A

Mark Adamo (b. 1962)

Pied Beauty

Praise him!
Glory be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Modern Masters, November 2009.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2009 release, Modern Masters.

Tom Ajack (b. 1965)

Moondance

VAN MORRISON (B. 1945)
ARR. AJACK (B. 1965)

Well, its a marvelous night for a moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
‘neath the cover of October skies
All the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
And I’m trying to please to the calling
Of your heart-strings that play soft and low
And all the nights magic seems to whisper and hush
And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush
Can I just have one a more moondance with you, my love.

Well I want to be yours in the moonlight
I cant wait til the morning has come
And I know that the time is just right
And straight into my arms you will run
When you come to my heart I’ll be waiting
To make sure that you’re never alone
Then and there all my dreams will come true, dear
Then and there I will make you my own
And all the nights magic seems to whisper and hush
And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush
Can I just have one a more moondance with you, my love.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2008 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

Ben Allaway (b. 1958)

Inscription for a Wayside Spring

All men from all lands kneel before you go
Cup your hands like a bowl
Let me overflow
Read what these words tell,
Lean down and know
Each one beside my brink
Bend down low;
Lost son, sad daughter bend down and drink.
I am the water of the well that makes men whole.
I am the cold water that restores your soul.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

B

J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Prelude No. 1, BWV 846

The first and most well-known prelude from Book I of J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier simply jumped out of the book and requisitioned me to arrange it. The prelude asserted that, like much of Bach’s work, it is well-suited for and adaptable to any number of instrumental scenarios, from keyboards, harpstrings to Charles Gounod’s setting of Ave Maria. In light of this, the prelude demanded to know why Octarium had not yet graced its elegant arpeggios and rich harmonies with Octarium’s well-mannered presence., Shamed, I immediately went to work deconstructing the prelude into five parts, with this result.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2007.

P.D.Q. Bach (1807-1742)
Peter Schikele (b. 1935)
A Consort of Christmas Carols S. 359

  • Throw the Yule Log on, Uncle John
  • O Little Town
  • Good King Kong Looked Out

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas With Octarium, December 2003

Edward Bairstow (1874 – 1946)

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and stand with fear and trembling,
and lift itself above all earthly thought.
For the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Christ our God,
cometh forth to be our oblation,
and to be given for food to the faithful.
Before him come the choirs of angels,
with every principality and power;
the Cherubim with many eyes, and winged Seraphim,
who veil their faces as they shout exultantly the hymn,
Alleluia.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004 and Saints and Angels, April 2008.

This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Robert Baksa (b. 1938)

O Mistress Mine

Settings By:

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
  • Robert Baksa (B. 1938) Judith Lang Zaimont (B. 1945)
  • Daniel Pederson (Sweet and Twenty)

Text: Shakespeare Twelfth Night Act Ii, Scene III

O mistress mine, where are you roaming?
O stay and hear, your true love’s coming
That can sing both high and low.
Trip no further, pretty sweeting;
Journeys end in lovers’ meeting,
Ev’ry wise man’s son doth know.
What is love? ‘Tis not hereafter;
Present mirth hath present laughter;
What’s to come is still unsure:
In delay there lies no plenty;
Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty;
Youth’s a stuff will not endure.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.
Daniel Pederson’s Sweet and Twenty was performed on Listener’s Choice, February 2011.

Adriano Banchieri

Contrapunto Bestiale alle Mente

This is an odd little madrigal with no translation. All voice parts make animal noises while the bass sings a cantus firmus in a language that is familiar and, at the same time, completely unidentifiable and untranslatable. And that is what happens when, as the title translates, the Animals Improvise Counterpoint.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

Agnus Dei

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
miserere nobis.
have mercy upon us.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
dona nobis pacem.
grant us peace.

This piece was performed on Essentials – The Concert, October 2008 and Masstiche, February 2010.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Steve Barnett

Arise and Be Free: A Suite for Chanukah

Y’Mei Chanukah

Y’mei ha-Chanukah, Chanukat mikdasheinu
In the days of Chanukah we tell of the renewal of our holiness
B’gil uvsimcha m’mal im et libeinu
Our hearts are filled with celebration and happiness
Lailah vayom s’vivoneinu yisov
Our draydles spin night and day
Sufganiyot nochal bam larov
We’ll eat mostly latkes then.
Hairu hadliku nerot Chanukah rabim
Shine, light the many Chanukah candles
Al hanisim v’al haniflaot asher chol¹lu haMakabim
In honor of the miracles and wonders which the Maccabees did
Nitzchon hamakabim n’sapeir n’zameirah,
We will recount and sing of the victories
Alei hasonim az yadam ki gaveirah
In the end the enemies’ hands were weakened.
Y’rushalayim shava litchiya,
Jerusalem will return to life.
Am Yisraeil asah tushiah.
The Nation of Israel will be aided.

S’vivon

S’vivon sov sov sov
Little top spin spin spin.
Chanukah hu chag tov
Chanukah is a good holiday
Chag simcha hu la’am
It is a joyous holiday for our people
Nes gadol haya sham
A great miracle happened there.

Mi Y’maleil

Mi y’maleil g’vurot Yisrael
Who will acclaim the heroes of Israel
Otan my yimneh?
Who can count them?
Hein b’khol do yakum ha gibor
In every generation a hero arises to
Goeil haam
Save the nation.
Sh’ma! Bayam haheim baz’man hazeh
Listen! In the olden times
Makabi moshiyah ufodeh
The Maccabees helped and freed us
Uv’yameinu kol a, Yisrael,
In our time, the whole nation of Israel
Yit’ached yakum l’higael
Will arise and be free.

Mi Zeh Hidlik

Mi zeh hidlik neirot dakim kakochavim barom?
Who will light the narrow candles like the stars in the heavens
Yodim gam tinokot rabim ki Chanukah hayom.
Even the many little children know that today is Chanukah.

These pieces were performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2004 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2007.

Greg Bartholomew (b. 1957)

The Tree

I love thee when thy swelling buds appear,
And one by one their tender leaves unfold,
As if they knew that warmer suns were near,
Nor longer sought to hide from winter’s cold;

And when with darker growth thy leaves are seen
To veil from view the early robin’s nest,
I love to lie beneath thy waving screen,
With limbs by summer’s heat and toil oppress’d;

And when the autumn winds have stript thee bare,
And round thee lies the smooth, untrodden snow,
When naught is thine that made thee once so fair,

I love to watch thy shadowy form below,
And through thy leafless arms to look above
On stars that brighter beam when most we need their love.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Joseph Bates (b. 1976)

Hide and Seek

“Hide and Seek” was written and originally performed by the British singer-songwriter Imogen Heap off her second album entitled Speak for Yourself. It was originally recorded using her voice and a Vocoder, which is an apparatus by which the human voice is digitized and altered. The effect is rather otherworldly, hearkening to the experimental music of Laurie Anderson in the 1970’s. The text for the song is a bit esoteric, but broadly describes the feelings and emotions of a recently broken up with lover as she realizes her former significant other is in fact, not coming back. Specifically, the lyrics reference such visual memories as the “crop circles in the carpet” left by recently vacated furniture and “Oily marks on walls” where photographs of the lovers once hung. The original version of this song appeared on Network Primetime Television shows like FOX’s The O.C. and the CBS drama CSI: Miami. The song was arranged for such a choral ensemble as Octarium by the fine composer/arranger Joseph Bates out of North Carolina.

“Mad World” was written by Roland Orzabal, the co-founder of the British band Tears for Fears. Originally recorded by Tears for Fears in 1982, the song was reintroduced into the popular lexicon by the 2001 film Donnie Darko in a version covered by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules. This cover version inspired our very own Ashley Winters to arrange it for Octarium, citing its minimalist origins and haunting melody and lyrics.

Hotel California

It’s time to take a very brief tour through the 70s and 80s. “Hotel California” was a huge hit for the Eagles in 1977 off of its concept album of the same name. In 1983, “Africa” was a number one single for the totally underrated band Toto.

Both songs will feature Jay Van Blaricum on lead while the rest of us tool around as guitars and synthesizers.

When You Say Nothing At All

Ronan Keating’s “When You Say Nothing At All” and Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes.”

“When You Say Nothing At All” was written late one night by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz, who later said they were trying to find a new way to say nothing when the song came to them. It was first recorded by Keith Whitley in the 80’s and later made popular by Allison Krauss. In 1995 it won a CMA award for “Single of the Year.” Ronan Keating’s version of the song also appeared in the 1999 movie Notting Hill. Our arrangement will feature Renee Stanley singing the solo and Andrea Coleman and Jay Van Blaricum singing back-up. The rest of us will be doing our best impersonation of guitars and pianos.

The phrase “…so it goes…” was coined by Kurt Vonnegut in his book Slaughterhouse Five. He used this phrase 106 times in his book, using it to deal with death, mortality, and life transitions. It was used to lighten the mood after a particularly depressing or horrible event. Billy Joel used this phrase in his song “And So It Goes” at the end of his relationship with is wife, Elizabeth. Tonight we are singing an arrangement by Bob Chillcott, featuring Brady Shepherd.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2007.

Amy Beach (1867-1944)

Over Hill, over Dale

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM ACT II SCENE I.

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire,
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon’s sphere;
And I serve the fairy queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green.
The cowslips tall her pensioners be:
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours,
In those freckles live their savours;
I must go seek some dew-drops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear.

Come Unto These Yellow Sands

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE THE TEMPEST ACT I SCENE II

Come unto these yellow sands,
And then take hands:
Curtsied when you have, and kiss’d,
The wild waves whist,
Foot it featly here and there;
And, sweet sprites, the burden be

Through the House Give Glimmering Light

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM ACT V SCENE II

Through the house give glimmering light,
By the dead and drowsy fire:
Every elf and fairy sprite
Hop as light as bird from brier:
And this ditty, after me,
Sing and dance it trippingly.
First, rehearse your song by rote,
To each word a warbling note;
Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
Will we sing, and bless this place.

This pieces were performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

John Christmas Beckwith (1750-1809)

The Poor Soul Sat Sighing

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE OTHELLO ACT IV SCENE III

The poor soul sat sighing near a sycamore tree
Sing O the green willow,
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,
Sing O the green willow, the green willow tree.
The cold streams ran by her, her eyes wept apace,
The salt tears fell from her and drowned her face.
Farewell youth, false-hearted plaints end with my breath
Sing O the green willow.

(text modified by Beckwith)

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

Jean Berger (1909 - 2002)

Tale of a Dog and A Bee

Great big dog, head upon his toes.
Tiny little bee settles on his nose.
Great big dog thinks it is a fly.
Never says a word, winks very sly.
Tiny little bee, tickles dog’s nose.
Thinks like as not ‘tis a pretty rose.
Dog smiles a smile, winks his other eye,
Chuckles to himself how he’ll catch a fly.
Then he makes a snap, very quick and spry.
Does his level best but doesn’t catch the fly.
Tiny little bee, alive and looking well.
Great big dog mostly gone to swell.

Dear friends and brothers all
Don’t be too fast and free
And when you catch a fly
Be sure it’s not a bee.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

William Bergsma (1921-1994)

Riddle Me This — Answer: The Cow

Four stiff standers,
Four dilly-danders,
Two lookers,
Two crookers,
And a wig-wag!

Riddle Me This — Answer: The Egg

In marble halls as white as milk,
Lined with a skin as soft as silk,
Within a fountain crystal-clear,
A golden apple doth appear.
No doors there are to this stronghold,
Yet thieves break in and steal my gold.

Riddle Me This — Answer: The Snow

White bird featherless
Flown from Paradise,
Onto the castle wall;
Along came Lord Landless,
Took it up handless,
Rode away horseless
To the King’s white hall.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Jackson Berkey (b. 1942)

Still, Still Night

Silent Night, Holy Night,
Son of God, Love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from thy holy face.
With the dawn of redeeming grace.
Christ the Saviour is born.
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
Alleluia.

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.
Son of God, Alleluia.
Still, still night, Alleluia.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)

Sanctus from Missa Brevis

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth; pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts; Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in excelsis
Hosanna in the highest.

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010

Franz Biebl (1906-2001)

Ave Maria

Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae
The Angel of the Lord announced to Mary
Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
You are blessed among women
et benedictus fructus ventris tui: Jesus.
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
now and in the hour of our death.
Amen.

Ecce ancilla Domini
Behold the handmaiden of the Lord
Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
Do to me according to your word.

Ave Maria…

Et verbum caro factum est
And the Word was made flesh
Et habitavit in nobis.
And dwelt among us.

Ave Maria…

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004.

