Saturday, December 9, 20177:30 p.m.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church7217 West Broadway Avenue

Brooklyn Park

Sunday, December 10, 20174 p.m.

Saint Paul Seminary Chapel2260 Summit Avenue

Saint Paul

Celebrating the MysteryChoral Music of Advent

and Christmas

SEASON 30

In the Bleak Midwinter

Metropolitan Chamber Strings

arr. Larry Shackley (b. 1956)

Jesus Christ The Apple Tree

The tree of life my soul hath seen,Laden with fruit and always green:The trees of nature fruitless beCompared with Christ the apple tree.

His beauty doth all things excel:By faith I know, but ne’er can tell,The glory which I now can seeIn Jesus Christ the apple tree.

For happiness I long have sought,And pleasure dearly I have bought:I missed of all; but now I see‘Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987)

I’m weary with my former toil,Here I will sit and rest awhile:Under the shadow I will be,Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,It keeps my dying faith alive;Which makes my soul in haste to beWith Jesus Christ the apple tree.

Rorate Caeli

Roráte, caeli, désuper,et nubes pluant iustum.Aperiátur terra,et gérminet Salvatórem.

Michael Joncas (b. 1951)

Send forth dew, O heavens, from above,and let the clouds rain down the Just One;let the earth openand let it bud forth a Savior.

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep SilencePlease Stand — All Sing.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,And with fear and trembling stand;Ponder nothing earthly-minded,For with blessing in his hand,Christ our God to earth descending,Comes our homage to demand.

At His feet the six-winged seraph,Cherubim, with sleepless eye,Veil their faces to the Presence,As with ceaseless voice they cry:Alleluia, Alleluia,Alleluia, Lord Most High!

Please refrain from applause until the conclusion of each half of the program. Thank you!

PROGRAM

Celebrating the MysteryChoral Music of Advent

and Christmas

Sicut Cervus

Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum,Ita desiderat anima mea ad te Deus.

Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina (ca. 1525-1594)

As the deer long for the springs of water,So my soul longs for you, oh God.

O Come All Ye FaithfulPlease Stand — All Sing.

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,Oh come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem;Come and behold Him, born the King of angels:O come let us adore Him. O come let us adore Him.O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultationSing all ye citizens of heav’n above:Glory to God, in the highest, glory!O come let us adore Him. O come let us adore Him. O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Bogoroditse Devo

Bogoróditse Dyévo, ráduisya,Blagodátnaya Maríye, Gospód s tobóyu.Blagoslovyéna ty v zhenákh,i blagoslovyén plod chryéva tvoyevó,yáko Spása rodilá yesí dush náshikh.

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

Rejoice, virgin mother of God,Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.Blessed are you among women,and blessed is the fruit of your womb,for you have borne the Savior of our souls.

Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren

Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren,meine geliebete Seele, das ist mein Begehren.Kommet zuhauf, Psalter und Harfe, wacht auf,lasset den Lobgesang hören!

Lobe den Herren, der alles so herrlich regieret,der dich auf Adelers Fittichen sicher geführet,der dich erhält,wie es dir selber gefällt;hast du nicht dieses verspüret?

Hugo Distler (1908-1942)

Praise to the Lord, the mighty King of Glory;my beloved soul, that is my desire.Come together;psaltery and harp, awake!

Let the song of praise be heard!Praise to the Lord, who rules so gloriously over all,who has led you safely on eagle’s wings,who preserves you, as it pleases you.Have you not perceived this?

Websterfrom ‘An American Thanksgiving’

Come, we who love the Lord,And let our joys be known:Join in a song with sweet accordand thus surround the throne.

Carol Barnett (b. 1949)Text by Isaac Watts

The God that rules on high,That all the earth surveys,That rides upon the stormy skyAnd calms the roaring sea.

Let those refuse to singWho never knew our God;But servants of the heav’nly KingMay speak their joys abroad.

Love Came Down at Christmas

Love came down at Christmas,Love all lovely, Love Divine;Love was born at Christmas,Star and Angels gave the sign.

Edwin Fissinger (1920-1990)Poem by Christina Rossetti

Love shall be our token,Love be yours and Love be mine;Love to God and all men,Love for plea, and gift and sign.

