Fall, 2003: From Babylon to Boston: Pieces about Places

 

 

From Babylon to Boston:

Pieces about Places

 

 

 

I. Geographical Fugue                                                             Ernst Toch (1887-1964)

 

II. Songs from Renaissance Europe

      (Austria): Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen             Heinrich Isaac (c. 1450-1517)

Innsbruck, I must leave you; I am going on my way into a foreign land.

My joy is taken from me, I know not how to regain it, while in such misery.

 

I must now endure great pain which I confide only to my dearest love.

O beloved, find pity in your heart for me, that I must part from you.

 

My comfort above all other women, I shall always be yours, forever faithful in honor true.

May the good Lord protect you and keep you in your virtue for me, till I return.

 

         (Spain): Triste EspaÐa                                              Juan del Encina (1468-c. 1530)

Sad Spain, without a future, all should weep for you.,

Forsaken by joy, which is never to return to you!

Soloist: Sveta Kagan

 

      (Italy): Italia mia                                                Philippe Verdelot (c. 1480-c. 1530)

My Italy, although speech does not aid those mortal wounds, so many of which

I see in your lovely body, I wish at least my sighs to be such as the Tiber and Arno

hope for, and the Po, where I now sit sorrowful and sad. Ruler of Heaven, I beg

that the mercy that made you come to earth may now make you turn to your beloved,

holy country. See, nobel Lord, from what trivial causes comes such cruel war;

the hearts that proud fierce Mars makes hard and closed, Father, do open and soften

and free. Cause your truth (though I am unworthy) to be heard there through my tongue.

 

      (Iceland): Thule, the Period of Cosmography    Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623)

Thule [Iceland], the period of cosmography,  doth vaunt of [the volcano] Hecla whose sulphureous fire doth melt the frozen clime and thaw the sky. Trinacian [SicilyÍs] AetnaÍs flames ascend not higher. These things seem wondrous, but more wondrous I, whose heart with fear doth freeze, with love doth fry.

 

The Andalusian merchant that returns, laden with cochineal and China dishes, reports in Spain how strangely [the volcano] Fogo burns amidst an ocean full of flying fishes. These things seem wondrousƒ

 

 

III. Americana

      Four Pastorales                                                                                                  Cecil Effinger (1914-90)

            No Mark

            Noon

            Basket

            Wood

Carol Panofsky, oboe

 

IV. Eastern Europe

      Three Moravian Songs                                                                 Karel Husa (b. 1921)

            Sunrise                                                                                                                

There is the sun, climbing bright skies; my dearest love, open your eyes.

Till you are here, sad is my heart; hurry to me, never to part.

            Good Night                                                                                                        

Good night, my dearest; sleep gently.

            Aspen Leaves                                                                                                    

When the leaves fade on the aspen tree one day, they just flutter to the ground

and then the wind blows them away. When the time comes, when the golden

years end, shall I also like the aspen leaves grow faded and unbending?

Dear beloved, hear me, come what may; never let our love grow faded,

rather let it flutter away.

 

INTERMISSION

 

V. From Babylon to Boston

      Super flumine Babylonis (Psalm 137)                 Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

            (See translation below)

      Al naharot Bavel (Psalm 137)                                                      Salamone Rossi

By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion.

Upon the willows in the midst thereof we hung up our harps. For there they

that led us captive asked of us words of song, and our tormentors asked of us mirth:

ñSing us one of the songs of Zion.î But how shall we sing the LordÍs song in a foreign land?

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. Let my tongue cleave

to the roof of my mouth if I remember thee not; if I set not Jerusalem above my chiefest joy. Remember, O Lord, against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem, who said,

ñRase it, rase, even to the foundation thereof.î O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, happy shall he be that repayeth thee as thou hast served us.

Soloists: Maria Stolz, Susana Wessling, Jas Cluff,

Alan Miller, Sveta Kagan, Michael Vojvoda

 

      Lament for Boston                                                                      William Billings

Soloists: Harry Mack, Willow Manspeaker

 

      Babylone (text by Paul Claudel)                                                   Darius Milhaud

She is fallen, great Babylon! If God does not build the house or guard the city, it is in vain that it was built; it is in vain that they labored to build it, and that they labored to labor, those who built it. I, Jean, heard the voice of an eagle in the midst of the air, who cried, ñWoe! Calamity!î because God suddenly thought again of her and held a goblet to her lips, a large chalice filled with wine; and the fire in it had not evaporated. All who stand at a distance will say, trembling, ñWoe! Calamity!î Perished is her port, her storehouses, her workshops, her boutiques, and there is no one to buy what she sells. Merchandise of silver and gold and of stones, precious and purple; and of odoriferous wood and ivory and all sort of metals and designs; and cinnamon and perfumes and gems and incense; and wine and oil and wheat flour and beasts of burden and sheep; and the souls of men. And you, heaven: Rejoice over her! Martyrs, emit cries of joy over her! Because God avenged your cause on her. She is perished, great Babylon! She is fallen!

Soloists: Kathy Caton, David Cosby

 

VI. Songs from ye olde countrie

      Londonderry Air (ñDanny Boyî)                   arr. by Percy Grainger (1882-1961)

 

      Loch Lomond                                                                     arr. by David Overton

Soloists: Jas Cluff, Dan Landry

 

      Alister McAlpineÍs Lament               arr. by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

 

VI. Songs from Argentina

      Viento norte (Northern Wind)                                    Carlos Guastavino (b. 1912)

Ripping through the wooded hills over the dunes, the northern wind screams its cry in the quebracho woods. A heavy string of bamboo, thorny bushes, and chilcales, play the agony of the fire in the red afternoon. Air like the forge, winds of fire, burning miles and miles all through February. The wind blows, fire in its breath, cracked land, thirsty man. The earth is charred, my hope is wounded, northern wind, low is the river, dry are its banks. My poor tired land! My sweat will not be enough to see you grow again with the miracle of the flowering pampas.

 

      Primavera PorteÐa (Spring in Buenos Aires)                   Astor Piazzolla (1921-92)

Irene Herrmann, piano

Isaac Anderson, percussion

 

Ariose Personnel Leta Miller, director Kathryn Adkins Jaeleen Bennis Kathy Caton Jas Cluff David Cosby Rosella Crawford-Bathurst Svetlana Kagan Dan Landry Harry Mack Willow Manspeaker Michael McGushin Alan Miller Patrick North Maria Stolz Michael Vojvoda Susana Wessling

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