William Billings (1746 – 1800)

Modern Musick

We are met for a Concert of modern invention;
To tickle the Ear is our present intention.
The Audience are seated expecting to be treated with a piece of the best.
And since we all agree to set the Tune on E,
The Author’s darling Key he prefers to the Rest.

Let the Bass take the Lead and firmly proceed,
Till all the Parts are agreed to fuge away.
Let the Tenor succeed and follow the Lead,
Till all the Parts are agreed to fuge away.
Let the Counter inspire the Rest of the Choir, Inflamed with Desire to fuge away
Let the Treble in the Rear no longer forbear, But expressly declare for a Fuge away

Then change to brisker Time and up the Ladder climb, and down again
Then mount the second Time and end the Strain.

Then change the Key to pensive Tones and slow in treble Time;
The Notes exceeding low keep down a While
Then rise by slow Degrees
The process surely will not fail to please.

Through Common and Treble we jointly have run
We’ll give you their Essence compounded in one.
Although we are strongly attached to the rest,
Six Four is the Movement that pleases us best.

And now we address you as Friends to the Cause;
Performers are modest and write their own Laws.
Although we are sanguine and clap at the Bars,
‘Tis the Part of the Hearers to clap their Applause.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003.

Houston Bright (1916-1970)

Rainsong

Clouds hang heavy above the plain
They bring the smell of a summer rain,
And my heart, it is heavy too,
And my spirits are heavy too.
(See how the rains do pour as if forevermore.)

Clouds drift low in a shadowed spell
They bring the memory of one farewell,
When a spirit from life withdrew,
When the soul of my love withdrew.
(See how the rains do pour as if forevermore.)

Raindrops fall from a sodden sky
They drum a querulous lullaby
As in memory of one who sleeps,
As if crooning to one who sleeps.
(See how the rains do pour as if forevermore.)

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.

Benjamin Britten (1913 – 1976)

Hymn to St. Cecilia op. 27
A Hymn to the Virgin

BENJAMIN BRITTEN (1913-1976)
TEXT: W.H. AUDEN (1907-1973)

<h3>I.</h3>
In a garden shady this holy lady
With reverent cadence and subtle psalm,
Like a black swan as death came on
Poured forth her song in perfect calm:
And by ocean’s margin this innocent virgin
Constructed an organ to enlarge her prayer,
And notes tremendous from her great engine
Thundered out on the Roman air.
Blonde Aphrodite rose up excited,
Moved to delight by the melody,
White as an orchid she rode quite naked
In an oyster shell on top of the sea;
At sounds so entrancing the angels dancing
Came out of their trance into time again,
And around the wicked in Hell’s abysses
The huge flame flickered and eased their pain.
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.

<h3>II.</h3>
I cannot grow;
I have no shadow
To run away from,
I only play.
I cannot err;
There is no creature
Whom I belong to,
Whom I could wrong.
I am defeat
When it knows it
Can now do nothing
By suffering.
All you lived through,
Dancing because you
No longer need it
For any deed.
I shall never be Different. Love me.
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.

<h3>III.</h3>
O ear whose creatures cannot wish to fall,
O calm of spaces unafraid of weight,
Where Sorrow is herself, forgetting all
The gaucheness of her adolescent state,
Where Hope within the altogether strange
From every outworn image is released,
And Dread born whole and normal like a beast
Into a world of truths that never change:
Restore our fallen day; O re-arrange.
O dear white children casual as birds,
Playing among the ruined languages,
So small beside their large confusing words,
So gay against the greater silences
Of dreadful things you did: O hang the head,
Impetuous child with the tremendous brain,
O weep, child, weep, O weep away the stain,
Lost innocence who wished your lover dead,
Weep for the lives your wishes never led.
O cry created as the bow of sin Is drawn across our trembling violin.
O weep, child, weep, O weep away the stain.
O law drummed out by hearts against the still
Long winter of our intellectual will.
That what has been may never be again.
O flute that throbs with the thanksgiving breath
Of convalescents on the shores of death.
O bless the freedom that you never chose.
O trumpets that unguarded children blow
About the fortress of their inner foe.
O wear your tribulation like a rose.
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003, A Cappella Masterpieces, April 2005 and Saints and Angels, April 2008.

This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)

Os Justi

Os justi meditabitur sapientiam,
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
et lingua ejus loquetur judicium.,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
Lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius:,
The law of his God is in his heart;
et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. Alleluia.,
and his feet do not falter. Alleluia.

This piece was performed on Essentials – The Concert, October 2008 and on Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

William Byrd (c. 1539 – 1623)

Ave Verum Corpus

Ave, verum corpus natum de Maria Virgine:
Hail the true body, born of the Virgin Mary:
vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine:
You who truly suffered and were sacrificed on the cross for the sake of man
cuius latus perforatum unda fluxit et sanguine:
From whose pierced flank flowed water and blood:
esto nobis praegustatum, in mortis examine.
Be a foretaste for us in the trial of death.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005.

Puer Natus Est Nobis

Puer natus est nobis
A boy is born to us,
Et filius datus est nobis
And a son is given to us,
Cuius imperium super humerum eius
upon whose shoulders authority rests,
Et vocabitur nomen eius
and His name will be called
Magni consilii Angelus
The Angel of Great Counsel

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.

Sanctus and Benedictus from Mass for Four Voices

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra Gloria tua.
Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.
Osanna in excelsis.
Hosanna in the highest.

Benedictus qui venit
Blessed is He that cometh
in nomine Domini.
in the name of the Lord.
Osanna in excelsis.
Hosanna in the highest.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004 and Saints and Angels, April 2008, Essentials – The Concert, October 2008 and Masstiche, February 2010.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Sing Joyfully

TEXT BASED ON PSALM 81

Sing joyfully unto God our strength
Sing loud unto the God of Jacob.
Take the song and bring forth the timbrel,
The pleasant harp and the viol.
Blow the trumpet in the new moon,
Even in the time appointed and at our feast day.
For this is a statute for Israel and a law of the God of Jacob.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003.

C

Pierre Cadéac (fl. 1538-56)

Je suis déshéritée

Je suis déshéritée,
I’m broke,
Puisque j’ai perdu mon ami.
because I lost my friend.
Seullet’ il m’a laissée,
He left me, now I’m alone,
Pleine de pleurs et de souci.
full of tears and sorrow.
Rossignol du bois joli,
Nightingale in the woods
Sans point faire demeurée,
go immediately
Va t‘en dire à mon ami
and tell my friend
Que pour lui suis tourmentée.
that I’m tormented for his sake.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643 – 1704)

Salve puerule

Salve, puerule,
Hail, little child,
salve, tenellule,
hail, tender babe,
O nate parvule,
O tiny child,
quam bonus es.
how good you are.
Tu coelum deseris,
You leave heaven
tu mundo nasceris,
and are born in the world for us,
Nobis te ut miseris
making yourself like us
Assimiles.
poor wretches.

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.

David N. Childs (b. 1969)

O Magnum Mysterium

O magnum mysterium
O great mystery
et admirabile sacramentum
and wondrous sacrament
ut animalia viderent Dominum
that animals should see the Lord
natum, jacentem in praesepio.
born, lying in a manger.
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
meruerunt portare
was worthy to bear the
Dominum Christum. Alleluia!
Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
Domine audivi auditum tuum
Lord, I heard your instruction
et timui consideravi opera tua
and I feared and considered your works
et expavi in medio duorum anumalium.
and I trembled in the midst of two animals

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2005, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.

Robert Chilcott (b. 1955)
  • And So It Goes
  • The Gift
  • The Gift to be Simple
  • MLK
  • Rosa Mystica (Canon in D)
  • Texas Girl at the Funeral of her Father

And So It Goes

BILLY JOEL (B. 1949)
ARR. CHILCOTT (B.1955)

In every heart there is a room
A sanctuary safe and strong
To heal the wounds from lovers past
Until a new one comes along

I spoke to you in cautious tones
You answered me with no pretense
And still I feel I said too much
My silence is my self defense

And every time I’ve held a rose
It seems I only felt the thorns
And so it goes, and so it goes
And so will you soon I suppose

But if my silence made you leave
Then that would be my worst mistake
So I will share this room with you
And you can have this heart to break

And this is why my eyes are closed
It’s just as well for all I’ve seen
And so it goes, and so it goes
And you’re the only one who knows

So I would choose to be with you
That’s if the choice were mine to make
But you can make decisions too
And you can have this heart to break

And so it goes, and so it goes
And you’re the only one who knows

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2007 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

The Gift

TRADITIONAL SHAKER TUNE
TEXT: TONY VINCENT ISAACS

The gift we deliver, the gift we receive
Is the living spirit Mary did conceive,
The royal gift of love incandescent flame
Is given to all mankind in his name.
Joy, joy it is our true delight
To receive on this wondrous night
A boy child to Mary is born
And his light will shine on beyond the dawn.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2004.

MLK

links to Should Have Been Choral 2008

Rosa Mystica (Canon in D)

links to Should Have Been Choral 2008

Texas Girl at the Funeral of her Father

links to Should Have Been Choral 2008

René Clausen (b. 1953)
  • Set Me As A Seal
  • Sigh No More Ladies

Set Me As A Seal

Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm;
For love is as strong as death,
Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor can the floods drown it.
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm;
For love is as strong as death.

Text: Song of Solomon
This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005 and Modern Masters, November 2009.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2009 release, Modern Masters.

Sigh No More Ladies

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, ACT II SCENE III

Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more;
Men were deceivers ever;
One foot in sea, and one on shore;
To one thing constant never:
Then sigh not so,
But let them go,
And be you blithe and bonny;
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into, Hey nonny, nonny.
Sing no more ditties, sing no more.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

Henry Clough-Leightner

Fireflies

When the purple evening shadows
Darken over grassy meadows
Settle down on dewy meadows
Where the daisies grow.

When the silent starts are brightening
Then like sparks of tiny lightening
Vivid sparks of harmless lightening,
Swarms of fireflies go.

In the dark entrancing, glancing,
As if living stars were dancing,
As if twinkling stars came dancing
Thousands of them there.

Every merry little fellow
Bears a lamp of greenish yellow
Soft and cool and bright and mellow,
Gleaming in the air.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Andrea Coleman (b. 1981)

When I’m Sixty Four

links to Should Have Been Choral • June 2007

Pierre Colin (fl. 1538-1572)

Credo from Missa Confitemini

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem,
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty
factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.
Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible:
Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum,
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula.
the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds;
Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero,
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;
genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri;
begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father,
per quem omnia facta sunt.
by Whom all things were made;
Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven.
Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.
and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man:
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est,
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried:
et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas,
And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures:
et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris.
And ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father:
Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos,
And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead:
cuius regni non erit finis;
Whose Kingdom will have no end;
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem,
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,
qui ex Patre Filioque procedit.
Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son
Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur:
Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified,
qui locutus est per prophetas.
Who has spoken through the Prophets.
Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.
And I believe in One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,
Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum,
And I look for the Resurrection of the Dead:
et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.
And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.

Benjamin Cooke (1734 – 1793)

Hark the Lark

 

BENJAMIN COOKE (1734-1793)
STEVEN STUCKY (B. 1949)

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE CYMBELINE ACT II, SCENE III

Hark, hark! the lark at heaven’s gate sings,
And Phoebus ‘gins arise,
His steeds to water at those springs
On chaliced flowers that lies;
And winking Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes:
With every thing that pretty is,
My lady sweet, arise:
Arise, arise.

Hark, hark! the lark at heaven’s gate sings,
And Phoebus ‘gins arise,
His steeds to water at those springs
On chaliced flowers that lies;
And winking Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes:
With every thing that pretty is,
My lady sweet,
arise: Arise, arise.

These pieces were performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

Robert de Cormier (b. 1920)

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man’s hat
If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do
If you haven’t got a ha’penny then God bless you.

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005.

Randy Crenshaw

Africa

PAICH AND PORCARO

I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She’s coming in the 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation

I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say
“Hurry boy, it’s waiting there for you!”

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what’s right
Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti

I seek to cure what’s deep inside
Frightened of this thing that I’ve become

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Hurry boy, she’s waiting there for you

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa,
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2007 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

Jonathan Crutchfield

Betelehemu

Awa yiori Baba gbojule
We are glad we have a Father to trust
Awa yiori Baba fehenti
We are glad we have a Father to rely on
Nibo labi Jesu
Where was Jesus born?
Nibo lagbe bii
Where was he born?
Betelehemu ilu ara
In Bethlehem the city of wonder
Nibo labi Baba o daju
That is where the Father was born for sure
Iyin nifuno
Praise be to Him
Adupe fun o jooni
We thank you for the day
Baba oloreo
Gracious Father
Iyin fun o Baba
Praise to you Father
Baba toda wasi
Merciful Father

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2004.