Worship we our Godhead,Love incarnate, Love Divine;Worship we our Jesus,But wherewith for sacred sign?

A Hymn to the VirginChoir II Small Group: Jill Brown, Maryanne Poliseno, Maggie Akhavan, Ann Skemp-Cook, Vernon Hamberg, Jonathan Posthuma, John Kelly & Joe Polta

Of one that is so fair and brightVelut maris stella, [Like the star of the sea,]Brighter than the day is light,Parens et puella: [Mother and children:]I cry to thee, thou see to me,Lady, pray thy Son for me,Tampia, [So tender,]That I may come to thee, Maria.

All this world was forlornEva peccatrice, [Eve having been a sinner,]Till our Lord was y-born,De te genetrice. [Of you, his mother.]With ave it went away,Darkest night, and comes the daySalutis; [Of salvation;]The well springeth out of thee,Virtutis. [Of virtue.]

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Lady flow’r of everything,Rosa sine spina, [Thornless rose,]Thou bare Jesu, Heaven’s King,Gratia divina: [By divine grace:]Of all thou bear’st the prize,Lady, queen of paradise,Electa: [Chosen:]Maid mild, mother es Effecta.Effecta. [You are fulfilled.]

Lauft, ihr Hirten, Allzugleich

PrestoLauft, ihr Hirten, allzugleich,Was Neús werd’ ihr heut’ sehen,Die Nacht ist ganz freudenreich,Tut nur mit mir hingehen.

Im Kripplein dort findt ihr den Ort,Wo’s Kindlein ist geboren,Geht nur fein g’schwind,Euch nit viel b’sinnt,Es sucht, was war verloren.

AllegroSchlaf nur fort, o göttlichs Kind,Mein Herz Dein Wohnung bleibe,Wo es seine Ruhstatt findt,Kein Sünd Dich heraustreibe, schlaf!

Wiegt es nur ein, es muß so sein,Dieses Kripplein ihm gefallet.Lauf nur, mein Seel’,Zum Kripplein schnell,da unser Schuld es zahlet, schlaf!

Johann Michael Haydn (1737-1806)

Hurry, Shepherds, hurry!You shall see something glorious;The night is filled with joy,Come with me.

There in the cradle you will find the placeWhere the Child was born.Go quickly,Do not hesitate;He was born to find what was lost.

Sleep, o heavenly Child,May you find a homeAnd a peaceful resting place in my heart.May no sin chase you away; sleep!

Rock him to sleep,this is the way it must be.This cradle must be to his liking.Hurry, my soul, to the cradle,Since he will redeem us from our sins. Sleep!

INTERMISSION

Sweet Was the Song

Sweet was the song the Virgin sang,When she to Bethlem Juda came,And was delivered of a son,That blessed Jesus hath to name:‘Lulla, lulla, lulla, lullaby, sweet babe,’ sang she,And rocked him sweetly on her knee.

Grayston Ives (b. 1948)

‘Lullaby, lullaby,My son and eke a Saviour born,Who hast vouchsafed from on highTo visit us, that were fornlorn:Lulla, lulla, lulla, lullaby, sweet babe,’ sang she,And rocked him sweetly on her knee.

Lo, How a Rose E’er BloomingPlease Stand — All Sing.

Lo, how a rose e’er blooming,From tender stem hath sprung.Of Jesse’s lineage coming,As men of old have sung;It came, a flow’ret bright,Amid the cold of winter,When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ‘twas foretold it,The Rose I have in mind;With Mary we behold it,The Virgin Mother kind.To show God’s love aright,She bore to us a Savior,When half spent was the night.

Mariä Wiegenlied

Maria sitzt am RosenhagUnd wiegt ihr Jesuskind,Durch die Blätter leiseWeht der warme Sommerwind.

Zu ihren Füssen singtEin buntes Vögelein:Schlaf, Kindlein, süße,Schlaf nun ein!

Hold ist dein Lächeln,Holder deines Schlummers Lust,Leg dein müdes KöpfchenFest an deiner Mutter Brust!Schlaf, Kindlein, süße,Schlaf nun ein!

