The King’s Singers discography
Once in Royal David’s city †
Henry James Gauntlett, arr. Nick Ashby
Once in Royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.
And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
The Shepherd’s Carol †
Bob Chilcott
We stood on the hills, Lady,
Our day’s work done,
Watching the frosted meadows
That winter had won.
The evening was calm, Lady,
The air so still,
Silence more lovely than music
Folded the hill.
There was a star, Lady,
Shone in the night,
Larger than Venus it was
And bright, so bright.
Oh, a voice from the sky, Lady,
It seemed to us then
Telling of God being born
In the world of men.
And so we have come, Lady,
Our day’s work done,
Our love, our hopes, ourselves,
We give to your son.
In dulci jubilo
Robert de Pearsall, arr. Daniel Hyde
In dulci jubilo
Let us our homage shew:
Our heart's joy reclineth
In praesepio;
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio, Alpha es et O!
O Jesu parvule,
I yearn for thee alway;
Listen to my ditty,
O puer optime;
Have pity on me, pity, ,
O princeps gloriae.
Trahe me post te.
O patris caritas! O Nati lenitas!
Deeply were we stained.
Per nostra crimina:
But Thou for us hast gained
Coelorum gaudia,
O that we were there.
Ubi sunt gaudia,
Where if they be not there?
There are Angels singing
Nova cantica;
And there the bells are ringing
In Regis curia.
O that we were there.
Northern Lights
Ola Gjeilo
Pulchra es, amica mea, suavis et decora filia Jerusalem,
Terribilis ut castrorum acies ordinata.
Averte oculos tuos a me, quia ipsi me avolare fecerunt, amica mea.
Translation:
You are beautiful, O my love, Sweet and comely as Jerusalem, Terrible as an army with banners. Turn your thine eyes from me,for they have overcome me, my love.
Deilig er jorden
Bernhard Severin Ingemann, arr. Ole Faurschou
Deilig er jorden, prektig er Guds himmel,
Skjønn er sjelenes pilgrimsgang!
Gjennom de fagre riker på jorden
Går vi til Paradis med sang.
Tider skal komme, tider skal henrulle,
Slekt skal følge slekters gang;
Aldri forstummer tonen fra himlen
I sjelens glade pilgrimssang.
Englene sang den, først for markens hyrder;
Skjønt fra sjel til sjel det lød:
Fred over jorden, menneske fryd deg!
Oss er en evig frelser født!
Translation:
Wonderful is the Earth,
mighty is God's heaven,
beautiful the pilgrimage of the souls.
Through the fair realms on the earth
to Paradise we walk in song.
Ages shall come,
ages shall pass,
kin shall follow the path of kins;
never ceases the heavenly tones.
in the soul's joyful pilgrim-song!
Angels first sang it
to the shepherds on the field;
from soul to soul in joy it passed:
Peace over Earth! Humans rejoice.
A savior for all time is born!
Ave maris stella
Edvard Grieg
Ave, maris stella,
Dei Mater alma,
Atque semper Virgo,
Felix caeli porta.
Solve vincla reis,
Profer lumen caecis,
Mala nostra pelle,
Bona cuncta posce.
Vitam praesta puram,
Iter para tutum,
Ut videntes Jesum,
Semper collaetemur.
Sit laus Deo Patri,
Summo Christo decus
Spiritui Sancto,
Tribus honor unus. Amen.
Translation:
Hail, star of the sea,
loving Mother of God,
and also always a virgin,
Happy gate of heaven.
Break the chains of sinners,
Bring light to the blind,
Drive away our evils,
Ask for all good.
Keep life pure,
Make the journey safe,
So that, seeing Jesus,
We may always rejoice together.
Let there be praise to God the Father,
Glory to Christ in the highest,
To the Holy Spirit,
One honor to all three. Amen.
La peregrinación †
Ariel Ramirez
A la huella, a la huella
José y María
Por las pampas heladas
Cardos y ortigas.
A la huella, a la huella
Cortando campo
No hay cobijo ni fonda
Sigan andando.
Florecita del campo,
Clavel del aire
Si ninguno te aloja
A dónde naces
Donde naces, florcita
Que estas creciendo,
Palomita asustada,
Grillo sin sueño.
A la huella, a la huella
José y María
Con un dios escondido
Nadie sabía.
A la huella, a la huella
Los peregrinos
Préstenme una tapera
Para mi niño.
A la huella, a la huella
Soles y lunas
Los ojitos de almendra
Piel de aceituna.
Ay burrito del campo
Ay buey barcino
Mi niño esta viniendo
Háganle sitio.
Un ranchito de quincha
Solo me ampara
Dos alientos amigos
La luna clara
A la huella, a la huella
José y María
Con un dios escondido
Nadie sabía.
Translation:
Follow the trail, follow the trail,
Joseph and Mary,
Across the frozen plains,
Thistles and weeds.
Follow the trail, follow the trail,
Cutting through the fields.
There is no shelter, no inn;
Keep on walking.
Little flower in the field,
Carnation in the air.
If no one puts you up,
Where will you be born?
Where will you be born, little flower?
Now that you are growing,
Frightened dove,
Sleepless cricket.