D

Steve Danyew (b. 1983)

Green Mountains

TEXT: ASHLEY GAROFALO

Green mountains.
Air fresh and fragrant,
colors – a sight to behold.
October’s autumn.

American town:
Covered bridges and gardens,
music on the green,
down the street…

Morning – chilled and grey,
above, the sun shone.
View visible and clear;
imagine it in winter’s white
Ashley Garofalo

Green Mountains won the 2009 Octarium Composition Competition.
This piece was performed on Octarium’s Modern Masters, November 2009.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2009 release, Modern Masters.

Katherine K. Davis (1892-1980)

Carol of the Drum

“Come,” they told me;
“A new born King to see.
Our finest gifts we’ll bring,
To lay before the King.
So to honor Him
When we come.”

“Baby Jesu,
I am a poor boy too.
I have no gift to bring
That’s fit to give the King;
Shall I play for you
On my drum?”

Mary nodded,
Ox and ass kept time
I played my drum for Him,
I played my best for Him;
Then He smiled at me,
Me and my drum.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.

Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918)

Quant j’ai ouy le Tabourin

Text: by Charles, Duc D’Orleans (1394-1465)

Quant j’ai ouy la tabourin
When I hear the tambourine

Sonner, pour s’en aller au may,
Sound calling us to May,

En mon lit n’en ay fait affray
I did not let it frighten me in my bed

Ne levé mon chief du coissin;
or lift my head from my pillow,

En disant: il est trop matin saying,
“It is too early,

Ung peu je me rendormiray:
I will go back to sleep.”

Jeunes gens partent leur butin;
young jump from partner to partner

De nonchaloir m’accointeray
Not even bothering to remember you

A lui je m’abutineray
From him, I’ll move on

Trouvé l’ay plus prouchain voisin;
Finding a lover who is conveniently close by.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003.

Hugo Distler (1908 – 1942)

Lo! How a Rose

MICHAEL PRAETORIUS(1571–1621)

Lo, how a rose e’re blooming from tender stem hath sprung,
Of Jesse’s lineage coming as seers of old have sung.
It came, a blossom 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.

O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us,
And share our every load.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium December 2003.

Maurice Duruflé (1902 – 1986)

Ubi Caritas

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Where charity and love are, God is there.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Christ’s love has gathered us into one.
Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004, A Cappella Masterpieces, April 2005 and and Saints and Angels, April 2008 and Essentials – The Concert, October 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

J. Mark Dunn (b. 1966)

Carol of the Rose

Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose
Of a Rose is all my song

Listen nobles old and young
How this Rose at outset sprung;
In all this world I know of none
I so desire as that fair Rose.

The Angel Came from Heaven’s tower
To honour Mary in her bower
And said that she should bear the Flower
To break the Devil’s Chain of woe.
Misus est Gabriel Angelus ad mariam virginem desponsatam Joseph.
Send the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary who is betrothed to Joseph.

By that Ave quoth Gabriel
Unbound is man from Eva’s fell
That henceforth we in heaven might dwell
Blessed be the coming of that Rose.

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005, Holidays with Octarium, December 2007 and Saints and Angels, April 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Dede Duson (b. 1938)

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005.

Sir George Dyson (1883-1964)

To Music

TEXT: ROBERT HERRICK (1591-1674)

Charm me asleep and melt me so
With thy delicious numbers;
That being ravished, hence I go
Away in easy slumbers.

Ease my sick head, and make my bed,
Thou power that canst sever
From me this ill, and quickly still
Though thou not kill my fever.

Fall on me like a silent dew,
Or like those maiden showers,
Which, by the peep of day do strew,
A baptism over the flowers.

Melt my pains with thy soft strains
That, having ease me given,
With full delight I leave this light,
And take my flight for Heaven.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003.

E

Robert Edgerton

Somewhere

LEONARD BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
ARR. EDGERTON

There’s a place for us,
Somewhere a place for us.
Peace and quiet and open air
Wait for us
Somewhere.

There’s a time for us,
Some day a time for us,
Time together with time spare,
Time to learn, time to care,
Some day!

Somewhere.
We’ll find a new way of living,
We’ll find a way of forgiving
Somewhere . . .

There’s a place for us,
A time and place for us.
Hold my hand and we’re halfway there.
Hold my hand and I’ll take you there
Somehow,
Some day,
Somewhere!

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2007 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

Juan del Encina (1468 – 1529)

Cucu, cucu

Cucu cucu!
Guarda no lo seas tú.

Be mindful of the bird’s song
Compadre debes saber,
Friend, you must know
que la más buena mujer,
that the best woman
rabia siempre por hoder,
Is constantly raging
harta bien la tuya tú.
To be consoled by you
Compadre has de guardar,
So, friend, you must keep on
para nunca encornudar,
And never give up
si tu mujer sale a mear,
If your woman leaves to piss
sal junto con ella tú.
She’ll take your salt along with her.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

James Erb (b. 1927)

Shenandoah

ARR. JAMES ERB (B. 1927)

O Shenandoah, I long to see you
And hear your rolling river
O Shenandoah, I long to see you
‘Way, we’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri

I long to see your smiling valley
And hear your rolling river
I long to see your smiling valley
‘Way, we’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri

‘Tis seven long years since last I see thee
And hear your rolling river
‘Tis seven long years since last I see thee
‘Way, we’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005 and Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Julie Eschliman
William Tell Overture

GIOACHINO ANTONIO ROSSINI (1792 – 1868)
ARR. ESCHLIMAN

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2008 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

F

Herbert Fromm (1905 – 1995)

Mi Y´mallell

ARR. HERBERT FROMM (1905-1995)

Mi y’maleil g’vurot Yisrael
Who will acclaim the heroes of Israel
Otan my yimneh?
Who can count them?
Hein b’khol do yakum ha gibor
In every generation a hero arises to
Goeil haam
Save the nation.
Sh’ma! Bayam haheim baz’man hazehv
Listen! In the olden times
Makabi moshiyah ufodeh
The Maccabees helped and freed us
Uv’yameinu kol a, Yisrael,
In our time, the whole nation of Israel
Yit’ached yakum l’higael
Will arise and be free.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2004.

Jeff Funk
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
ARR. FUNK

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium concert December, 2004, and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

G

Daniel Gawthrop (b. 1949)
  • Lo! How a Rose
  • Sing me to Heaven

Lo! How a Rose

Lo, how a rose e’re blooming from tender stem hath sprung,
Of Jesse’s lineage coming as seers of old have sung.
It came, a blossom 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.

O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us,
And share our every load.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003, Modern Masters, November 2009, Holidays with Octarium, December 2010 and Lessons and Carols sponsored by Tulips on Troost, December 2010.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2009 release, Modern Masters.

Sing Me to Heaven

TEXT: JANE GRINER

In my heart’s sequestered chambers lie truths stripped of poet’s gloss.
Words alone are vain and vacant, and my heart is mute.
In response to aching silence memory summons half-heard voices,
And my soul finds primal eloquence and wraps me in song.

If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby.
If you would win my heart, sing me a love song.
If you would mourn me and bring me to God,
Sing me a requiem, Sing me to heaven.

Touch in me all love and passion, pain and pleasure,
Touch in me grief and comfort; love and passion, Pain and pleasure.

Sing me a lullaby, a love song, a requiem,
Love me, comfort me, bring me to God:
Sing me a love song, Sing me to heaven.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003, Essentials – The Concert, October 2008 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Grzegorz Gorczycki (1665-1734)

Gloria from Missa Paschalis

Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te, gratias agimus tibi
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You, we give thanks

propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
to You for Your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God the Father.

Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi,
Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who taketh away the sins of the world,

miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
Have mercy on us; You who take away the sins of the world, hear our prayers. Who sits at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon us.

Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Iesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
For You are the only Holy One, the only Lord, the only Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father, Amen.

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.

Charles Gounod (1818-1893)

Kyrie

2me Messe pour les societes chorales

Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy
Christe elesion
Christ have mercy
Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.

Alexandre Tikhonovitch Gretchaninov (1864-1956)

Nunc Dimittis

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace
According to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles
And to be the glory of thy people Israel.

This piece was performed on Essentials – The Concert, October 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Leah Hamilton (b. 1982)
  • Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind
  • Clair de Lune
  • Veni, Veni Emmanuel

Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE AS YOU LIKE IT ACT II, SCENE VII

Blow, blow, thou winter wind.
Thou art not so unkind
As man’s ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.
Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remember’d not.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

Clair de Lune

links to Should Have Been Choral 2008

Veni, Veni Emmanuel

Veni, veni Emmanuel,
Captivum salve Israel
Qui gemit in exilio
Privatus Dei Filio
Gaude, gaude Emmanuel,
Nascetur prote Israel.

O Come, o come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lowly exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O Come, thou wisdom from on high
And order all things far and high
To us the path of knowledge flow,
And cause us in her ways to go.
Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2007, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008, Holidays with Octarium, December 2010 and Lessons and Carols sponsored by Tulips on Troost, December 2010.

This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

H

Leah Hamilton (b. 1982)
  • Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind
  • Clair de Lune
  • Veni, Veni Emmanuel

Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE AS YOU LIKE IT ACT II, SCENE VII

Blow, blow, thou winter wind.
Thou art not so unkind
As man’s ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.
Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remember’d not.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

Clair de Lune

links to Should Have Been Choral 2008

Veni, Veni Emmanuel

Veni, veni Emmanuel,
Captivum salve Israel
Qui gemit in exilio
Privatus Dei Filio
Gaude, gaude Emmanuel,
Nascetur prote Israel.

O Come, o come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lowly exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O Come, thou wisdom from on high
And order all things far and high
To us the path of knowledge flow,
And cause us in her ways to go.
Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2007, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008, Holidays with Octarium, December 2010 and Lessons and Carols sponsored by Tulips on Troost, December 2010.

This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

G. F. Handel (1684 – 1759)

Music, Spread Thy Voice Around

Music, spread thy voice around,
Sweetly flow the lulling sound.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003.

William Harris (1883 – 1973)

Faire is the Heaven

Faire is the heaven where happy soules have place
In full enjoyment of felicitie;
Whence they do still behold the glorious face
Of the Divine, Eternall Majestie;
Yet farre more faire be those bright Cherubins
Which all with golden wings are overdight.
And those eternall burning Seraphins
Which from their faces dart out fiery light;
Yet fairer than they both and much more bright
Be the Angels and Archangels
Which attend on God’s owne person without rest or end.
These then in faire each other farre excelling
As to the Highest they approach more neare,
Yet is that Highest farre beyond all telling
Fairer than all the rest which there appeare
Though all their beauties joynd together were;
How then can mortal tongue hope to expresse
The image of such endlesse perfectnesse?

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004.

Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612)

Dixit Maria ad Gabriel

Dixit Maria ad Angelum
Mary said to the Angel:
Ecce ancilla Domine
I am the servant of the Lord,
Fiat mihi
Let it be done to me
Secundum verbum tuum
According to your word.

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005.

Stephen Hatfield (b. 1956)
  • Agnus Dei from Missa Brevis
  • Double Shot (Sweet Honey in the Rock)
  • Kyrie from Missa Brevis

Agnus Dei from Missa Brevis

Agnus Dei
Lamb of God
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Who takes away the sins of the world
Miserere nobis
Have mercy on us
Dona nobis pacem
Grant us peace

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Double Shot (Sweet Honey in the Rock)

Tell me what chu want
(Sweet honey in the rock)
Come on an’ tell me what chu want
(Sweet honey in the rock)
Tell me, what chu gonna need?
(Sweet honey in the rock)
Tell me how you gonna plead now.
(Sweet honey in the rock)
How will you know?
(Because it tastes like-uh honey.)
Honey in the rock.
Now when Moses struck the burnin’ desert,
what chu think he got?
(Sweet honey in the rock)
It was a holy, it was healin’
an’ when the midnight devils come stealin’
you need a double shot.
(Sweet honey in the rock)
When the soldier struck the dyin’ Jesus,
what chu think he got?
(Sweet honey in the rock)
Come the Master strikin’ at your hard heart,
show him what chu got.
(Sweet honey in the rock)

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Modern Masters, November 2009.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2009 release, Modern Masters.

Kyrie from Missa Brevis

Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy
Christe elesion
Christ have mercy
Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

R. Douglas Helvering (b. 1977)
  • Ubi Caritas
  • A Christmas Carol
  • Quattour Motets

Ubi Caritas

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Saecula per infinita saeculorum, Amen.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
Christ’s love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
Unto the ages through infinite ages, Amen.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, April 2008.