Max Reger (1873-1916)Text by Martin Boelitz

Mary sits in the rosegroveAnd rocks her child Jesus.Softly through the leavesBlows a warm summer wind

At her feet singsA colorful little bird.Sleep, child, my sweet,Just go to sleep!

Lovely is your smile,Lovely is your joy in slumber.Lay your tired little headAgainst your mother’s breast!Sleep, child, my sweet,Just go to sleep!

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

Metropolitan Chamber Strings

arr. Larry Shackley (b. 1956)

Locus Iste

Locus iste a Deo factus est,inaestimabile sacramentum,irreprehensibilis est.

Anton Bruckner (1824-1918)

This place was made by God,a priceless sacrament;it is without reproach.

Weihnachten

Frohlocket, ihr Völker aud Erden, und preiset Gott!Der Heiland ist erschienen, den der Herr verheissen.Er hat seine Gerechtigkeit der Welt offenbaret.Hallelujah!

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Rejoice, you people on earth, and praise God!The Savior has appeared, as the Lord promised.He has revealed to the world his righteousness.Hallelujah!

Otche Nash

Otche nash, izhe yesi na nebeseh,Da sviatitsia imia Tvoye,Da priidet, Tsarstviye Tvoye.Da budet volia Tvoya,Yako na nebesi i na zemli.

Hleb nash nasushchniy dazhd nam dnes,I ostavi nam dolgi nasha,yakozhe i mi ostavliayem dolzhnikom nashim:I ne vvedi nas vo iskusheniye,no izbavi nas ot lukavago. Amin.

Joshua G. Nice (b. 1982)

Our Father, who art in heaven,Hallowed be Thy name.Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth,as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,and forgive us our debts,as we forgive our debtors;and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Jauchzet dem Herrn, alle Lande

Jauchzet dem Herrn, alle Lande,Dienet dem Herrn mit Freuden.Denn das Wort ward FleischUnd wohnete unter unsUnd wir sahen seine HerrlichkeitAls des Eingebornen vom Vater,Voller Gnade und Wahrheit.Ich danke dir, Herr, und erzähle alle deine Wunder.

Heinrich von Herzogenberg (1843-1900)

Shout to the Lord, all ye nations,Serve ye the Lord with gladness.For the word was fleshAnd dwelt among us in truth,And we saw his glorious majesty, the great majestyOf the only Son of the Father,Full of graces and faithful.I thank thee, O Lord, and declare now all thy mighty wonders.

Joseph, lieber mein

Joseph, lieber Joseph mein,Hilf mir wiegen mein Kindelein.Sause, liebes Kindelein, Eia.Sunt impleta, quae praedixit Gabriel, Eia.Virgo Deum genuit, Quem divina voluit clementia.Joseph, lieber mein,Hilf mir wiegen mein Kindelein.

arr. Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654)

Joseph, dearest Joseph mine,Help me cradle my little child.Sighs the gentle little child, Eia.That which Gabriel predicted is fulfilled, Eia.God descended, virgin born,He, through whom the Father’s love is come to us.Joseph, dearest Joseph mine,Help me cradle my little child.

Almighty Father

Almighty Father, incline Thine ear:Bless us and all those who have gathered here.Thine angel send usWho shall defend us all.And fill with graceAll who dwell in this place. Amen.

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)Text by Stephen Schwartz

Stille NachtPlease Stand — All Sing.

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!

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!

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht.Nur das traute hochheilige Paar,Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Beatus vir (Psalm 112)from ‘Vesperae solennes de confessore,’ K. 339Solists: Megan Girgen, Maggie Akhavan, Vernon Hamberg, Thomas Friebe

