Piae Cantiones is a collection of late medieval Latin songs first published in 1582.  It was compiled by Jacobus Finno, a clergyman who was headmaster of the cathedral school at Turku in Finland.  The origin of the songs and melodies varies.  Many originate from Central Europe, but many were written in Nordic countries.  This piece begins with a choral refrain that is then repeated after each solo verse.​

 

The composer of Gaudete is unknown.

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                                        Refrain: Gaudete! Christus est natus                            Rejoice! Christ is born

                                        ex Maria Virgine, Gaudete!                                            of the Virgin Mary. Rejoice!

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                                        Tempus adest gratiae, hoc quod optabamus                 At this time of grace and longed-for blessing

                                        Carmina laetitiae devote reddamus.                              love faithfully offers a song of praise.

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                                        Deus homo factus est natura mirante.                           God is made human in this wonderful birth;

                                        Mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante.                   the world is cleansed through the reign of Christ.

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                                        Ezechielis porta clausa pertransitur,                             The gates of heaven now open which were closed

                                        Unde lux est orta, salus invenitur                                  sending transforming light where holiness is found

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                                        Ergo nostra contio psallat iam in lustro                       Therefore, we meet in pure songs of joy;

                                        Benedicate Domino, salus Regi nostro.                        We bless the lord, king of salvation.

Holst was an English composer, arranger, and teacher. His best known piece is the orchestral suite The Planets.  Holst hoped to become a pianist, but neuritis in his right arm prevented this.  He turned to composing and teaching instead.  He studied at the Royal College of Music under Charles Villiers Stanford.  Holst absorbed many of the characteristics of folksong into his compositions while developing a style that his contemporaries described as austere and cerebral.  He often used unconventional time signatures, rising and falling scales, ostinato, bitonality, and polytonality.  The words are taken from A Mediaeval Anthology published in 1915.​

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Refrain: Lullay my liking, my dear Son, my Sweeting; 

lullay my dear Heart, mine own dear Darling.

 

I saw a fair maiden sitten and sing: She lulled a little child, a sweeté Lording.

That Eternal Lord is he that made allé thing; of allé Lordés

He is the Lord, of every King he’s King.

There was mickle melody at that childés birth: though the songsters were heavenly

They made mickle mirth.

Angels bright they sang that night and saiden to that Child

“Blessed be Thou and so be she that is so meek and mild.”

Pray we not to that Child, as to his mother dear, 

God grant them all his blessing that now maken cheer.

Willaert was a Flemish composer of the Renaissance, but spent much of his career working in Italy.  He began his career in 1515 in service of Cardinal Ippolito I d’Este of Ferrara.  Following Ippolito’s death in 1520, Willaert entered the service of Duke Alfonso I of Ferrara.  His most significant appointment came in 1527 when he was selected as maestro di cappella of St. Mark’s in Venice where he remained until his death.  Willaert left a large number of compositions—at least 8 masses, over fifty hymns and psalms, over 150 motets, about sixty French chansons, over seventy Italian madrigals, and seventeen instrumental pieces. 

 
 

                                                     O magnum mysterium,                                                  O great mystery

                                                     et admirabile sacramentum,                                          and wonderful sacrament,

                                                     ut animalia viderent Dominum natum                         that animals should see the new-born Lord

                                                     jacentem in praesepio,                                                    lying in a manger,

                                                     Beata Virgo cujus viscera                                               O Blessed Virgin whose womb

                                                     meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum           was worthy to bear Christ the Lord.

                                                     Ave Maria, gratia plena                                                  Hail Mary, full of Grace:

                                                     Dominus tecum.                                                              the Lord is with you.

Adler was a Belgian-German cantor, composer, and choir conductor.  He is recognized for creating and popularizing contemporary versions of nineteenth-century Jewish cantorial music.  He was born in Antwerp, but raised in Mannheim, Germany.    He was arrested in December 1938 because of his Jewish heritage.  His family emigrated to the United States in the spring of 1939 following his release from prison. The family settled in Worcester, Massachusetts where he remained until his death.  

