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Riu, Riu, Chiu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Burrows, arr .

The Pasture from Frostiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Randall Thompson

Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Hayes, arr .

Kirkland Choral Society is grateful to receive support from 4Culture King County Lodging Tax

~ Beckoning ~

Kirkland Choral Society Seiko Inada Werts, Virtual Artistic Director

Doug Werts, tenor Samuel Vijarro, congas Cailey Kudrna, soprano Kai Chinn, tambourine

Gesù Bambino (The Infant Jesus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pietro A . Yon

The Seal Lullaby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Whitacre

O Holy Night (sing-along) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . René Clausen, arr .

Hayley Peters, soprano Carmen Nemeth, sopranoBex Worrich, alto Patty Anderson, altoJohn La Fond, tenor Doug Werts, tenorDavid Barber, bass Gus Blazek, bass

Dedicated to Douglas Roach and Ruby Blondell, dear members of the KCS family.

~ Comforting ~

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kirby Shaw, arr .

Christmas in Three Quarter Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Brymer, arr .

Sure On This Shining Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morten Lauridsen

~ Celebrating ~

Carmen Nemeth, soprano John La Fond, tenor

Premiere Online: December 12, 2020, 7:30 p .m . PST Available to stream: December 12 – 31, 2020

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A Message from the Artistic Director

Dear Kirkland Choral Society Community,

Thank you for your continued support of Kirkland Choral Society. I hope you are all staying safe and well.

I am honored to introduce the most unusual Holiday Concert in our 32-year history. This project is the result of the dedication and countless hours of hard work by our members, our section leaders, our accompanist, and especially our Virtual Artistic Director, the brilliant Seiko Inada Werts.

Long before any of us had heard of COVID-19, I had planned a sabbatical for the 2020-2021 concert season. When it became clear that this season must take place virtually, the Board of Directors and I turned to the strength of our community for help. You see, we needed someone with just the right combination of musical talent, technical know-how, strength of character, and love for KCS. And Seiko Werts was exactly the right person for this momentous task.

I have been continually amazed and delighted to watch this project take shape, and I can hardly wait to see and hear the final result, which I, along with you, will now experience for the first time. May this virtual musical celebration be a reminder that we really are all in this together, we will sing again, and we will recover from this difficult time, stronger than we were before.

It is with great pleasure and pride that I introduce to you our 2020 Holiday Concert: At Home with KCS.

Dr. Glenn R. Gregg

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Welcome to At Home With KCS, our first virtual holiday concert. We hope this concert connects our hearts through music, even though we are not together in the concert hall this year. There is one unexpected upside: we can share our music and joy with you, no matter your geographical location.

We have all been deeply affected by the current pandemic and related limitations. All 91 organizations in our local Greater Seattle Choral Consortium were simultaneously halted by COVID-19 in March. At KCS, we asked ourselves: how can we make it possible to sing together, when singing is a “super-spreader" activity? How can we stay engaged with our KCS community in this difficult time?

A virtual concert was the answer—but that is not as easy as it sounds! First of all, there is a delay called “latency” inherent in internet communications, which makes it impossible for a group to sing together online. So, we each had to record ourselves separately and then Seiko used software to "mix" the recordings together to create our KCS signature sound.

Second, singing together in a group is a very different experience from standing alone, looking at yourself in a monitor, and singing without the support of any singers next to you—who keep you in tune, coordinate with your breathing, and make you more confident by their very presence.

Third were the technical challenges of setting up the camera, microphone, lighting, music score, computer screen to watch the conductor, and earbuds or headphones to eliminate the echo. Not to mention the backdrop, appearance and wardrobe choices!

Finally, choir singers are not usually soloists, and many of us had to overcome a dislike or fear of listening to our own voices. All of us were well out of our comfort zones.

Seiko enthusiastically encouraged us via weekly pre-recorded online rehearsals that all singers could access as often as they needed. Rehearsals consisted of excellent warm up exercises by our Associate Conductor Heather Arnold, followed by Seiko's artistic advice for each song, and "Guide Tracks" for singers to rehearse and record their voices.

To create "Guide Tracks," Seiko "mixed" recordings of herself conducting a scrolling section of the score, accompanist Cori Belle playing piano and Core Singers

Program NotesBy Seiko Inada Werts and Jody Harris

singing each voice part. With this mix, the remaining KCS singers could hear a "chorus" of sorts through our earbuds as we practiced and recorded ourselves.

Some KCS members who didn’t participate in singing found other ways to stay involved behind the scenes, such as serving on the Board, on the Narration and Storyboard team, or tuning in to weekly post-rehearsal Zoom socials. Our most important goals were to have fun, stay connected, create a high-quality concert, and keep singing to maintain our voices for the live performances we will appreciate so much more after this hard time ends.