A Christmas Carol

This is Christ the King whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary
Raise this song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby
King of all kings, salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him
The son of Mary

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005.

Quattour Motets

Creator Alme Siderum
Creator alme siderum, Aeterna lux credentium
Dear Maker of the starts, eternal light of believers
Jesu Redemptor omnium, Intende votes supplicum
Jesus, redeemer of all mankind, Attend to our supplications
Virtus, honor, laus Gloria Deo Patri cum Filio
Virtue, honor, praise and glory be to God the Father,
Sancto simul Paraclito, In saeculorum saecula. Amen.
With the Son, as with the Holy Paraclete, for ages of ages. Amen.

Antiphon

O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
O Morning Star, splendor of eternal light, and sun of justice:
Veni et illumine sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis.
Come and shine on those seated in darkness and the shadow of death.

Rorate Coeli Desuper

Rorate coeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
Heavens, open from above, and from the clouds rain down the Just One.
Vide Domine afflictionem populi tui, et mitte quem missurus es:
See, Lord, the affliction of Thy people, and dispatch Him whom Thou hast sent:
Emitte Agnum dominatorem terrae, de petra deserti ad montem filiae Sion:
Send out the Lamb to rule the earth from the desert rocks to the mountains of the daughters of Zion:
Ut auferat ipse jugum captivitatis nostrae.
And thus take away the yoke that holds us captive.

Hodie Christus Natus Est

Hodie Christus natus est: hodie, Salvator apparuit:
Today Christ is born: today the Savior has appeared:
Hodie in terra canunt Angelie, laetantur Archangeli:
Today the Angels sing on earth, the Archangels rejoice:
Hodie exsultant justi, dicentes: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Alleluia!
Today the righteous exult, saying: Glory to God in the Highest.
Alleluia!

These pieces were performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.

Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)
Six Chansons

  • La Biche — The Doe
  • Un Cygne — The Swan
  • Puisque tous passe — Since All is Passing
  • Printemps — Springtime
  • En Hiver — In Winter
  • Verger — Orchard

La Biche – The Doe

O la biche; quel bel intérieur
O doe, what lovely ancient forest
d’anciennes forêts dans tes yeux abonde;
depths abound in your eyes;
combien de confiance ronde
how much open trust
mêlée à combien de peur.
mixed with how much fear.
Tout cela, porté par la vive
All this, borne by the brisk
gracilité de tes bonds.
gracility of your bounds.
Mais jamais rien n’arrive
But nothing ever disturbs
à cette impossessive
that unpossessive
ignorance de ton front.
unawareness of your brow.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Un Cygne – The Swan

Un cygne avance sur l’eau
A swan advances over the water
tout entouré de lui-même
all wrapped up in itself
comme un glissant tableau;
like a gliding tableau.
ainsi à certains instants
Thus at certain moments
un être que l’on aime
a being that one loves
est tout un espace mouvant.
seems just like a moving space.
Il se rapproche doublé
He draws near, doubled
comme ce cygne qui nage
like that swan who swims
sur notre âme troublée…
across our troubled soul,
qui à cet être ajoute
who adds to this being
la tremblante image
the trembling image
de bonheur et de doute.
of happiness and of doubt.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Puisque tous passe – Since All is Passing

Puisque tout passe, faisons
Since everything passes,
la mélodie passagère;
let us make fleeting melody;
celle qui nous désaltère
the one that refreshes us
aura de nous raison.
will get the better of us.
Chantons ce qui nous quitte
Let us sing that which is leaving us
avec amour et art,
with love and art;
soyons plus vite
let us be quicker
que le rapide départ.
than its swift departure.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Printemps – Springtime

O mélodie de la sève
O melody of the sap
qui dans les instruments
that rises in the instruments
de tous ces arbres s’élève,
of all these trees,
accompagne le chant
accompany the song
de notre voix trop brève.
of our too-short voices.
C’est pendant quelques mesures
It is only for a few measures
seulement que nous suivons
that we follow
les multiples figures
the manifold figurations
de ton long abandon,
of your long abandon,
ô abondante nature.
O abundant nature.
Quand il faudra nous taire
When it comes time for us to fall silent
d’autres continueront…
others will carry on…
Mais à présent comment faire
But for now what can I do
pour te rendre mon
to make my whole heart
grand coeur complémentaire?
a complement to you?

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

En Hiver – In Winter

En hiver, la mort meurtrière
In Winter, murderous Death
entre dans les maisons;
comes into the houses,
elle cherche la soeur, le père
seeks out sister and father
et leur joue du violon.
and plays to them on the fiddle.
Mais quand la terre remue,
But when the earth turns
sous la bêche du printemps,
under Springtime’s spade
la mort court dans les rues
Death runs through the streets
et salue les passants.
and greets the passers-by.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Verger – Orchard

Jamais la terre n’est plus réelle
Never is the earth more solid than
que dans tes branches, ô verger blond,
in your branches, O fair orchard,
Ni plus flottante que dans la dentelle
Nor more floating than in the lacework
que font les ombres sur le gazon.
the shadows make upon the grass.
Là se rencontre ce qui nous reste,
There we meet what remains to us,
ce qui pèse et ce qui nourrit,
what has weight and nourishes us,
avec le passage manifeste
along with the manifest passing
de la tendresse infinie.
of infinite tenderness.
Mais à ton centre la calme fontaine,
But at your heart the calm fountain,
presque dormant en son ancien rond,
almost asleep in its ancient circle,
de ce contraste parle à peine,
speaks hardly at all of these contrasts,
tant en elle il se confond.
so much are they mixed up in it.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Gustav Holst (1874 – 1934)

In the Bleak Midwinter

TEXT CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003.

Herbert Howells (1892 – 1983)

A Spotless Rose

A Spotless Rose is blowing,
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers’ foreshowing,
Of Jesse promised fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
Amid the cold, cold winter,
And in the dark midnight.

The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest Maid;
For through our God’s great love and might
The Blessed Babe she bare us
In a cold, cold winter’s night.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2004 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.

I

Grayston Ives (b. 1948)

O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above.
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And Peace to men on earth!

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.

J

Reginald Jaques

The Holly and the Ivy

ENGLISH TRADITIONAL CAROL
ARR. REGINALD JAQUES

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown:
O, the rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom,
As white as lily flow’r,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our dear Saviour: refrain

The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To do poor sinners good: refrain

The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
On Christmas Day in the morn: refrain

The holly bears a bark,
As bitter as the gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
For to redeem us all: refrain

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown: refrain

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003.

Johann Jeep (c. 1581 – 1644)

Musica, die ganz lieblich Kunst

Musica, die ganz lieblich Kunst ist ehrenwert zu halten,
Music, the lovely art, should be kept honorable

Hat billig allenthalben Gunst bei Jungen und bei Alten.
Everywhere it finds favor, from young and old.

Sie frischt das Herz, welchs leidet Schmerz, tut all Unmut vertreiben,
It makes the heart fresh, relieves all pain, and drives all displeasure away

Lasst traurig niemand bleiben.
It lets no one be sad.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003.

Josquin des Prez (c. 1440 – 1521)

El Grillo

El grillo è buon cantore
The cricket is a good singer
Che tiene longo verso.
He can sing very long.
Dalle beve grillo canta.
He sings all the time.
Ma non fa come gli altri uccelli.
But he isn’t like the other birds.
Come li han cantato un poco,
If they’ve sung a little bit
Van de fatto in altro loco
They go somewhere else
Sempre el grillo sta pur saldo.
The cricket always remains where he is.
Quando la maggior el caldo
When the heat is very fierce
Al’hor canta sol per amore.
Then he sings only for love.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003 and Essentials – The Concert, October 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

K

Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda (1801 - 1866)

Credo from Missa in a

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem,
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty
factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.
Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible:
Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum,
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula.
the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds;
Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero,
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;
genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, per quem omnia facta sunt.
by Whom all things were made;
Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven.
Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.
and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man:
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est,
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried:
et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas,
And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures:
et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris.
And ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father:
Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos,
And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead:
cuius regni non erit finis;
Whose Kingdom will have no end;
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem,
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,
qui ex Patre Filioque procedit.
Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son
Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur:
Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified,
qui locutus est per prophetas.
Who has spoken through the Prophets.
Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.
And I believe in One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,
Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum,
And I look for the Resurrection of the Dead:
et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.
And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.

Tommy Kamp

Winter Wonderland

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We’re happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He’ll say: “Are you married?”
We’ll say: “No man,
But you can do the job
When you’re in town.”

Later on, we’ll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we’ve made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he’s a circus clown
We’ll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kiddies knock him down.

When it snows, ain’t it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We’ll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December

Geoffery Keating

Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Two Turtle Doves

On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Three French Hens

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Four Calling Birds

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Five Golden Rings

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Six Geese a Laying

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Seven Swans a Swimming

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eight Maids a Milking

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Nine Ladies Dancing

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Ten Lords a Leaping

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eleven Pipers Piping

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Twelve Drummers Drumming

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2007, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.

Theron Kirk (1919 – 1999)

It was a Lover and His Lass

SETTINGS BY
THERON KIRK (1919-1999)
MICHAEL LARKIN (B. 1951)
JOHN RUTTER (B. 1945)

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE AS YOU LIKE IT ACT V SCENE III

It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That o’er the green corn-field did pass,
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

Between the acres of the rye,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
These pretty country folks would lie,
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

This carol they began that hour,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
How that a life was but a flower
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

And therefore take the present time,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino;
For love is crowned with the prime
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

These pieces were performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

L

Gordon Langford (b. 1930)

Jingle Bells

ARR. LANGFORD

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.

Michael Larkin (b. 1951)

It was a Lover and His Lass

SETTINGS BY
THERON KIRK (1919-1999)
MICHAEL LARKIN (B. 1951)
JOHN RUTTER (B. 1945)

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE AS YOU LIKE IT ACT V SCENE III

It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That o’er the green corn-field did pass,
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

Between the acres of the rye,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
These pretty country folks would lie,
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

This carol they began that hour,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
How that a life was but a flower
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

And therefore take the present time,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino;
For love is crowned with the prime
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

These pieces were performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

Libby Larsen (b. 1950)

Four Valentines: A Lover’s Journey

i. In The Still Garden

O bella bionda,
Sei come l’ onda!
Of a cool sweet dew and radiance mild
The moon a web of silence weaves
In the still garden where a child
Gathers the simple salad leaves.

A moondew stars her hanging hair
And moonlight kisses her brow
And, gathering, she sings an air:
Fair as the wave is, fair art thou!

Be mine, I pray, a waxen ear
To shield me from her childish croon
And mine a shielded heart for her
Who gathers simples of the moon.

Simples,1915, James Joyce (1882-1941)

ii. St. Valentine’s Day

Good morning, it is St. Valentine’s Day,
So early before sunshine.
I, young maid at the window,
Will be your Valentine.

The young man put trousers on,
Opened the chamber door,
Let in the maid who as a maid
Departed nevermore.

By St. Nicholas and Charity,
A shameless breed!
A young man does it when he can,
For truth, that is not right.
She said: Before you trifled with me,
You promised me to wed.
I’d not by sunlight break my word
If you had not come in.

Hamlet Act V, Scene V – William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

iii. Will you, nill You

Will you, nill you, I will marry you.

The Taming of the Shrew, Act II, Scene I – William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

iv. Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?

Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed:
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed.
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,
Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st;

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long loves this, and this gives life to thee.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Orlando di Lasso (c. 1532 – 1594)

Olà! O che bon eccho!

Olà, o che bon eccho! Pigliamoci piacere!
Hello Echo! I like the joke!

Ridiamo tutti! O bon compagno!
Everybody do it! O what a fun friend!

Che voi tu? Voria che tu cantassi una canzona?
Is that you? Would you like to sing a song?

Perchè? Perchè sí? Perchè no?
Why? Why not?

Perchè non voglio? Perchè non voi?
Why don’t you want to?

Perchè non mi piace!
That doesn’t make me very happy.

Taci dico! Taci tu! O gran poltron!
Stop talking! Stop! You big fool.

Signor, sí! Orsù non piu! Andiamo!
Yes, you sir. Let’s not do this anymore. We’re going.

Addio, bon’eccho! Rest’in pace!
Goodbye, echo. Rest in peace.

Basta!
Enough!

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.

Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943)

Contre Qui Rose

MORTEN LAURIDSEN (B. 1943)
TEXT RAINER MARIA RILKE (1875 – 1926)

Contre Qui, Rose,
Against whom, rose,
avez-vous adopté ces épines?
Have you assumed these thorns?
Votre joie trop fine vous a-t-elle forcée
Is it your too fragile joy that forced you
de devenir cette chose armée?
to become this armed thing?