Beatus vir qui timet Dominum,In mandatis ejus volet nimis.Potens in terra erit semen ejus,Generatio rectorum benedicetur.Gloria et divitiae in domo ejus,Et justitia ejus manetIn saeculum saeculi.Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis,Misericors et miserator et justus.Jucundus homo,Qui miseretur et commodat,Disponet sermones suos in judicio.Quia in aeternum non commovebitur.In memoria aeterna erit justus,Ab auditione mala non timebit.Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino.Confirmatum est cor ejus;Non commovebiturDonec despiciat inimicos suos.Dispersit, dedit pauperibus,Justitia ejus manetIn saeculum saeculi.Cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria.Peccator videbit et irascetur,Dentibus suis fremet et tabescet,Desiderium peccatorum peribit.Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper.Et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,Who greatly delights in His commandments.His seed will be potent on the earth,The generation of the righteous will be blessed.Glory and wealth will be in his house,And his righteousness will endureFrom generation to generation.A light has arisen in the dark for the upright,Merciful, compassionate, and just.Happy is the manWho is compassionate and generous,Who chooses his words with discretion;For he will never be disturbed.The just will be eternally remembered,And will not fear evil tidings.His heart is ready to trust in the Lord.His heart is strenghened;He will not be troubledUntil he looks down upon his enemies.He disperses and gives to the poor,His righteousness will endureFrom generation to generation.His horn will be exalted in glory.The sinner will see and be angered,Will gnash his teeth and sulk;The desires of sinners will perish.Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and forever, and for generations of generations. Amen.

Joy to the world!Please Stand — All Sing.

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;Let earth receive her King;Let every heart prepare Him room,And heaven and nature sing,And heaven and nature sing,And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

He rules the world with truth and grace,And makes the nations proveThe glories of His righteousness,And wonders of His love,And wonders of His love,And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;Let men their songs employ;While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plainsRepeat the sounding joy,Repeat the sounding joy,Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

Soprano

Jill BrownMaria CreaJen GanancioMegan GirgenRegina HansonGreta JennissenLynn LeMoineMaryanne Poliseno*Becky SchneiderTess Wang

Tenor

John Chambers DunnJosh CountrymanVernon Hamberg*Patrick MoeAdam PetroskiJonathan Posthuma

Alto

Maggie Akhavan*Madeline CacciatoreWhitney DeLongMarlene DingmannKaty HusbyMarianne McCoyAnna McGeeAnn Skemp-CookCarlaJoy StrandKayla Ward

Bass

Michael ChambersTyler ForsytheThomas FriebeMichael KaramanJohn Kelly *Joe PoltaJohn SauerMichael Steiner

*Denotes Section Leader

The Singers

About KantoreiDirected by Axel Theimer since its inception in 1988, Kantorei is one of the premier a cappella choral ensembles in Minnesota. The choir’s approach to singing, with an integral focus on vocal freedom, allows the singers to communicate the emotional and expressive content of music and text with natural beauty. Kantorei’s mission is to share a passion for lifelong singing, with emphasis on distinctive and diverse choral literature. Learn more about the ensemble at www.kantorei.net.

Metropolitan Chamber Strings has over 15 years experience in the music industry, playing in concert with some of the most prestigious orchestras and groups in the Midwest. Learn more about MCS at their website: mcsbyrequest.com.

Metropolitan Chamber StringsViolin 1: Zach SaathoffViolin 2: Emily SaathoffViola: Patrick GallagherCello: Jeff ErblandBass: Eric Solberg

John Sauer, PresidentJoBeth Pike-Ranfranz, Vice PresidentRebecca Robinson, TreasurerMichelle Plombon, DirectorDonna Hackler, DirectorJoe Polta, Singer DirectorAxel Theimer, ex officio

Bob Peskin, Executive Director, Minnesota ChoraleGeorge Berglund, Conductor, Golden Valley SymphonyHerbert Engelmayer, Director, Vienna Community ArtsJim Dorn, Liturgist, St. Benedict’s (Richmond, VA)Larry Haeg, Retired Executive, Wells FargoCarol Barnett, Composer

Board of Directors Board of Advisors

May your holiday season be filled with joyful music –

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year from Kantorei!

Dr. Axel Theimer is a native of Austria, where he was a member of the Vienna Boys Choir, and is now in his 48th year on the music faculty at St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict. He received much of his training in Vienna, continued his studies at Saint John’s University and completed graduate degrees at the University of Minnesota, with an MFA in Choral Conducting (student of Dr. Thomas Lancaster) and a DMA in Vocal Performance (student of Roy Schuessler).

Axel is an active recitalist and has presented master classes, workshops and seminars for state, regional, national and international music conventions and conferences. He has conducted All State Choirs, Choral Festivals and Honor Choirs throughout the United States and Asia.