It is a great delight to present the final results of all our efforts to you today! The concert is divided into three segments, evocative of the spirit of the holidays: beckoning us to trust and follow, comforting our loved ones and those in need, and celebrating our blessings.

Beckoning

The star of Bethlehem is the classic symbol of trust, invitation, and hope for the future. We stand now as the shepherds may have done, looking toward uncertain times ahead but encouraged by the songs of the angels proclaiming love and light. "Riu, Riu, Chiu" is a lively, upbeat Spanish carol. It has its roots in the 16th century Catholic Church, and more recently has become popular for Spanish families to sing at Christmas gatherings.

"The Pasture," set by Randall Thompson to the poetry of Robert Frost, uses the imagery of the solicitous mother cow to evoke a feeling of protection and caring. As the farmer cares for his land, we observe and cherish traditional domestic chores as we care for each other.

The Christmas spiritual "Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow!" is a great favorite of KCS members and has been sung by the full choir, small ensemble, and KCS Chamber Singers at holiday concerts and on Argosy's Christmas Ship. Mark Hayes’ enthusiastic arrangement makes our hearts sing for joy and bask in the light of hope!

Comforting

Restful sleep, a mother’s nurturing, unconditional love… let the words and music of the following lullabies wash over us like a healing wave. Though we may only be able to give “air hugs” right now, we can send our thoughts of peace and comfort to all, near and far.

(continued on next page)

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SopranoHeather Arnold ✧ Elena Camerini Julianna Dutro ✧ Rebecca Evans Jody Harris Connie Hutchison Cailey Kudrna Frida Kumar ✧ Audrey Kyle ✧ Candace McKenna Carmen Nemeth ✧ Hayley Peters ✧ Michelle Poage Jane Rohrer Stephanie Smith ✧ Nickie Wallace Hazel Wolf Bex Worrich ✧

AltoPatty Anderson ✧ Ardyth BathHurst Laura Belcher Marianna de Fazio Cathy Dodd Susan Finn Sandy Joy Goldstein Jenny Hughart ✧ Birgit Jokela ✧ Suzanne Kagen Ida Kearney Michele Kefgen Karin Keis Cindy Klassen Michelle Lund Cathy McCarty Ann Osterberg Sandee Palmquist Mary Pneuman Sharon Sherrard Tommie Zabrowski

✧ = Core Singer

Kirkland Choral SocietyBassDavid Barber ✧ Dana Birkby ✧ Gus Blazek ✧ Rick Commo Shawn Hargreaves ✧ Stuart Jennings Matthew Kearns ✧ Patrick Kennedy ✧ Dan Perry Peter S. Pesco Ben Schreiber Paul Smetko

TenorJosh Elkin Brandon Higa ✧ David Hopkins John La Fond ✧ Ted Rhoades Stewart Smith Douglas Werts ✧

Stuart Jennings, President Shawn Hargreaves, Vice President Susan Finn, Treasurer Michelle Lund, Secretary

Heather Arnold Audrey Kyle John La Fond Candace McKenna Kim Van Allsburg Nickie Wallace

Board of Directors

Concert Storyboard and NarrationJody HarrisWalayn SharplesMarianna de Fazio

The Italian Christmas carol "Gesù Bambino" gently celebrates the rapturous delight of Jesus' birth.

In "The Seal Lullaby," iconic choral composer Eric Whitacre set the words of Rudyard Kipling to a serene lullaby that sways to the rhythm of the sea. Drift away and recall fond memories as you “sleep in the arms of the slow swinging seas.”

And we invite you, our audience, to join us in singing the classic carol "O Holy Night." You each can be one of the angel voices, singing in awe of the night divine!

Celebrating

This year’s celebrations may require an enhanced level of creativity, but they will be delightful nonetheless. The next suite of songs takes us on a roller-coaster of joys, from fond, trouble-free memories, to city lights and fun

in the snow, to the awesome glory of nature and the universe.

The incomparable Judy Garland first sang "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in 1944’s movie, Meet Me in St. Louis. The song bids goodbye to all our troubles—a sentiment we can surely use until our faithful friends can “gather near to us once more”!

The holiday medley "Christmas in Three Quarter Time" is another favorite from our Christmas Ship sailings. "The Christmas Waltz," "Silver Bells," and "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" work beautifully together in this showy holiday collection!

And finally, we celebrate the great gifts of our Earth and our Universe. We "weep for wonder"! Our revered local composer Morten Lauridsen created a celestial masterpiece in "Sure On This Shining Night."