Mais de qui vous protège cette arme exagérée?
But from whom does it protect you, this exaggerated defense?
Combien d’ennemis vous ai-je enlevés
How many enemies have I lifted from you
qui ne la craignaient point?
who did not fear it at all?
Au contraire, d’été en automne,
On the contrary, from summer to autumn
vous blessez les soins qu’on vous donne.
you wound the affection that is given you.
         from Les Roses, English translation by Barbara and Erica Muhl

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Modern Masters, November 2009.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2009 release, Modern Masters.

O magnum mysterium

O magnum mysterium
O great mystery
et admirabile sacramentum
and wondrous sacrament
ut animalia viderent Dominum
that animals should see the Lord
natum, jacentem in praesepio.
born, lying in a manger.
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
meruerunt portare
was worthy to bear the
Dominum Christum. Alleluia!
Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2006 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2007, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008, Holidays with Octarium, December 2010 and Lessons and Carols sponsored by Tulips on Troost, December 2010.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Philip Lawson

Down in the River to Pray

ARR. PHILIP LAWSON

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown?
Good Lord show me the way!

O sisters let’s go down
Let’s go down, come on down
O sisters let’s go down
Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the robe and crown?
Good Lord show me the way

O brothers let’s go down
Let’s go down, come on down
Come on brothers, let’s go down
Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown?
Good Lord show me the way

O fathers let’s go down
Let’s go down, come on down
O fathers let’s go down
Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the robe and crown?
Good Lord show me the way

O mothers let’s go down
Come on down, don’t you wanna go down?
Come on mothers, let’s go down
Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studding about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown?
Good Lord show me the way

O sinners, let’s go down
Let’s go down, come on down
O sinners, let’s go down
Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the robe and crown?
Good Lord show me the way

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2007 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

Kenneth Leighton (1929 – 1988)

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child

TEXT FROM THE PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMAN AND TAILORS, COVENTRY, 15TH CENTURY
Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child. By, by, lully, lullay.

O! Sisters too how may we do for to preserve this day
This pore youngling for whom we sing, by, by, lully, lullay!

Herod, the king in his raging charged he hath this day
His men of might in his own sight all children young to slay.

That woe is me poor child for thee!
And ever morn and may
For thy parting nor say nor sing
“By, by, lully, lullay”

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003.

John Lennon (1940-1980)

Blackbird

LENNON (1940-1980)
MCCARTNEY (B. 1942)
ARR. RUNSWICK

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.
Blackbird fly into the light of the dark black night.

When I’m Sixty Four

link to Should Have Been Choral, June 2007

I Will

link to Should Have Been Choral, June 2007

Antonio Lotti (1667 – 1740)

Sanctus from Simple Mass

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra Gloria tua.
Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.
Osanna in excelsis.
Hosanna in the highest.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004 and Saints and Angels, April 2008 and Essentials – The Concert, October 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Norman Luboff (1917-1987)

Still, Still, Still

Still, still still one can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed the world is sleeping
Holy Star its vigil keeping
Still, still, still one can hear the falling snow.

Sleep, sleep, sleep, ‘tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth.
The night is peaceful all around you
Close your eyes let sleep surround you
Sleep, sleep, sleep, ‘tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth.

Dream, dream, dream of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream of the joyous day to come.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Peter Lutkin (1858-1931)

The Lord Bless You and Keep You

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you.
Amen.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.

M

George MacFarren (1813 – 1887)

Orpheus with his Lute

SETTINGS BY GEORGE MACFARREN (1813-1887)
LLOYD PFAUTSCH (1921-2003)
TEXT: SHAKESPEARE HENRY VIII ACT III, SCENE I

Orpheus with his lute made trees,
And the mountain tops that freeze,
Bow themselves when he did sing:
To his music plants and flowers
Ever sprung; as sun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.
Every thing that heard him play,
Even the billows of the sea,
Hung their heads, and then lay by.
In sweet music is such art,
Killing care and grief of heart
Fall asleep, or hearing, die.

These pieces were performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.
The Pfautsch setting is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

James MacMillan (b. 1959)

Agnus Dei from Missa Brevis

Agnus Dei
Lamb of God
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Who takes away the sins of the world
Miserere nobis
Have mercy on us
Dona nobis pacem
Grant us peace

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.

Guillame de Machaut (c.1300-1377)

Kyrie from Messe de Nostre Dame

Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.

Ralph Manuel (b. 1951)

Alleluia

Alleluia!

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces, April 2005 and Saints and Angels, April 2008, Essentials – The Concert, October 2008 and Lessons and Carols sponsored by Tulips on Troost, December 2010.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Joe D. Markley (b. 1953)

Hymn to Music

Here’s to brotherhood and song
And voices singing full and strong.
Soft the strains resound and rise,
Growing ‘till they fill the skies.

Short this fleeting life may last.
All our work to dust may pass.
Let us lasting tribute bring.
Unto Music let us sing.

Sweet the sounds of music springs
from our hearts when voices sing.
Not for gain or earthly treasure,
Sing we for our joy and pleasure.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.

Kerry Marsh

Christmas Time is Here

Christmas time is here,
happiness and cheer,
fun for all
that children call
their favorite time of year.

Snowflakes in the air,
carols everywhere,
olden times
and ancient rhymes
and love and dreams to share.

Sleigh bells in the air;
beauty everywhere;
yuletide
by the fireside
and joyful memories there.

Christmas time is here;
families drawing near;
oh that we
could always see
such spirit through the year,

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2007.

Gilbert M. Martin (b. 1941)

A Winter Carol

GILBERT M. MARTIN (B. 1941)
TEXT THOMAS L. LYNCH

A thousand years have come and gone and near a thousand more
Since happier light from heaven shone than ever shone before;
And in the hearts of old and young a joy most joyful stirred,
That sent such news from tongue to tongue as ears had never heard.
Come all, rejoice, come all and sing, as in the days of yore;
Come all, and hearts make ready bring to welcome back once more
The day when first on wintry earth a summer change befell
And, dawning in a lowly birth, our God, Emmanuel.

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005.

Joel Martinson (b. 1960)

In the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

text Christina Rossetti

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005.

Wide, Wide in the Rose’s Side

JOEL MARTINSON (B. 1960)
TEXT KENNETH PATCHEN

Wide, wide in the rose’s side
Sleeps a child without sin.
And any man who loves in this world
Stands here on guard over him.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2007, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008, Holidays with Octarium, December 2010 and Lessons and Carols sponsored by Tulips on Troost, December 2010.

Paul McCartney (b. 1942)

Blackbird

LENNON (1940-1980)/MCCARTNEY (B. 1942)
ARR. RUNSWICK

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly into the light of the dark black night.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006 and Should Have Been Choral, June 2007 and Should Have Been Choral, May 2009.

When I’m Sixty Four

link to Should Have Been Choral, June 2007

I Will

link to Should Have Been Choral, June 2007

Warren Massey (b. 1931)
  • Angels We Have Heard On High
  • Most Highly Favored Lady

Angels We Have Heard On High

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Refrain

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Refrain

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.

Most Highly Favored Lady

Of Mary, the Christ was born,
In Bethlehem on Christmas morn,
A blessed mother she became.
All generations laud her name,
Most highly favored lady. Gloria.

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 know a blessed mother thou shalt be.”
“A blessed mother I shall be?”
“All generations laud and honor thee.”
“All generations honor me?”
“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!”

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2007 and Saints and Angels, April 2008, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Lessons and Carols sponsored by Tulips on Troost, December 2010.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Darmon Meader
  • The First Noel
  • Send in the Clowns

The First Noel

ARR. DARMON MEADER

The first Noel the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east, beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Refrain

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest;
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay.
Refrain

Watch the video on YouTube.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2004 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2007, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.

Send in the Clowns

STEPHEN SONDHEIM (B. 1930)
ARR. MEADER

Isn’t it rich?
Are we a pair?
Me here at last on the ground,
You in mid-air.
Send in the clowns.

Isn’t it bliss?
Don’t you approve?
One who keeps tearing around,
One who can’t move.
Where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns.

Just when I’d stopped opening doors,
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours,
Making my entrance again with my usual flair,
Sure of my lines,
No one is there.

Don’t you love farce?
My fault I fear.
I thought that you’d want what I want.
Sorry, my dear.
But where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don’t bother, they’re here.

Isn’t it rich?
Isn’t it queer,
Losing my timing this late
In my career?
And where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns.
Well, maybe next year.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2008 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)

Die Nachtigall

Die Nachtigall, sie war entfernt,
The nightingale, she was far away,
Der Frühling lockt sie wieder;
the spring lures her back;
Was neues hat sie nicht gelernt,
she has learned nothing new,
Singt alte liebe Lieder.
she sings the old, well-loved songs.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Claudio Monteverdi (1567 – 1643)
  • Cantate Domino
  • Ecco mormorar l’onde
  • Gloria from Messe a 4 voci

Cantate Domino

Cantate Domino canticum novum
Sing to the Lord a new song

Cantate et benedicite nomine ejus
Sing and speak good of his name

Quia mirabilia fecit
Because of the wonders he has done

Cantate et exultate et psallite
Sing and exult and play

Psallite in cithara et voce psalmi
Play on the lyre and let the voices sing

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Ecco mormorar l’onde

Ecco mormorar l’onde
Here are the waves murmuring
e tremolar le fronde
and the foliage quivering
a l’aura mattutina e gl’ arborselli
at the morning breeze; and the shrubs,
e sovra i rami i vagh’ augelli
and on the tree branches the pretty birds
cantar soavemente
sing softly
e rider l’oriente
and the Orient smiles.
ecco già l’alb’ appare
Here dawn looms up
e si specchia nel mare
and is reflected in the sea
e rasserena il cielo
and brightens up the sky
e imperla il dolce gielo
and beads the sweet ice
e gl’ alti monti indora
and gilds the tall mountains.
o bella e vagh’ aurora
O beautiful dawn,
l’aura è tua messagiera
the breeze is your herald
e tu de l’aura
and you are herald of the breeze
ch’ ogn’ arso cor ristaura.
which refreshes every burnt heart.

This piece was performed on Essentials – The Concert, October 2008. This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Gloria from Messe a 4 voci

Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te, gratias agimus tibi
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You, we give thanks

propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
to You for Your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God the Father.

Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi,
Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who taketh away the sins of the world,

miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
Have mercy on us; You who take away the sins of the world, hear our prayers. Who sits at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon us.

Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Iesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
For You are the only Holy One, the only Lord, the only Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father, Amen.

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.

Thomas Morley (c. 1558 – 1602)

Sing We and Chant It

Sing we and chant it
While love doth grant it.
All things invite us
Now to delight us.
Not long youth lasteth
And old age hasteth.
Now is best leisure
To take our pleasure.
Hence, care, be packing!
No mirth be lacking!
Let spare no treasure
To live in pleasure.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003.

‘Tis the Time of Yuletide Glee

‘Tis the time of Yuletide glee, all the world should joyful be
Let us sing right merrily.
Though the frost may chill the ground, and the snow lie all around
Let your song most mirthful sound.
Be ye then cheery, no man be dreary, let none be weary,
This day should joyful be,
‘Tis the time of Yuletide glee.

There are carols in the air happy music everywhere
Bidding us to banish care.
From the houses all alight shine the Christmas trees this night
And the world is all aright.

Be ye then cheery, no man be dreary, let none be weary,
This day should joyful be,
‘Tis the time of Yuletide glee.

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005.

N

Vaclav Nelhybel (1919-1996)

Estampie Natalis

Puer natus in Bethlehem, alleluia,
The boy born in Bethlehem, alleluia,
Unde gaudet Jerusalem, alleluia.
Rejoice Jerusalem, alleluia.
In cordis jubilo
In joy of heart
Christum natum adoremus sum novo cantico
Let us adore the newborn Christ with a new song.

Assumpsit carnem Filius, alleluia.
The Son has assumed flesh, alleluia.
Dei Patris altissimus, alleluia.
The Father most high, alleluia.
In cordis jubilo
In joy of heart
Christum natum adoremus sum novo cantico.
Let us adore the newborn Christ with a new song.

Per Gabrielem nuntium, alleluia.
Per Gabriel’s greeting, alleluia.
Virgo concepit Filium, alleluia.
The virgin conceived a Son, alleluia.
In cordis jubilo
In joy of heart
Christum natum adoremus sum novo cantico.
Let us adore the newborn Christ with a new song.

