from the December 2021 Winter Concert
Program Notes
Chorus program notes, texts, and translations
by Susan Glass
MS Vocal Majors
Keep it Good
Bob Chilcott is a world renowned British composer who began as a child chorister and sang with the King’s Singers for 12 years before turning to composing full time. This “green” song, written in 1998 as part of a series of songs about saving the earth, seems especially appropriate for today’s chorus, as we face the issues around climate change.
Hombe – (Luo language, Kenya) Much in the vein of “Rock-a-bye Baby, the parent here is letting the child know what may await them if sleep is not imminent! We will begin singing the tune using solfege (d r m notes) and hand signs. This is one of the tools we use in the learning process, to develop our hearing and our reading skills.
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Hombe, Hombe, Hombe, Hombe Nya thi mai wak on diek cha me Nya thi mai ling, on diek we ye |
I’m pleading, pleading, pleading, pleading Hyena’s catch a weeping child But angels watch the sleeping child |
Jubilate, Alleluia,
a “Joyful Alleluia!” Composed by Mary Lynn Lightfoot (b. 1971) uses an old Latin text found in many compositions throughout music history. She uses the Latin as well as the English translation, and pairs it with contemporary rhythms and melodic ideas. While challenging for the singers, it is catchy, and they are rising to the challenge.
Bashana Haba’ah
(“Next Year”) is a very popular Israeli song, written in 1970, often sung around Rosh Hashana. It has been covered by singers from many different countries. Traditionally, it is sung in an up tempo, with lively instruments and much enthusiasm. This arrangement is not traditional, in that it is slower and more contemplative. For me, it is a bittersweet reminder that as we begin to come out of a year of losses, we look forward to a return to the beautiful things in our everyday lives.
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Bashana Haba’ah Ne-shev al hamir peset V’nispor tziporim no d’dot Y’ladim b’chufsha Y’sachaku tofeset Bein habayit l’vein hasadot Od tir’eh, od tir’eh Kama tov yihiyeh Bashana bashana haba’ah |
Next year we will sit on the porch and count migrating birds. Children on vacation will play catch between the house and the fields. You will yet see, you will yet see, how good it will be next year. |
Corner of the Sky,
from the Broadway musical, “Pippin,” is the title character’s anthem, a coming of age statement, a young person yearning to make his mark on the world. Our 7th and 8th graders certainly relate to these lyrics and this melody. You will hear it in their singing and I know it from the fact that they asked to sing this at every single rehearsal since day 1.
Brave,
by Sara Barielles, is our finale. And these wonderful singers are the epitome of that word and this message. I am very proud.