Follow the trail, follow the trail,
Joseph and Mary,
With a hidden god,
Nobody knew.
Follow the trail, follow the trail,
The pilgrims,
Lend me a ruined house
For my child.
Follow the trail, follow the trail,
Through suns and moons -
The little almond eyes,
Olive skin.
Oh, little donkey in the field,
Oh, reddish-grey ox,
My child is coming,
Make some space for him.
A thatched hut
Is the only shelter I have,
Two friendly breaths (the ox and the donkey),
The bright moon.
Follow the trail, follow the trail,
Joseph and Mary,
With a hidden god,
Nobody knew.
Riu, riu, chiu
Mateo Flecha, arr. Philip Lawson
Riu, riu, chiu la guarda ribera.
Dios guardó el lobo de nuestra cordera,
Dios guardó el lobo de nuestra cordera.
El lobo rabioso la quiso morder,
Mas Dios Poderoso la supo defender.
Quizo la hacer que no pudiese pecar,
Ni aun original esta virgen no tuviera.
Este que es nascido es El Gran Monarca,
Cristo Patriarca de carne vestido,
Ha nos redimido con se hacer chiquito.
Aunque era infinito finito se hiciera.
Translation:
“Riu, riu, chiu,” the river bank is protected.
God has kept the wolf from our ewe lamb,
God has kept the wolf from our ewe lamb.
The rabid wolf wanted to bite her,
But Almighty God knew how to defend her.
He willed to make her unable to sin,
But even original sin this virgin did not have
The one who is born is the Great Monarch,
Christ the Patriarch, clothed in flesh,
He has redeemed us by making himself small.
Though he was infinite, he became finite.
O magnum mysterium
Tomás Luis de Victoria
O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum,
Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum iacentem in præsepio.
Beata Virgo cuius viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia.
Translation:
O great mystery and wonderful sacrament,
That animals should see the new-born Lord, lying in a manger.
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Jesus Christ the Lord. Alleluia.
A siolo flasiquiyo
Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla
A siolo flasiquiyo!
Qué manda siol Thome
Tenemo tura trumenta
Templarita cum cunsielta
Sí siolo ven poté
Avisa bosa misé
Que sa lo molemo ya
Cayendo de pularrisa
Y mullendo pol baylá
Llámalo llámalo aplisa
Que a veniro lo branco ya
Y lo niño aspelandosa
Y se alglaiá ha-ha ha-ha
Con lo zambamba ha-ha ha-ha
Con lo guacamole con lo cascavé
Sí siñolo Thome
Repicamo lo rrabe
Ya la panderetivo Anton
Baylalemo lo neglo al son.
Tumbucutú, cutú, cutú
Y toquemo pasito querito
Tumbucutú, cutú, cutú
No pantemo a lo niño Sesú.
Turu neglo de Guinea
Que venimo combirará
A detlá e su criara
Munglavé con su liblea.
Y pluqué lo branco vea
Quere branco nos selvimos
Con vayal de un tamo plimo
Y haleme a lo niño bú.
De mérico y silujano
Se vísta Minguel aplisa
Pues nos culase su clisa
Las helilas con su mano
Bayle el canario y el villano
Mas no pase pol detlás
De mula que da lasas
De toro que dira mú.
Antoniyo con su sayo
Que tluxó re pueltorrico
Saldrá vestiro re mico
Y Minguel de papangayo
Y quando yegue adorayo
Al niño le dira así
Si tu yo lamo pol mi Yo
me aleglamo por tu.
Translation:
“Ah, Mr Francisco!”
“At your command, Mr Tomás!”
“Do we have all the instruments
Tuned up together?”
“Yes sir, you could well
Tell your lady
That the African folk are about to appear,
Falling about with laughter
And dying to start dancing.”
“Call them out right away,
For the fair one has now come,
The resplendent child,
And he will rejoice (ha-ha, ha-ha)
With the zambomba (ha-ha, ha-ha),
With guacambe-dancing and bell-ringing.”
“Yes, Mr Tomás,
We’ll strum the rebec,
And Anton will jingle the tambourine,
And all we African people will dance to their sounds.”
Tumbucutú, cutú, cutú,
And let’s play gently, softly,
Tumbucutú, cutú, cutú,
So we don’t disturb the baby Jesus.
All of us have come from Guinea
And we’ll invite
Andrea and her maid,
And Mongrave in his livery.
And so that the fair one may see
We love white, we’ll dress
In fine, fleecy cotton
And give the babe a bit of a scare.
Let Miguel dress up quickly
As a surgeon,
So the knife in his hand
May heal our wounds.
Dance the canario and the villano,
But don’t step behind
A mule that kicks out,
Nor a bull that goes moo.
Antonio, wearing the smock
He brought from Puerto Rico,
Will come out dressed as a monkey,
And Miguel as a parrot.
And when he goes up to adore
The babe, he’ll say to him,
“If you cry for me,
You’ll make me happy!”
Christmas time is here
Vince Guaraldi, arr. Nick Ashby
Christmastime is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of year
Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and golden times
Of love and dreams to share
Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there
Christmastime is here
Families drawing hear
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Stille Nacht /Silent Night †
Franz Gruber, arr. John Rutter/Keith Roberts
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft, einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar,
Holder Knab’ im lockigen Haar.