 

Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739) was an Italian composer, writer, advocate, magistrate and teacher.  Born in Venice into a noble family, he managed to combine a life in law and public service with one in music.  He studied music with Antonio Lotti and Francesco Gasparini. 

 

Commonly translated as “Rock of Ages,” this hymn is sung after the lighting of the Chanukah candles.  The hymn expresses thanks to God for his steadfast dependability, and praises God for vanquishing their enemy, and restoring the desecrated Temple altar.  The first of six verses is commonly sung during Chanukah.

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                     Maoz tsur y’shuati l’cha nae l’shabeach                         Stronghold of God, Rock of my salvation, it is proper to praise You.

                     tikon b’et t’fila ti v’sham toda n’za beach                      May my house of prayer be firmly established, and there we will offer a sacrifice.

                     l’et tachin matbeach mitsar ham’nabeach                     When You prepare a devastating defeat of the contemptuous foe.

                     as egmor b’shir mizmor chanukat hamizbeach             I will conclude my dedication of the altar with a song of praise.

Texas native Dede Duson holds music degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Houston.  She taught piano and theory for many years, and served as a church organist.  She accompanied the Houston Symphony Chorus, Texas All-State Chorus, and Mesquite Civic Chorus.  Duson combined two French carols, “Whence Comes This Rush?” and “Old French Noel” (“Little Children Wake and Listen”) for this piece. “Whence Comes This Rush?” comes from the Bas-Quercy, and is sometimes called “The Carol of the Birds.”  The author of “Little Children Wake and Listen” is unknown. Duson set an English translation of the texts.

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Whence comes this rush of wings afar following straight the Nowell star?

Birds from the woods in wondrous flight Bethlehem seek this holy night.

“Tell us, ye birds, why come ye here into this stable poor and drear?

Hast’ning we seek the newborn King and all our sweetest music bring.”

Little children, wake and listen! songs are breaking o’er the earth;

with the stars in heaven glisten, hear the news of Jesus’ birth.

Long ago to lonely meadows angels brought the message down;

still each year through midnight shadows it is hear in ev’ry town.

What is this that they are telling, singing in the quiet street?

While their voices high are swelling, what sweet words do they repeat?

Words to bring us greater gladness tho’ our hearts from care are free;

words to chase away our sadness, cheerless tho’ our hearts may be.

Angels and shepherds, birds of the sky, come where the son of God doth lie;

Christ on earth with man doth dwell, join in the shout, “Nowell, Nowell!”

Christ has left his throne of glory and a lowly cradle found;

well might angels tell the story, well may we their words resound.

Little children, wake and listen, songs are ringing through the earth;

while the stars in heaven glisten, hail with joy your Saviour’s birth!

Songs are ringing through the earth, join in the shout, “Nowell, Nowell!

Josquin was an influential composer of the Franco-Flemish School of the early Renaissance.  He developed a complex style of imitative movement among independent voices.  He favored vocal music in various forms including masses, motets, and secular chansons.  He was born in Flanders (modern day northwestern France or Belgium).  Josquin’s motets are his most celebrated and influential works.  They alternate between homophonic settings with block chords to ornate, imitative contrapuntal works in which the text is overshadowed by music.  

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                                                Ave Maria, gratia plena:                                                 Hail Mary, full of grace

                                                Dominus tecum,                                                             the Lord is with you

                                                Virgo serena;                                                                   serene Virgin;

                                                Ave cujus conception,                                                    Hail, you whose conception,

                                                solemni plena gaudio,                                                     full of great joy

                                                caelestia, terrestria                                                         fills heaven and earth

                                                Nova replet laetitia.                                                        with new gladness.

                                                Ave cujus nativitas,                                                        Hail, you whose nativity

                                                Nostra fuit solemnitas,                                                   became our great celebration

                                                Ut lucifer lux oriens                                                       as the light-bearing morning star

                                                Verum solem praeveniens.                                             anticipated the true Son.

                                                Ave pia humilitas,                                                           Hail, faithful humility

                                                Sine viro fecunditas,                                                       fruitful without man

                                                Cujus annuciatio,                                                            whose annunciation

                                                Nostra fuit salvation.                                                      was our salvation.