(Program Notes, continued from previous page)

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With over 100 auditioned singers, Kirkland Choral Society is one of the premier symphonic choral groups in the Puget Sound region. Now in its 32nd season, the Choral Society’s repertoire emphasizes the great masterworks for chorus and orchestra and includes a wide variety of fine repertoire, including music by the leading composers of our day. Recently, KCS has commissioned and performed the world premiere of significant new works by Kirke Mechem, Ola Gjeilo, Carol Barnett, Donald Skirvin and John Muehleisen. For the past seven seasons, KCS has maintained a partnership with one of Seattle’s finest chamber orchestras, Philharmonia Northwest, regularly performing the great works for chorus and orchestra at Benaroya Hall. The Choral Society also includes a Chamber Singers ensemble drawn from the larger chorus, performing unaccompanied

choral repertoire, and music suited to smaller ensembles and venues. For information about booking KCS singers for your event, corporate donations, auditions, volunteering, or group ticket rates, email president@KirklandChoralSociety.org. Visit us online at KirklandChoralSociety.org.

Artistic Director Dr. Glenn R. Gregg has been a professional in the field of choral conducting for over 38 years. He began piano lessons at age 8, and went on to study violin, trumpet, horn, oboe, and guitar, before focusing on piano performance at California State University, Northridge, earning a Bachelor’s degree in 1985. His first choral conducting position came in 1982, and he has been directing choirs professionally ever since. During his college years, Glenn also played keyboards with the band Entourage at various jazz clubs in the L.A. area, and in a live television performance on The Merv Griffin Show. In addition to his piano performance degree, Glenn holds a Master of Music in Choral

Conducting from CSUN where he served as the Graduate Teaching Assistant to John Alexander, and prepared choruses for performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1994, Glenn earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, studying with Abraham Kaplan. Dr. Gregg began his relationship with Kirkland Choral Society in 1997 when the group was a small, non-auditioned chorus. He became Artistic Director in 1999, and under his leadership KCS has grown to become one of the finest large choral ensembles in the Puget Sound region, with a primary focus on the great masterworks for chorus and orchestra. Dr. Gregg is now in his 23rd season with KCS.

Associate Conductor Heather Arnold holds a Bachelor of Music degree with vocal emphasis from Old Dominion University, earned her Master of Education degree from Lesley University, and is a National Board Certified teacher. Mrs. Arnold has enjoyed serving as the Associate Conductor with KCS since 2007. This is her 27th year of teaching and she is the music specialist at Sunrise Elementary in the Northshore School District. She loves to bring her joy of music to young people, and previously directed the Prima Youth Choir with the Columbia Choirs organization. She enjoys being a guest soloist with local community and church choirs, as well as with KCS.

Accompanist Cori Belle’s collaborative work includes world premieres across the United States with the United Voices of Antioch; music directing at Second Story Repertory and Studio East; and choral accompanying. In 2018 Cori released her solo classical album, Commonplace Beauty, to critical acclaim. International Piano called it “a beautifully constructed programme.” Recently she appeared as soloist with Kirkland Civic Orchestra. Cori earned her Piano Performance degree from Grand Canyon University with additional studies at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. She lives on Seattle’s

Eastside with her husband Corey and their three daughters.

Kirkland Choral Society

mailto:president%40KirklandChoralSociety.org?subject=mailto:president%40KirklandChoralSociety.org?subject=http://KirklandChoralSociety.org

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Virtual Artistic Director

Virtual Artistic Director Seiko Inada Werts, a native of Hiroshima, Japan, graduated from Hiroshima Jogakuin University with a Bachelor of Arts in American and English Literature. During her 22 years teaching high school English in Hiroshima, she loved to write and direct musicals for her students, as well as directing her choir for adult women, Choir Iris. Seiko began singing during college and now is a soloist in great demand, performing in church, house, and solo concerts in Japan and the United States.

In 2010 Seiko moved to the Pacific Northwest where she joined Kirkland Choral Society as a soprano and quickly assumed more responsibility as occasional accompanist. She is also an accomplished arranger and a member of ASCAP. In 2015 Seiko was asked by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give a concert in Tokyo for female United Nations Ambassadors and spouses of ambassadors. Seiko is a multi-talented musician who thrives when working in collaboration with others. Seiko was selected to spearhead KCS’s first virtual concert to take advantage of her technological skill, warm inspiring personality, and impeccable musical sensibility.

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TextsRiu, Riu, ChiuSpanish VillancicoArranged by Mark Burrows

Riu riu chiu, la guarda ribera. Dios guardo el lobo de nuestra cordera. (One possible translation is: Riu, riu, chiu, the guard by the river. God has protected our lamb from the wolf.)

Shepherds in the fields were watching flocks by night, When an angel chorus brought news of love and light. Glory in the highest. What wondrous words they bring. Let us lift our voices and with the angels sing.