Hic jacet in praesepio, alleluia.
He lies in the manger, alleluia.
Qui regnat sine termino, alleluia.
He who rules without end, alleluia.
In cordis jubilo
In joy of heart
Christum natum adoremus sum novo cantico.
Let us adore the newborn Christ with a new song.

In hoc natali gaudio, alleluia.
Let us bless the Lord, alleluia.
Deo dicamus gracias, alleluia!
In joy of this birth, alleluia.
Laudetur Sancta Trinitas, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit be praised, alleluia.
Benedicamus Domino, alleluia.
Give thanks unto God, alleluia!

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.

John Jacob Niles (1892-1980)

I Wonder as I Wander

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the savior did come fore to die,
For poor lowly people like you and like I,
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky;

When Mary birthed Jesus ’twas in a cow stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all,
And high from the Heavens a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of the ages, it then did recall;

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in Heaven to sing,
He surely could have had it ‘cause he was the King.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

O

Johannes Ockeghem (c.1410 - 1497)

Gloria from Missa Cuiusvis Toni

Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te, gratias agimus tibi
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You, we give thanks

propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
to You for Your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God the Father.

Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi,
Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who taketh away the sins of the world,

miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
Have mercy on us; You who take away the sins of the world, hear our prayers. Who sits at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon us.

Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Iesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
For You are the only Holy One, the only Lord, the only Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father, Amen.

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.

Anders Öhrwall (b. 1932)

Prepare The Way

Prepare the way, O Zion
Ye awful deeps rise high
Sink low ye lofty mountains
The Lord is drawing nigh
The righteous King of Glory
Foretold in sacred story
Oh blest is he that came
In God the Father’s name.

Swing wide your portals Zion
And hail your glorious King,
His tidings of salvation
To every people bring.
Who, waiting still in sadness
Would sing his praise with gladness
O blest is he that came
In God the Father’s name

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005.

P

Arvo Pärt (b. 1935)

Credo from Missa Syllabica

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem,
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty
factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.
Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible:
Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum,
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula.
the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds;
Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero,
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;
genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri;
begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father,
per quem omnia facta sunt.
by Whom all things were made;
Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven.
Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.
and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man:
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est,
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried:
et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas,
And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures:
et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris.
And ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father:
Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos,
And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead:
cuius regni non erit finis;
Whose Kingdom will have no end;
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem,
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,
qui ex Patre Filioque procedit.
Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son
Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur:
Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified,
qui locutus est per prophetas.
Who has spoken through the Prophets.
Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.
And I believe in One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,
Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum,
And I look for the Resurrection of the Dead:
et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.
And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.

Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina (c.1525 - 1594)

Sicut Cervus

Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum
As the hart pants after the water brooks
ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus
so pants my soul after you, O God.

This piece was performed on Essentials – The Concert, October 2008 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Alice Parker (b. 1925)
  • What Child is This
  • Wondrous Love

What Child is This

ARR. ALICE PARKER (B. 1925) AND
ROBERT SHAW (1916-1999)

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Watch the video on YouTube.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Wondrous Love

ARR. ALICE PARKER (B. 1925)
ROBERT SHAW (1916-1999)

What wondrous love is this, oh my soul, oh my soul,
What wondrous love is this, oh my soul.
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, oh my soul.
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free I’ll sing and joyful be,
and thro’ eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on.
And thro’ eternity I’ll sing on.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert April 2005 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Jason Parr (b. 1978)

Ständchen

link to Should Have Been Choral 2008

Pierre Passereau (d. 1547)

Il est bel et bon

Il est bel et bon, commère, mon mari.
My husband is handsome and good, you busybody!
Il etaient deux femmes toutes d’un pays.
There were two women from the same town
Disans l’une à l’outre:
Saying to each other,
Avez bon mari?
“Do you have a good husband?”
Il est bel et bon, commère, mon mari.
My husband is handsome and good, you busybody!
Il ne me courousse ne me bat aussi;
He doesn’t get angry with me or beat me.
Il fait le ménage,
He does the housekeeping
Il donne aux poulailles
he feeds the hens;
Et je prens mes plaisirs.
and I take my pleasures
Commère, c’est pour rire
It’s something to laugh about,
Quant les poulailles crient
when the hens cry
Co co co co co dac
Petite coquete, qu’est cecy?
“Little coquette, what’s this?”
Il est bel et bon, commère, mon mari.
My husband is handsome and good, you busybody!

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Stephen Paulus (b. 1949)
  • i carry your heart with me
  • Pilgrims’ Hymn

i carry your heart with me

STEPHEN PAULUS (B. 1949)
TEXT EE CUMMINGS (1894-1962)

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)
ee cummings (1894-1962)

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Modern Masters, November 2009 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2009 release, Modern Masters.

Pilgrims’ Hymn

STEPHEN PAULUS (B. 1949)

Even before we call on Your name
To ask You, O God,
When we seek for the words to glorify You,
You hear our prayer;
Unceasing love, O unceasing love,
Surpassing all we know.

Glory to the Father,
And to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit.

Even with darkness sealing us in,
We breathe Your name,
And through all the days that follow so fast,
We trust in You;

Endless Your grace, O endless Your grace,
Beyond all mortal dream.

Both now and for ever,
And unto ages and ages,
Amen.

Text: Michael Dennis Browne

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Daniel Pederson

Sweet and Twenty

O Mistress Mine

SETTINGS BY
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
ROBERT BAKSA (B. 1938)
JUDITH LANG ZAIMONT (B. 1945)
DANIEL PEDERSON (SWEET AND TWENTY )
TEXT: SHAKESPEARE TWELFTH NIGHT ACT II, SCENE III

O mistress mine, where are you roaming?
O stay and hear, your true love’s coming
That can sing both high and low.
Trip no further, pretty sweeting;
Journeys end in lovers’ meeting,
Ev’ry wise man’s son doth know.
What is love? ‘Tis not hereafter;
Present mirth hath present laughter;
What’s to come is still unsure:
In delay there lies no plenty;
Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty;
Youth’s a stuff will not endure.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.
Daniel Pederson’s Sweet and Twenty was performed on Listener’s Choice, February 2011.

Edgar Pettman (1886 – 1943)

I saw a Maiden

BASQUE CAROL
REFRAIN BY: EDGAR PETTMAN (1886-1943)

I saw a maiden sitten and sing: she lulled a child, a sweete Lording.
Lullay, lullay, my dear son, my sweeting.
Lullay, lullay, my dear heart, my own dear darling.

This very Lord he made alle thing;
of lordes the Lord, of kinges the King. refrain.

There was mickle melody at that childes birth:
and all in heaven’s bliss, they made mickle mirth. refrain.

Angels sang that night and saiden to that child:
now blest be thou and she, both meek and mild. refrain.

Pray we to that child and to his mother dear,
His blessing to them that maken now cheer. refrain.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003.

Lloyd Pfautsch (1921 – 2003)
Love’s Antiphon

Triptych
• Musicks Empire
• Orpheus with his Lute
• Consecrate the Place and Day

Love’s Antiphon

My luve is like a red, red rose,
That’s newly sprung in June;
My luve is like a melodie
That’s sweetly played in tune
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And rocks melt wi’ the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only luve!
And fare thee weel a while!
And I will come again my luve,
Though it were ten thousand mile. My true love hath my heart and I have his,
By just exchange one for another giv’n.
I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss,
There never was a better bargain driv’n.
His heart in me keeps him and me in one,
My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides:
He loves my heart, for now it is his own,
I cherish his because in me it bides.

Text: Robert Burns and Sir Philip Sydney

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005.

Musicks Empire

LLOYD PFAUTSCH (1921-2003)
TEXT: ANDREW MARVEL (1621-1679)

First was the World as one great Cymbal made,
Where Jarring Windes to infant Nature plaid.
All Musick was a solitary sound,
To hollow Rocks and murm’ring Fountains bound.

Jubal first made the wilder notes agree
And Jubal tuned the Musicks Jubilee:
He called the Echoes from the sullen Cell,
And built the Organs City where they dwell.

Each sought a consort in that lovely place:
And Virgin Trebles wed the manly Base.
From whence the Progeny of numbers knew
Into harmonious Colonies withdrew.

Some to Lute, some to the Viol went,
And others chose the Coronet eloquent.
These practicing the Wind, and those the Wire,
To sing Men’s Triumphs,
Or in Heaven’s quire.

Then Musick the Mosaique of the Air,
Did of all these a solemn noise prepare:
With which she gained the Empire of the Ear
Including all between the Earth and Sphear.

Victorious sounds! Yet here your Homage do
Unto a gentler Conqueror than you:
Who though He flies the Musick of his praise,
Would with you Heavens Hallelujah raise.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003, at the American Choral Directors National Convention in Los Angeles in 2005 and on Listener’s Choice, February 2011.

This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Orpheus with his Lute

SETTINGS BY GEORGE MACFARREN (1813-1887)
LLOYD PFAUTSCH (1921-2003)

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE HENRY VIII ACT III, SCENE I

Orpheus with his lute made trees,
And the mountain tops that freeze,
Bow themselves when he did sing:
To his music plants and flowers
Ever sprung; as sun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.
Every thing that heard him play,
Even the billows of the sea,
Hung their heads, and then lay by.
In sweet music is such art,
Killing care and grief of heart
Fall asleep, or hearing, die.

These pieces were performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.
The Pfautsch setting is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Consecrate the Place and Day

LLOYD PFAUTSCH (1921-2003)
TEXT: JOSEPH ADDISON (1672-1719)

Consecrate the place and day
To music and Cecelia
Let no rough winds approach

nor dare Invade the hallowed bounds,
Nor rudely shake the tuneful air,

Nor spoil the fleeting, fleeting sounds.
Nor mournful sigh nor groan be heard,

But gladness dwell on every tongue:
Whilst all, with voice and strings prepared,

Keep up the loud harmonious song.
And imitate the blest above in joy and harmony.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003, Saints and Angels, October 2004 and Saints and Angels, April 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Astor Piazzolla (b.1921)

La Muerte del Angel

link to Should Have Been Choral, June 2007

Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987)

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

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

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

For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
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.

I’m weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest a while:
I’m weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest a while:
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:
This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive:
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

This piece is featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Francis Poulenc (1899 – 1963)
  • Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël
    • O magnum mysterium
    • Quem vidistis pastores dicite
    • Videntes stellam
    • Hodie Christus natus est

O magnum mysterium

O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum
O great mystery and wondrous sacrament
Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentem in praesepio./em>
that animals should see the Lord born, lying in a manger.
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum./em>
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ.

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Quem vidistis pastores dicite

Quem vidistis pastores dicite
Tell us, shepherds, who did you see?
Annunciate nobis in terries quis apparuit
Tell us, who came down to earth
Natum vidimus, et choros Angelorum collaudantes Dominum.
We saw the birth, the choir of angels singing to God.
Dicite quidnam vidistis
Tell us how it happened
Et annuntiate Christi nativitatem
Announce the news of Christ’s birth.

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Videntes stellam

Videntes stellam Magi gavisi sunt gaudio magno
The wise men saw the star with great gladness
Et intrantes domum obtulerunt Domino aurum, thus et myrrham.
And they went to offer the Lord gold, frankincense and myrrh.

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Hodie Christus natus est

Hodie Christus natus est
Today Christ is Born
Hodie Salvator apparuit
Today the Savior appears
Hodie in terra canunt Angeli, laetantur Archangeli
Today on earth the angels and archangels sing and rejoice
Hodie exsultant justi dicentes
Today rejoice and give offerings
Gloria in excelsis Deo, alleluia.
Glory be to God on high, alleluia.

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Michael Praetorius (1571 – 1621)
  • Lo! How a Rose
  • Psallite
  • In dulci jubilo

Lo! How a Rose

MICHAEL PRAETORIUS(1571–1621)
HUGO DISTLER (1908–1942)

Lo, how a rose e’re blooming from tender stem hath sprung,
Of Jesse’s lineage coming as seers of old have sung.
It came, a blossom 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.

O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us,
And share our every load.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium December 2003.

Psallite

MICHAEL PRAETORIUS (1571-1621)
ENGLISH TEXT BY JOHN RUTTER

Psallite unigenito
Sing psalms
Christo, Dei Filio,
To Christ, the Son of God,
Psallite redemptori,
Sing psalms to the Redeemer,
Domino, puerulo
To the Lord, the little Child
jacenti in praesepio.
lying in a manger bed.

Lo, in a manger bed there lies an infant small
Angel hosts their homage pay before the lord of all.

Glory to God on high the choirs of angels sing,
Peace on earth goodwill to men their voices echoing.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2004, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.