                                                Ave vera virginitas,                                                         Hail, true virginity,

                                                Immaculata castias, cujus purificatio.                           Immaculate chastity 

                                                Nostra fuit purgatio.                                                       was our cleansing.

                                                Ave, praeclara omnibus Angelicis virtutibus,               Hail, glorious one in angelic virtues

                                                Cujus fuit assumptio                                                      Whose assumption

                                                Nostra glorification.                                                       was our glorification.

                                                O Mater Dei, memento mei. Amen.                              O Divine Mother, remember me. Amen.

John Howell served as  associate professor of music in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech.  He was born in Everett, Washington.  He performed with the Roanoke and Lynchburg Symphonies in Virginia.  He received his bachelor's degree in music from the University of Puget Sound.  He completed Master of Music in Conducting and doctorate in musicology from Indiana University School of Music. 

 

“The Angel Gabriel” is a Basque folk carol re-telling the story of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary by the archangel Gabriel.  The song quotes the biblical account of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) and Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).  The tune is thought to date from the thirteenth or fourteenth century.  The English paraphrase was written by Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924), an Anglican priest, novelist, folk song collector and eclectic scholar.

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The angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame.

“All hail,” said he, “Thou lowly maiden Mary, most highly favored lady,” Gloria.

“For known a blessed mother thou shalt be, all generations laud and honor thee.

Thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold, most highly favored lady,” Gloria.

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head, “To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said.

“My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name.” Most highly favored lady, Gloria.

Of her Emmanuel, the Christ, was born in Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn,

And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say: “Most highly favored lady.” Gloria.

Work on this piece began in 2023 when Will Mathews wrote the poem and asked Keith to set it to music.  It was originally scheduled for completion for the 2023 Advent/Christmas season, but life got in the way.  The score was completed in August 2024 and had its premiere on December 1 with the Choir of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Peachtree Corners.  The piece is constructed in a modified strophic form with a recurring refrain. The Festival Singers of Atlanta will make an archival recording of the piece during its concert today.  

 

Will Mathews writes, “In 2023 while sitting in church listening to the sanctuary choir of Christ the King Lutheran Church, I began thinking of the mysteries surrounding the birth of Christ on that first Christmas, and what it was all about, and got this composer thinking and ‘The One Born This Season’, took shape.”

 

Why this little girl? Why was she chosen?

Such a fair maiden. She was the one. She was the chosen one.

 

Refrain:  For God knows what he did. He knows why.

It was to bring the Son into the world. 

The Mighty Counselor, the Prince of Peace.

The Savior of the world. The one born this season.

 

Why this stable cold? Why the donkeys and the hay?

Such a lonely sight. It was the chosen place. A cradle for the King.

 

Why this night? Why this star that shone so bright?

It was set to light the way. It was the sign.

 

Why these lowly shepherds? Why these so dirty?

They were the heralds of the night. They were the ones who would tell.

 

Why these three from far away? Why these gifts they bring?

The three wise.  The three who followed the star.

She was the chosen one.

Born in Wichita, Kansas, Kirke Mechem (b. 1925) is an American composer of opera and choral works. During World War II, he spent two and a half years in the army.  Following his military service, he enrolled at Stanford University, where he studied harmony and counterpoint, changing his major to music in his junior year.  He earned a master’s degree at Harvard in 1953, where he studied composition with Walter Piston and Randall Thompson.  In 1963 after periods in Vienna, Austria, he and his family settled in San Francisco, where he was appointed composer-in-residence at the University of San Francisco.  

     

Seven Joys of Christmas is a collection of carols from different countries that reflect different aspects of the joy of Christmastide.  Mechem used the number seven because it is a magical number as it applies to mysteries in Christian liturgy.  The final carol combines the carols in this collection in addition to other well-known melodies. The collection was written for The Chamber Singers at the San Francisco College for Women for a Christmas concert in 1964.  