The Pasturefrom Frostiana Words by Robert Frost Music by Randall Thompson

I'm going out to clean the pasture spring; I'll only stop to rake the leaves away (And wait to watch the water clear, I may): I sha'n't be gone long.—You come too.

I'm going out to fetch the little calf That's standing by the mother. It’s so young It totters when she licks it with her tongue. I sha'n't be gone long.—You come too.

Gesù Bambino (The Infant Jesus)Music by Pietro A. Yon Words by Frederick H. Martens Italian version by Pietro A. Yon

When blossoms flowered 'mid the snows Upon a winter night Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose The King of Love and Light.

The angels sang, the shepherds sang The grateful earth rejoiced And at His blessed birth the stars Their exultation voiced.

O come let us adore Him Christ the Lord.

Again the heart with rapture glows To greet the holy night That gave the world its Christmas Rose Its King of Love and Light.

Let ev'ry voice acclaim His name The grateful chorus swell From paradise to earth He came That we with Him might dwell.

O come let us adore Him Christ the Lord.

Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow!Spiritual Arranged by Mark Hayes

Rise up, shepherd, Rise up, shepherd, and follow!

There’s a star in the East on Christmas morn; Rise up, shepherd, and follow! It will lead to the place where the Savior’s born; Rise up, shepherd, and follow!

Leave your sheep and leave your lambs; Rise up, shepherd, and follow! Leave your ewes and leave your rams; Rise up, shepherd, and follow!

Follow, follow! Rise up, shepherd, and follow! Follow the star of Bethlehem; Rise up, shepherd, and follow!

Follow, follow! Follow, follow that star.

Rise up, shepherd, Rise up, shepherd, and follow!

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TextsThe Seal LullabyWords by Rudyard Kipling Music by Eric Whitacre

Oh! hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us, And black are the waters that sparkled so green. The moon o'er the combers, looks downward to find us At rest in the hollows that rustle between. Where billow meets billow, there soft be thy pillow; Ah weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease! The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee, Asleep in the arms of the slow swinging seas.

O Holy Night (sing-along)Text by Placide Clappeau (1847) Translation by John Sullivan Dwight (1812-1893) Music by Adolphe Adam (1803-1856) Arranged by René Clausen

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Savior's birth; Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks, the new and glorious morn;

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born. O night, O holy night, O night divine.

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. Led by a star, above them brightly gleaming, Appeared the wise men from far Eastern land.

The King of Kings lay in a lowly manger, to us this day is born to be our God:

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born. O night divine, O night, O night divine.

Have Yourself a Merry Little ChristmasWords and music by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane Arranged by Kirby Shaw

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Let your heart be light. From now on Our troubles will be out of sight.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Make the yuletide gay. From now on Our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days, Happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us Gather near to us once more.

Through the years we all will be together, If the fates allow. Hang a shining star Upon the highest bough, And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Donations to

Kirkland Choral Society are gratefully accepted at

kirklandchoralsociety.org/donations

http://kirklandchoralsociety.org/donations

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Texts

The Christmas WaltzWords by Sammy Cahn Music by Jule Styne

Frosted window panes, Candles gleaming inside, Painted candy canes on the tree. Santa's on his way, He's filled his sleigh with things, Things for you and for me.

It's that time of year When the world falls in love, Every song you hear seems to say: “Merry Christmas, May your New Year dreams come true.” And this song of mine, In three-quarter time, Wishes you and yours The same thing too.

Silver BellsFrom the Paramount Picture The Lemon Drop Kid Words and music by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans

Silver bells, silver bells, It's Christmas time in the city. Ring-a-ling, hear them ring, Soon it will be Christmas day.

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks Dressed in holiday style. In the air there's a feeling of Christmas. Children laughing, people passing, Meeting smile after smile. And on every street corner you hear:

Silver bells, silver bells, Soon it will be Christmas day.

The Most Wonderful Time of the YearWords and music by Eddie Pola and George Wyle

It's the most wonderful time of the year. With the kids jingle-belling And everyone telling you be of good cheer, It's the most wonderful time of the year.

It's the hap-happiest season of all. With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings When friends come to call, It's the hap-happiest season of all.

There'll be parties for hosting, Marshmallows for roasting And caroling out in the snow. There'll be scary ghost stories And tales of the glories Of Christmases long ago!

It's the most wonderful time of the year. There'll be much mistletoeing And hearts will be glowing When loved ones are near. It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas in Three Quarter TimeArranged by Mark Brymer

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Texts

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Sure On This Shining NightWords by James AgeeMusic by Morten Lauridsen

Sure on this shining night Of starmade shadows round, Kindness must watch for me This side the ground.

The late year lies down the north. All is healed, all is health. High summer holds the earth. Hearts all whole.

Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder Wand'ring far alone Of shadows on the stars.

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