At St. Ben’s and St. John’s he directs the CSB/SJU Chamber Choir and SJU Men’s Chorus and teaches choral conducting and vocal pedagogy.

Dr. Theimer is founder and music director of Kantorei (kantorei.net). In addition to his professional activities at CSB/SJU, he is also music director of Amadeus Chamber Symphony, a chamber orchestra for Central Minnesota musicians and audiences. He is on the faculty, and is currently Executive Director of The VoiceCare Network (www.voicecarenetwork.org). In 2001, he received the ACDA-MN Choir Director of the Year Award and was inducted to the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s “MMEA Hall of Fame” in 2004. He is the 2011 recipient of the ACDA-MN F. Melius Christiansen Lifetime Achievement Award.

Original compositions and arrangements for Men’s Chorus, Women’s, Mixed and Children’s Choir are published by and available from Alliance Publications, Inc. Fish Creek, WI (www.apimusic.org).

Axel Theimer, Artistic Director

Gifts of $500-$2,000Anonymous (2)John KellyJoBeth & Mike RanfranzDr. Axel Theimer

Gifts of $250-$499Jill BrownMichelle PlombonAnn Skemp-CookFr. John Sauer

Gifts of $100-$249Anonymous (2)Maggie & Dariush AkhavanJack & Joyce Alwin Brian FulfordJean HaskellTerry Hoopman Joseph PoltaEverett VassJohn VilanderJill Warner

Gifts up to $99Anonymous (4)David AngerJoseph CapistrantC.A. ChallmannWhitney DeLongJohn Chambers DunnKeith & Debora EdstromTyler ForsytheDeborah HacklerDonna HacklerAnne Marie HansonRegina HansonSteven HofferberKen and Joyce JensonJill JepsonJoey-Rose JesterTom KachelmacherGerhard KnutsonJoseph & Marsha MansurKathee & Eugene MartinsonMarianne McCoyShannon McDonoughLouis Meerwald

This list represents donations through November 16, 2017. If you believe we’ve made an error in our listing, please email us at info@kantorei.net.

As an all-volunteer choir and nonprofit organization, Kantorei salutes the individuals whose generosity and leadership has allowed us to share our passion for singing. You are what keeps us singing for a lifetime!

Special Thanks to our Donors

Donations from our generous supporters make it possible for Kantorei to remain a vibrant organization, bringing the glorious sound of a cappella choral music to our community. Ticket revenue accounts for only 20% of the cost of our concerts, so your support is vital to our future. Recurring donations are especially helpful in providing a steady, reliable stream of funding. To donate, please visit our website at kantorei.net/contact/donate, or mail to us at P.O. Box 4263 Saint Paul, MN 55104.

Become a Donor

Jennifer MohrlandRon PearsonMichelle PlombonJoseph PoltaJonathan PosthumaVictoria ReinhardtMary SakaloskyCraig StrandBob & Pat VogtJohn VilandreKayla WardLinda Weinmann

This year, we are excited to celebrate a milestone in our history as a choral ensemble — our 30th anniversary! When a few alumni of St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict’s gathered under the leadership of Axel Theimer in 1988, there would be no way of knowing that Kantorei would become one of the premiere choral ensembles in the Upper Midwest. Over the last thirty years Kantorei has explored a wide variety of music rooted in the European choral tradition.

This season, we return to many favorites from the first season through today. Some of these pieces have become signature pieces that our audiences love and to which we return year after year; others reveal the unique programming for which Kantorei has become known; and, as always, there are a few new discoveries we know you will enjoy. We hope that you will join us at our other appearances this year as we celebrate the past and savor the present. Thank you for supporting Kantorei!

SEASON 30

SEASON 30

UPCOMINGAPPEARANCES

Kantorei Gala Saturday, February 10 | 7 p.m.

Minneapolis Woman’s Club

Spring Concerts Saturday, May 5 | 7:30 p.m.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church Hopkins

Sunday, May 6 | 4 p.m. Saint Paul Seminary Chapel

Saint Paul

Tickets, repertoire, and concert details at kantorei.net and 612-21-SINGS (612-212-4647).

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