In dulci jubilo

MICHAEL PRAETORIUS (1571-1611)

In dulci jubilo
With sweet rejoicing
nun singet und seid froh!
now sing and be glad!
Unsers Herzens Wonne
Our hearts’ delight
leit in præsepio,
is lying in a manger
und leuchtet als die Sonne,
and shines forth like the sun
matris in gremio.
on His mother’s lap.
Alpha es et O!
You are the Alpha and Omega.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Richard Proulx (b. 1937)

Ubi Caritas

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Where charity and love are, God is there.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Christ’s love has gathered us into one.
Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert October 2004.

Gene Puerling (b. 1929)

The Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square

That certain night, the night we met
There was magic abroad in the air
There were angels dining at the Ritz
And a nightingale sang in Berkley Square.

I may be right, I may be wrong,
But I’m perfectly willing to swear,
That when you turned and smiled at me,
A nightingale sang in Berkley Square.

The moon that lingered over London town,
Poor puzzled moon, he wore a frown
How could he know we two were so in love,
The whole darn world seemed upside down.

The streets of town were paved with stars,
It was such a romantic affair.
And as we kissed and said goodnight,
A nightingale sang in Berkley Square.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

R

Sergeï Vassilievitch Rachmaninov (1873-1943)

Bogoroditse Devo, raduisya from Vespers

Bogoroditse Devo, raduisya
Rejoice, virgin mother of God
Blagodatnaya Marie, Gospod s Tovoyu
Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you
Blagoslovena Tyi v zhenakh
Blessed are you among women,
i blagosloven plod chreva Tvoego,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
yako Spasa rodila esi dush nashikh
for you have borne the Savior of our souls.

This piece was performed on Essentials – The Concert, October 2008 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Jonathan Rathbone

Symphony No. 40, molto allegro

Should Have Been Choral, June 2007

Noel Regney

Do You Hear What I Hear

NOEL REGNEY AND GLORIA SHAYNE
ARR. AINSWORTH

Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star
Dancing in the night,
With a tail as big as a kite.

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy:
Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing thru the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song
High above the tree,
With a voice as big as the sea.

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king:
Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child
Shivers in the cold,
Let us bring Him silver and gold.

Said the king to the people everywhere:
Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
A Child, a Child
Sleeping in the night,
He will bring us goodness and light.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.

Eric Richards

Let It Snow

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we’ve no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

It doesn’t show signs of stopping,
And I brought some corn for popping,
And the lights are turned way down low,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

When we finally kiss goodnight,
How I hate going out in the storm!
But if you’ll really hold me tight,
All the way home I’ll be warm.

The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we’re still good-bying,
But as long as you love me so,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2007 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.

Chris Rishel (b. 1985)

Afternoon Delight

link to Should Have Been Choral 2008

Daryl Runswick

The Barber of Seville Overture

GIOACHINO ANTONIO ROSSINI (1792 – 1868)
ARR. DARYL RUNSWICK

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2008 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

Blackbird

LENNON (1940-1980)/MCCARTNEY (B. 1942)
ARR. RUNSWICK

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly into the light of the dark black night.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006 and Should Have Been Choral, June 2007 and Should Have Been Choral, May 2009.

John Rutter (b. 1945)

God Be In My Head

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.

Text: Sarum Primer

This pieces was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005.

It was a Lover and His Lass

SETTINGS BY
THERON KIRK (1919-1999)
MICHAEL LARKIN (B. 1951)
JOHN RUTTER (B. 1945)

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE AS YOU LIKE IT ACT V SCENE III

It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That o’er the green corn-field did pass,
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

Between the acres of the rye,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
These pretty country folks would lie,
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

This carol they began that hour,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
How that a life was but a flower
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

And therefore take the present time,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino;
For love is crowned with the prime
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

These pieces were performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

Wexford Carol

IRISH TRADITIONAL CAROL
ARR. JOHN RUTTER (B. 1945)

Good people all, this Christmas-time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas day;
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass;
From every door repelled alas!
As long foretold, their refuge all
Was but an humble ox’s stall.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;
To whom God’s angels did appear,
Which put the shepherds in great fear.
‘Prepare and go,’ the angels said.
‘To Bethlehem, be not afraid:
For there you’ll find, this happy morn,
A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.

With thankful heart and joyful mind,
The shepherds went the babe to find.
And as God’s angel had foretold,
They did our saviour Christ behold.
Within a manger he was laid,
And by his side the virgin maid,
Attending on the Lord of life,
Who came on earth to end all strife.

Watch the video on YouTube.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003, Holidays with Octarium, December 2004, and Holidays with Octarium, December 2007, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008, Holidays with Octarium, December 2010 and Lessons and Carols sponsored by Tulips on Troost, December 2010.

This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

S

Antonio Salieri (1750-1825)

Sanctus and Bendictus from Missa Stylo a cappella

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth; pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts; Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in excelsis
Hosanna in the highest.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

This piece was performed on Masstiche, February 2010.

Venceslaus Samotulinus (c. 1524-c.1572)

Dies Est Laetitiae

Dies est laetitiae, in ortu regali
This is a joyful day, in regal splendor
Nam processit hodie claustro virginali
An admirable boy has come forth from a virgin’s womb.
Puer admirabilis vultu delectabilis
He is beautiful
In humanitate
In his humanity
Qui in aestimabilis est et ineffabilis in divinitate
Inestimable and ineffable in his divinity.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006 and Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008.

Bruce Saylor (b. 1946)

Lo, How a Rose

Lo, how a rose e’re blooming from tender stem hath sprung,
Of Jesse’s lineage coming as seers of old have sung.
It came, a blossom 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.

O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us,
And share our every load.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2004.

Franz Schubert (1797 – 1828)

Sanctus from Deutsche Messe

Heilig, heilig, heilig, heilig ist der Herr!
Holy, holy, holy, holy is the Lord!
Heilig, heilig, heilig, heilig ist nur er,
Holy, holy, holy; He alone is holy,
Er, der nie begonnen, er der immer war,
He who has no beginning, He who always was,
ewig ist und waltet, sein wird immerdar.
His reign and being is eternal, He shall be forever and ever.
Allmacht, Wunder, Liebe, alles rings umher!
Power, wonder, love is all around!
Heilig, heilig, heilig, heilig ist der Herr!
Holy, holy, holy, holy is the Lord.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004 and Saints and Angels, April 2008 and Essentials – The Concert, October 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Deke Sharon (b. 1967)
  • Dancing Queen
  • Proud Mary

Dancing Queen

BENNY ANDERSSON (B.1946)
BJÖRN ULVAEUS (B. 1945)
STIG ANDERSON(1931-1997)
ARR. SHARON (B. 1967)

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen

Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for the place to go
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing
You come in to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the musics high
With a bit of rock music, everything is fine
Youre in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance…

You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen

You’re a teaser, you turn em on
Leave them burning and then youre gone
Looking out for another, anyone will do
Youre in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance…

You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2008 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

Proud Mary

JOHN FOGERTY (B. 1945)
ARR. SHARON (B. 1967)

I left a good job in the city
Working for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleep
Worrying ’bout the way things might have been

Big wheel keep on turning
Proud Mary keep on burning
And we’re rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river

Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis
Pumped a lot of tane down in New Orleans
But I never saw the good side of the city
‘Till I hitched a ride on a riverboat queen

Big wheel keep on turning
Proud Mary keep on burning
And we’re rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2008 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

Robert Shaw (1916-1999)
  • What Child is This
  • Wondrous Love

What Child is This

ARR. ALICE PARKER (B. 1925) AND
ROBERT SHAW (1916-1999)

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Watch the video on YouTube.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.

This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Wondrous Love

ARR. ALICE PARKER (B. 1925)
ROBERT SHAW (1916-1999)

What wondrous love is this, oh my soul, oh my soul,
What wondrous love is this, oh my soul.
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, oh my soul.
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free I’ll sing and joyful be,
and thro’ eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on.
And thro’ eternity I’ll sing on.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert April 2005 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Gloria Shayne

Do You Hear What I Hear

NOEL REGNEY AND GLORIA SHAYNE
ARR. AINSWORTH

Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star
Dancing in the night,
With a tail as big as a kite.

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy:
Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing thru the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song
High above the tree,
With a voice as big as the sea.

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king:
Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child
Shivers in the cold,
Let us bring Him silver and gold.

Said the king to the people everywhere:
Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
A Child, a Child
Sleeping in the night,
He will bring us goodness and light.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.

C.V. Stanford (1852 – 1924)

Beati quorum via

Beati quorum via integra est:
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
qui ambulant in lege Domini
who walk in the law of the Lord.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October  s2004.

The Blue Bird

The lake lay blue below the hill,
O’er it, as I looked, there flew
Across the waters, cold and still,
A bird whose wings were palest blue.
The sky above was blue at last,
The sky beneath me blue in blue,
A moment, ere the bird had passed,
It caught his image as he flew.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006, Essentials – The Concert, October 2008 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Joseph Gentry Stephens (b. 1972)

In dulci jubilo

In dulci jubilo
With sweet rejoicing
nun singet und seid froh!
now sing and be glad!
Unsers Herzens Wonne
Our hearts’ delight
leit in præsepio,
is lying in a manger
und leuchtet als die Sonne,
and shines forth like the sun
matris in gremio.
on His mother’s lap.
Alpha es et O!
You are the Alpha and Omega.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.

Richard Stevens (1757 – 1837)

Ye Spotted Snakes

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM ACT II SCENE II

You spotted snakes, with double tongue,
Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;
Newts and blind-worms do no wrong;
Come not near our fairy queen:
Philomel, with melody,
Sing in our sweet lullaby:
Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby:
Never harm, nor spell, nor charm,
Come our lovely lady nigh;
So good-night, with lullaby.
Weaving spiders, come not here;
Hence, you long-legg’d spinners, hence;
Beetles black, approach not near;
Worm nor snail do no offence.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

Nick Strimple

The Gnat’s Wedding

Koma_i se _enili, Tro_ku vína nem_li
Gnats were getting married, they didn’t have a drop of wine.
P_ileteltam slavi_ek, p_ines vína _eidlí_ek.
A lark came and brought a little bottle.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Z. Randall Stroope (b. 1953)

Old Horatio Had a Farm

link to Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006

Steven Stucky (b. 1949)
  • Eyesight
  • From Cymbeline

Eyesight

TEXT A.R. AMMONS (1926-2001)

It was May before my
attention came
to spring and

my word I said
to the southern slopes
I’ve

missed it, it
came and went before
I got right to see:

don’t worry, said the mountain,
try the later northern slopes
or if

you can climb, climb
into spring: but
said the mountain

it’s not that way
with all things, some
that go are gone

A.R. Ammons (1926-2001)

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Modern Masters, November 2009.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2009 release, Modern Masters.

Hark the Lark

BENJAMIN COOKE (1734-1793)
STEVEN STUCKY (B. 1949)
TEXT: SHAKESPEARE CYMBELINE ACT II, SCENE III

Hark, hark! the lark at heaven’s gate sings,
And Phoebus ‘gins arise,
His steeds to water at those springs
On chaliced flowers that lies;
And winking Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes:
With every thing that pretty is,
My lady sweet, arise:
Arise, arise.

Hark, hark! the lark at heaven’s gate sings,
And Phoebus ‘gins arise,
His steeds to water at those springs
On chaliced flowers that lies;
And winking Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes:
With every thing that pretty is,
My lady sweet,
arise: Arise, arise.

These pieces were performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621)

Hodie Christus Natus Est

Hodie Christus natus est
Today Christ is born
Noe, noe. Hodie Salvator apparuit, Alleluia.
Noel, Noel! Today the Savior has appeared, Alleluia
Hodie in terra canunt angeli
Today the angels sing on earth
Lætantur archangeli Noe, Noe
Today archangels rejoice Noel, Noel
Hodie exultant iusti, dicentes
Today the righteous leap up, saying
Gloria in excelsis Deo, Alleluia. Noe
Glory to God in the highest, Alleluia, Noel

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium, December 2005, Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Ward Swingle

Flight of the Bumblebee

NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908)
ARR. WARD SWINGLE

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2007 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

Overture to the Marriage of Figaro

link to Should Have Been Choral 2008

T

Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)

If Ye Love Me

If ye love me,
keep my commandments,
and I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another comforter,
that he may bide with you forever,
e’en the spirit of truth.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

André Thomas (b. 1952)

African Noel

Sing Noel
Sing We all Noel
Come, ye people, gather here
To hear the news of good cheer.
The King of Kings, the Lamb of God is born today in Bethlehem

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2004.

Randall Thompson (1899 – 1984)

Alleluia

Alleluia!