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1. The Joy of Love:  This Is the Truth (English)

2. The Joy of Bells:  Din don! Merrily on High (French)

3. The Joy of Mary:  Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine (German)

4. The Joy of Children:  Patapan (Burgundian)

5. The Joy of the New Year:  New Year Song (Japanese)

6. The Joy of Dance:  Fum, fum, fum! (Spanish)

7. The Joy of Song:  God Bless the Master of this House (English)

 

The Joy of Love:  This Is the Truth

This is the truth sent from above, the truth of God, the God of love,

Therefore don’t turn me from your door, But harken all both rich and poor.

The first thing which I do relate, Is that God did man create;

The next thing which to you I’ll tell: Woman was made with man to dwell.

And we were heirs to endless woes, Till God the Lord did interpose;

And so a promise soon did run that he would redeem us by his son.

And at that season of the year our blest Redeemer did appear;

He here did live and preach. And many thousands he did teach.

Thus he in love to us behaved, To show us how we must be saved;

And if you want to know the way, Be pleased to hear what he did say.

 

The Joy of Bells:  Din don! Merrily on High

Din don! merrily on high in heav’n the bells are ringing;

Din don! verily the sky is riv’n with angel singing.

Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis.

E’en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen,

And i-o, i-o, i-o, by priest and people sungen.

Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis.

Pray you dutifully prime your matin chime, ye ringers.

May you beautifully rime your eve-time song, ye singers;

Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis.

 

The Joy of Mary:  Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine

Joseph dearest, Joseph mine, Help me cradle the child divine;

God reward thee and all that’s thine in paradise so prays the Mother Mary.

Refrain: He came among us on Christmas day, in Bethlehem;

Christus natus hodie in Bethlehem;

[Translation: Christ was born today in Bethlehem]

Lo, he comes to love and save and free us!

Mary dearest, Mary mild, I shall gladly help rock thy child;

God will surely reward us then in paradise, so prays the Mother Mary. Refrain

Now is born Emmanuel, prophesied by Ezekiel,

Promised Mary by Gabriel, rejoice and sing Alleluia. Maria. Refrain

 

The Joy of Children: Patapan

Willie, take your little drum, with your whistle Robin, come!

When we hear the fife and drum, tu-re-lu-re lu, pa-ta-pa-ta-pan

When we hear the fife and drum, Christmas should be frolicsome.

Thus the men of olden days loved the King of kings to praise:

When they hear the fife and drum, tu-re-lu-re lu, pa-ta-pa-ta-pan

When they hear the fife and drum, sure our children won’t be dumb!

God and man are now become more at one than fife and drum.

When you hear the fife and drum, tu-re-lu-re lu, pa-ta-pa-ta-pan

When you hear the fife and drum, dance and make the village hum!

 

The Joy of the New Year:  New Year Song

When night’s shadows fly New Year’s dawn floods all the sky; And joyful voices sound.  

Branches of the fragrant pine hang ev’rywhere around.

Leaves do dainty fine freshly gathered, dewy shine, and glitter in the light.

From Kadusa’s lofty pinetree waving, on the height.

 

The Joy of Dance:  Fum, fum, fum!

On December twenty-fifth, sing fum, fum fum!

He is born of God’s pure love, the Son of God;

He is born of Virgin Mary in this night so cold and dreary. Fum, fum, fum!

Birds who live in ev’ry forest, fum, fum, fum!

You must leave your fledglings on the bought, must leave your fledglings now;

For to make a downy nest, so the new-born Babe may rest.

All the brilliant stars in heaven, fum, fum, fum!

All the little stars in heaven, fum, fum, fum!

Looking down see Jesus crying, see him cry;

Send away the darkness lightly, shine your light upon us brightly, fum, fum, fum!

 

The Joy of Song: God Bless the Master of this House

God bless the master of this house, and all that are therein-a,

And to begin this Christmastide with mirth now let us sing-a!

The Saviour of all people upon this time was born-a,

Who did from death deliver us, when we were left forlorn-a.

Then let us all most merry be, and sing with cheerful voice-a,

For we have good occasion now this time to rejoice-a. 

This time to sing: Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come.

With mirth now let us sing, let us sing!