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh’,
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh’.
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht.
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Hallelujah,
Tönt es laut von Fern und Nah:
Christ der Retter ist da,
Christ der Retter ist da.
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb’ aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund’,
Christ in deiner Geburt,
Christ in deiner Geburt.
Translation:
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright.
‘Round yon virgin mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild;
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born.
Christ the Savior is born.
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace;
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
God rest ye merry, gentlemen †
Traditional, arr. Geoffrey Keating
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
From God that is our Father
The blessed Angel came;
Unto some certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The blessed babe to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereat this infant lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth efface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.
-Intermission-
Sérénade d’hiver †
Camille Saint-Saëns
La, la, la, etc.
Nous venons pour chanter, Madame,
La Sérénade en votre honneur:
Puissions-nous avoir le bonheur
Que la chanson plaise à votre âme.
Toutes les portes nous sont closes,
Que l’âme du moins s’ouvre à nous,
Qui ne demandons à genoux
Qu’un sourire à vos lèvres roses.
Il vente, il fait froid, mais qu’importe
Si votre visage vermeil
Nous jette un rayon de soleil
Qui nous réchauffe à votre porte.
Du printemps la lumière aimante
Rit chez vous en toute saison,
Et, Madame, en votre maison
Tous les jours le rossignol chante. Ah!
Maintenant voulez-vous connaître
Qui sont ces gens masqués de noir
Vous venant dire le bonsoir
Et chanter sous votre fenêtre?
Daignez apprendre qui nous sommes:
Nos yeux sont cachés sous des loups,
C’est pour mieux rire des jaloux
Mais nous sommes des gentils hommes,
Pleins d’honneur et de courtoisie,
Gardant deux amours en nos coeurs,
Les Dames et la poésie,
La, la, la, etc.
Translation:
La, la, la, etc.
We come to sing, madam,
The serenade in your honor;
May we have the happiness
That the song pleases your soul.
All doors are closed to us,
May the soul open to us,
Who only ask on bended knee
For a smile from your red lips.
The wind blows, it is cold, but what matter
If your rosy face
Casts a ray of sun on us
To warm us at your door.
The balmy light of spring
Smiles in you in all seasons,
And, dear lady, in your house
A nightingale sings every day. Ah!
Now do you wish to know
Who these strangers masked in black are
Coming to bid you good evening
And singing beneath your window?
Deign to learn who we are:
Our eyes are hidden by masks,
The better to laugh at the jealous,
But we are gentle men,
Full of honor and courtesy,
Cherishing two loves in our hearts:
Ladies and poetry.
La, la, la, etc.
When you wish upon a star
Leigh Harline, arr. John Rutter
When a star is born they say
That if you make a wish one day
As dreamers do,
Something good will come to you.
When you wish upon a star,
Makes no difference who you are,
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you.
So if your heart is in your dream,
No request is too extreme,
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do.
(Oh )Fate is kind,
She brings to those who love
All the sweet fulfilment of
Their secret longing.
Like a sudden bolt from the blue,
Fate steps in and sees you through.
(Just believe that) When you wish upon a star
Your dream comes true.
The King's Singers have set the gold standard in a cappella singing on the world’s greatest stages for over 55 years. They are renowned for their unrivalled technique, musicianship and versatility, which stem from the group’s rich heritage and its drive to bring an extraordinary range of new and unique works, collaborations and recordings to life. The King’s Singers’ extensive discography has led to numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a place in Gramophone magazine’s inaugural Hall of Fame.
The King’s Singers were officially formed in 1968 when six recent choral scholars from King’s College, Cambridge gave a concert at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. By chance, the group was made up of two countertenors, a tenor, two baritones and a bass, and the group has stuck to this formation ever since.
In the last few years, the group has recorded a series of diverse, collaborative albums that showcase the huge breadth of their repertoire. One honors two great English Renaissance composers: Thomas Weelkes and William Byrd; another is centered around Romantic music; a third honors 100 years of Disney, with 28 brand-new arrangements of iconic Disney songs; a fourth is a double-album focused on the group’s library of signature ‘close harmony’ arrangements; and another celebrates the group’s extraordinary body of commissioned new music.
Growing the global canon of choral music has always been one of the group's key aims, and The King’s Singers have now commissioned more than 300 works by many of the most prominent composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. These composers include John Tavener, Joe Hisaishi, Judith Bingham, Eric Whitacre, György Ligeti, Luciano Berio, Penderecki and Toru Takemitsu. All this new music joins their body of bespoke a cappella arrangements, including many by King’s Singers past and present.
Alongside their demanding performing and recording schedule – with over 100 concerts worldwide every season – the group leads educational workshops and residential courses across the globe, working with ensembles on their approaches to group singing. To mark their 50th anniversary in 2018, they founded The King’s Singers Global Foundation (based in the USA), to provide a platform to support the creation of new music across multiple disciplines, to coach a new generation of performers, and to provide musical opportunities to people of all backgrounds.