Christmas Program 2014 Songs

This year we will be singing some of our favorites. What Child by Paul Lohman, a new melodic setting of the old favorite Greensleeves seasonal text, along with Come Watch with Us this Christmas Night by K. Lee Scott which causes us to ponder how we of the modern world would have reacted to those ancient events.

The choir will also incorporate a string quartet from the ward to accompany Christmas Night by John Rutter, and some choruses from Part 1 of Handel's Messiah, perhaps including #4 And the Glory of the Lord, #12 For Unto Us and #17 Glory to God.

Selected simple carols from Willcocks' Carols for Christmas will round out the choir's selections. With all of that placed on the choir's plate we will invite the Primary children to sing a couple of songs, and also ask the Young Women to prepare a simple number.

Until then, the choir will be working on their Fall pieces, And the Father Will Dance, How Will They Know?, Joy in the Morning, and Malcolm Archer's Rejoice the Lord is King.

What fun music!!! Come join us.

Some Easter Song videos, plus

Here is a rather slooowwww rendition of When I survey the Wondrous Cross" at the Garden Grove, CA, Crystal Cathedral.

FYI the CC is a just a shell of its former glory (captured in this video) as it lost its congregation and sponsors to modern sophists, dismissed its fine musicians, stiffed them their wages, and went bankrupt. Just recently the Catholic Diocese in SoCal bought it for a complete renovation, to serve the Latino population in the area.

And here is a lovely version of John Stainer's God So Loved the World. Notice how precisely the choir pronounces the words, how they shape not only the phrases, but often each word. Sorry if you get an advertisement on these links.

And as a bonus, here is a partial version of He Leadeth Me from Brother Jackman's website. Sorry it is missing most of the interesting harmony parts. We sing this on March 30.

Why Ward Choir?

I have pondered answers to this question for many years. Certainly ward choir adds to the substance and spirit of Sacrament meetings. But a greater benefit comes to the choir participants. A choir director in California has articulated many of my thoughts, and if you have a few minutes can be read here. For those who don't, I reprint the main points below:

1.  Coming closer to Christ

Of course, that is the end-all goal of everything we do in the church.  I hope that by learning and performing sacred music the ward choir is strengthening testimonies by providing extra opportunities to learn from the spirit. In rehearsals, as we fix different things, we repeat the text over and over--often we need that repetition for the message to really sink in and become internalized.  Ward choir provides opportunities to worship and praise God through song, and helps to create an environment in Sacrament Meeting where the spirit can be more readily felt.

2.  Fellowship and Unity

I don't know how choir members can help but be friends--Choirs are so unique in that there is just absolutely no competition.  Instead of trying to see who can finish the phrase first, we work on finishing all at the same time.  Instead of trying to sing louder than everyone else, we try to blend our voices.  We work on  pronouncing the words the same way, and interpreting the text sensitively as a group.   We crescendo and diminuendo together. With that much teamwork, you'd be hardpressed to find a more unified group than a choir.

3.  Developing Talents

Covenant Latter-Day Saints have made promises to give our talents to the Lord.  I can attest to the fact, that when you do this, the Lord magnifies those talents he has given you and helps you become better and better at those things.  Seriously, if you wish you could sing better, join the ward choir--You'll improve.  Besides, when it comes down to it, you don't need a good voice to sing--all you need is a willing heart.

Mendelssohn's "There Shall a Star" Notes

The first number for this year's Christmas program is the chorale "There Shall a Star from Jacob Come Forth", from the unfinished oratorio Christus, Op. 97, by Felix Mendelsson. Born into a Jewish family without religion, Felix became a Reformed Christian as an adult. To avoid the antisemitism of his time, he adopted the last name Bartholdy, but today we know him simply as Felix Mendelssohn. Christus was published after his untimely death at the age of 38.

The text involves the 3 scriptures listed in the program, and begins with the main theme, followed by the middle dramatic section describing the destruction of the world's kingdoms. After further development of the main theme, Mendelssohn concludes the chorus with a J. S. Bach harmonization of Philipp Nicolai's chorale "How Brightly Beams the Morning Star."

Mendelssohn's inclusion of a Bach chorale is very fitting, since Mendelssohn single-handedly revived appreciation and performance of the works of Johan Sebastian Bach. At the age of 20, in 1829 he organized and performed Bach's majestic St. Matthew's Passion, which had not been heard since Bach's death in 1750. Of this performance, he later wrote: "To think that it took ... a Jew's son to revive the greatest Christian music for the world!"

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

It will be a great experience to sing this spiritual and inspiring work from the great Romantic composer, Felix Mendelssohn. Click here to listen to a 2010 performance by the Utah Baroque Ensemble.

A Song for Thanksgiving

OK, so the Christmas program is not in stone yet, but we did decide on Thanksgiving. The Earth Is the Lord's by Carl Nygard. The text is adapted from Psalm 24, with a simple melody, a 4-part middle section, and ending with the melody augmented by echoing alleluia's. Click here to hear a very nice amateur performance. Here is the text:

The Earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof.
All creatures who live on the Earth are the Lord's.
    For who can rightly ascend the hill of the Lord,
    And who may enter His house to hear His word?
    The pure in heart and hand.
    Such are the people of God, who understand.
The Earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof.

2013 Christmas Program Narration and Songs

Welcome to the CV 4th Ward choir blog. For this first post I have published the entire Christmas Program for 2013. The narration and songs are listed, along with links to listen to the songs from the web. Enjoy and contact me about it.

 Prophecy

Numbers 24

17 . . .there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab. . .

Psalm 2

9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

Revelation 22

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Choir sings: There Shall a Star From Jacob Come Forth by Felix Mendelssohn

 (listen soprano) (listen alto) (listen tenor) (listen bass) 

Mary

 Luke 1

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 

Women sing: Mary Had a Pretty Little Baby arr. Betsy Lee Bailey

(listen) 

 

Joseph

 Matthew 1

20 Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Choir sings: Joseph and the Angel by Richard R. Terry

(listen)

 

The Manger

Luke 2

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Choir sings: Away in a Manger arr. Paul Sjolund

(listen)

 

Shepherds & Angels

 Luke 2

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Congregation Sings: 211 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Choir sings: Cradle Hymn by Carl Schalk

(listen)

 

The Three Kings

 Matthew 2

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things. . .

4 . . . he gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together and demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea . . .

Choir sings: Come See the Lamb by Brent Jorgensen

(listen)

 9 When they had heard, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Congregation sings: 210 With Wondering Awe

 

The Life of Christ

The prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said,

“My heart is subdued when I think of the great love of my Heavenly Father. How grateful I am to know that God loves us. The incomprehensible depth of that love found expression in the gift of His Only Begotten Son to come into the world to bring hope into our hearts, to bring kindness and courtesy into our relationships, and above all to save us from our sins and guide us on the way that leads to eternal life.

“When all is said and done, when all of history is “When all is said and done, when all of history is examined, when the deepest depths of the human mind have been explored, nothing is so wonderful, so majestic, so tremendous as this act of grace when the Son of the Almighty, the Prince of His Father’s royal household, He who had once spoken as Jehovah, He who had condescended to come to earth as a babe born in Bethlehem, gave His life in ignominy and pain so that all of the sons and daughters of God of all generations of time, every one of whom must die, might walk again and live eternally. He did for us what none of us could do for ourselves.”

-- (Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Wondrous and True Story of Christmas,” Dec. 2000 Ensign.)

Choir sings: A Christmas Carol by Charles Ives

(listen)