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004 and Saints and Angels, April 2008 and Essentials – The Concert, October 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Virgil Thomson (1896-1989)

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

My Shepherd will supply my need:
Jehovah is His Name;
in pastures fresh he makes me feed,
beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
when I forsake his ways,
and leads me, for his mercy’s sake,
in paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death
his presence is my stay;
one word of his supporting grace
drives all my fears away.
His hand, in sight of all my foes,
doth still my table spread;
my cup with blessings overflows,
his oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
attend me all my days;
O may thy house be my abode,
and all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
while others go and come;
no more a stranger, nor a guest,
but like a child at home.

Text: Isaac Watts

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Guy Turner

Over the Rainbow

HAROLD ARLEN (1905-1986)
ARR. GUY TURNER

When all the world is a hopeless jumble
And the raindrops tumble all around
Heaven opens a magic lane

When all the clouds darken up the skyway
There’s a rainbow highway to be found
Leading from your windowpane

To a place behind the sun
Just a step beyond the rain

Somewhere, over the rainbow
Way up high
There’s a land that I dreamed of
Once in a lullabye

Somewhere, over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Some day I’ll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where laughter falls like lemon drops

Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me

Somewhere, over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh, why can’t I?

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2008, Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.

V

Jay Van Blaricum (b. 1978)

I Will

link to Should Have Been Choral, June 2007

Long, Long Ago

Winds through the olive trees softly did blow
Round little Bethlehem
Long, long ago.
Sheep on the hillside lay whiter than snow;
Shepherds were watching them,
Long, long ago.
Then from the happy sky, angels bent low,
Singing their song of joy,
Long, long ago.
For in a manger bed, cradled we know
Christ came to Bethlehem,
Long, long ago.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

Pavane pour une infante defunte

link to Should Have Been Choral 2008

Prelude No. 1, BWV 846

link to Should Have Been Choral, June 2007

The Tree is But One Leaf

The tree is but one leaf.
Rivers, still vaster leaves.
Their pulp is earth.
Towns, insect ova in their axils.

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.

Orazio Vecchi (1550 – 1605)

Fa Una Canzona

Fa una canzona senza note nere.
Sing me a song without black notes
Se mai bramasti la mia grazia havere:
If you have ever coveted my favor
Falla d’un tuonó ch’invita al dormire,
Make it a tone that invites sleep
Dolcemente facendo la finire.
Sweetly making it come to an end.
Per entro no vi spargere durezze
Don’t put in dissonances
Che le mie orecchie non vi sono avezze.
Because my ears are not used to them.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003, Essentials – The Concert, October 2008 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Ludovico Grossi da Viadana (c1560-1627)

Exultate Justi

Exsultate, justi, in Domino; rectos decet collaudatio.
Rejoice in the Lord, you just; praise befits the upright.
Confitemini Domino in cithara;
Give praise to the Lord on the harp;
in psalterio decem chordarum psallite illi.
sing to Him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.
Cantate ei canticum novum; bene psallite ei in vociferatione.
Sing to Him a new canticle, sing well to Him with a loud noise.
Exsultate, justi, in Domino; rectos decet collaudatio.
Rejoice in the Lord, you just; praise befits the upright.

This piece was performed on Essentials – The Concert, October 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2008 release, Essentials.

Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548 - 1611)
  • Ave Maria
  • O magnum mysterium
  • O quam gloriosum
  • O vos omnes

Ave Maria

TOMÁS LUIS DE VICTORIA (1548-1611)

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum/em>
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Benedicta tu in mulieribu/em>
You are blessed among women
et benedictus fructus ventris tui: Jesus./em>
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus/em>
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae./em>
now and in the hour of our death.
Amen.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004, Holidays with Octarium, December 2004, Holidays with Octarium, December 2005, Holidays with Octarium, December 2007 and and Saints and Angels, April 2008. This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2007 release, Hodie.

O Magnum Mysterium

O magnum mysterium
O great mystery
et admirabile sacramentum
and wondrous sacrament
ut animalia viderent Dominum
that animals should see the Lord
natum, jacentem in praesepio.
born, lying in a manger.
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
meruerunt portare
was worthy to bear the
Dominum Christum. Alleluia!
Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2006.

O Quam Gloriosum

O quam gloriosum est regnum/em>
O, how glorious is the kingdom
in quo cum Christo gaudent omnes sancti,/em>
where all the saints rejoice with Christ,
amicti stolis albis,/em>
clothed in white robes,
Agnum sequuntur quocunque ierit
Following the Lamb wherever He shall go.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004 and Saints and Angels, April 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

O vos omnes

O vos omnes qui transitis per viam:
All you that pass by the way,
attendite et videte si est dolor sicut dolor meus.
look and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow.
Attendite, universi populi, et videte dolorem meum.
Look, all you people, and see my sorrow.
Si est dolor similis sicut dolor meus.
Is there any sorrow like my sorrow?

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005.

W

William Walton (1902 – 1983)

All This Time

All this time this song is best: ‘Verbum caro factum est.’
[the word is made flesh]
This night there is a child y-born
That sprang out of Jesse’s thorn;
We must sing and say thereforn,
All this time this song is best: ‘Verbum caro factum est.’

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003.

Arthur Warrell (1900 – 1970)

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Holidays with Octarium, December 2004

Thomas Weelkes (c. 1576 – 1623)

Sing We at Pleasure

Sing we at pleasure,
Content is our treasure.
Sweet love shall keep the ground,
Whilst we his praises sound.
All shepherds in a ring
Shall, dancing, ever sing.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Ode to Music Concert, November 2003.

Eric Whitacre (b. 1970)

A Boy and a Girl

TEXT: OCTAVIO PAZ (1914-1998)

Stretched out on the grass,
a boy and a girl.
Savoring their oranges,
giving their kisses like waves exchanging foam.

Stretched out on the beach,
a boy and a girl.
Savoring their limes,
giving their kisses like clouds exchanging foam.

Stretched out underground,
a boy and a girl.
Saying nothing, never kissing,
giving silence for silence.
Octavio Paz (1914-1998)

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Modern Masters, November 2009 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s 2009 release, Modern Masters.

Peter J. Wilhousky ( 1902 – 1978)

Carol of the Bells

Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells,
All seem to say, throw cares away
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer,
To young and old, meek and the bold,
Ding dong ding dong that is their song
With joyful ring all caroling
One seems to hear words of good cheer
From everywhere filling the air
Oh how they pound, raising the sound,
O¹er hill and dale, telling their tale,
Gaily they ring while people sing
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
On on they send, on without end,
Their joyful tone to every home.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2004.

Healey Willan (1880 – 1968)

Rise Up My Love, My Fair One

Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.
For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear upon the earth.
The time of singing of birds is come.
Arise my love, my fair one, and come away.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004, A Cappella Masterpieces, April 2005 and Saints and Angels, April 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

David Willcocks (b. 1919)
  • Blessed be that Maid Mary
  • Deck the Hall
  • Gabriel’s Message
  • I Saw Three Ships
  • Rocking

Blessed be that Maid Mary

ENGLISH TRADITIONAL TUNE
TEXT G.R. WOODWARD

Blessed be that maid Mary; born he was of her body;
Very God ere time began, born in time the Son of Man.
Eya! Jesus hodie natus est de Virgine.
[Jesus today is born of the virgin]

In a manger of an ass, Jesu lay and lulled was;
Born to die upon the tree pro pecante homine. [for all men]
Eya! Jesus hodie natus est de Virgine.
[Jesus today is born of the virgin]

Sweet and blissful was the song chanted of the angel throng;
‘Peace on earth, alleluya! In excelsis gloria.’ [glory to the highest]
Eya! Jesus hodie natus est de Virgine.
[Jesus today is born of the virgin]

Fare three kings from far-off land, incense, gold, and myrrh in hand;
In Bethlehem the Babe they see, stelle ducti lumine. [following the light of the star]
Eya! Jesus hodie natus est de Virgine.
[Jesus today is born of the virgin]

Make we merry on this fest, in quo Christus natus est; [on which Christ was born]
On this Child I pray you call, to assoil and save us all.
Eya! Jesus hodie natus est de Virgine.
[Jesus today is born of the virgin]

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003.

Deck the Hall

Deck the hall with boughs of holly
‘Tis the season to be jolly
Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel
Troll the ancient Christmas carol

See the flowing bowl before us
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Follow me in merry measure
While I sing of beauty’s treasure

Fast away the old year passes
Hail the new, ye, lads and lassies
Laughing, quaffing all together
heedless of the wind and weather

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2007.

Gabriel’s Message

BASQUE CAROL
ARR. DAVID WILLCOCKS (B. 1919)
TEXT S. BARING-GOULD

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 favoured 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 favoured 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 favoured 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 favoured lady, Gloria!

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003.

I Saw Three Ships

ENGLISH TRADITIONAL CAROL

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three,
Our Savior Christ and His lady,
Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
And all the angels in heaven shall sing,
And all the souls in earth shall sing,
Then let us all rejoice amain!

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003.

Rocking

CZECH CAROL

Little Jesus, sweetly sleep, do not stir
We will lend a coat of fur,
We will rock you.
See the fur to keep you warm
Snugly round your tiny form.

Mary’s little baby, sleep, sweetly sleep,
Sleep in comfort, slumber deep;
We will rock you.
We will serve you all we can,
Darling, darling little man.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Christmas with Octarium, December 2003.

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958)
  • For All the Saints
  • O Mistress Mine
  • O Taste and See
  • The Willow Song

For All the Saints

RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou in the darkness Lord, the one true light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon to faithful warriors cometh rest
and sweet the calm of Paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the Saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of Glory passes on His way,
Alleluia, Alleluia!

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Saints and Angels Concert, October 2004 and Saints and Angels, April 2008.

O Mistress Mine

SETTINGS BY:
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
ROBERT BAKSA (B. 1938)
JUDITH LANG ZAIMONT (B. 1945)
DANIEL PEDERSON (SWEET AND TWENTY )
TEXT: SHAKESPEARE TWELFTH NIGHT ACT II, SCENE III

O mistress mine, where are you roaming?
O stay and hear, your true love’s coming
That can sing both high and low.
Trip no further, pretty sweeting;
Journeys end in lovers’ meeting,
Ev’ry wise man’s son doth know.
What is love? ‘Tis not hereafter;
Present mirth hath present laughter;
What’s to come is still unsure:
In delay there lies no plenty;
Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty;
Youth’s a stuff will not endure.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.
Daniel Pederson’s Sweet and Twenty was performed on Listener’s Choice, February 2011.

O Taste and See

O taste and see how gracious the Lord is,
Blest is the man that trusteth in him.
Text: Psalm 34: 8

This piece was performed on Octarium’s A Cappella Masterpieces Concert, April 2005.

The Willow Song

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE OTHELLO ACT IV SCENE III

The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,
Sing all a green willow;
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,
Sing willow, willow, willow:
The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur’d her moans;
Sing willow, willow, willow;
Her salt tears fell from her, and soften’d the stones;
Sing willow, willow, willow;
Sing all a green willow must be my garland.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004 and Listener’s Choice, February 2011.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Ashley Winters (b. 1979)
  • Gymnopédie No. 1
  • Hall of the Mountain King
  • Mad World

Gymnopédie No.1

ERIK SATIE (1866-1925)
ARR. A. WINTERS (B. 1979)

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2007 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

Hall of the Mountain King

link to Should Have Been Choral 2008

Mad World

ROLAND ORZABAL (B. 1961)
ARR. A. WINTERS (B. 1979)

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very
Mad World
Mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very
Mad World
Mad World
Enlarging your world
Mad World.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s Should Have Been Choral, June 2007 and Should Have Been Choral, May, 2009.

Charles Wood (1866-1926)

Ding, Dong Merrily on High

FRENCH TRADITIONAL CAROL
ARR. CHARLES WOOD (1866-1926)

Ding dong! merrily on high in heav’n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! 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 “Io, io, io!” by priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Pray you, dutifully prime your Matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime your Evetime Song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

This piece was performed on Holidays with Octarium – Greatest Hits, December 2008 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2010.

Y

Robert H. Young (b. 1923)
  • After Sunset
  • For Thy Sweet Love
  • Set me as a Seal

After Sunset

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE SONNET 73

That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin’d choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see’st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west;
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest
In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire,
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire
Consum’d with that which it was nourish’d by.
This thou perceiv’st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004.

For Thy Sweet Love

TEXT: SHAKESPEARE SONNET 24

When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possess’d,
Desiring this man’s art, and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee,—and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remember’d such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004, Saints and Angels, October 2004 and Saints and Angels, April 2008.
This piece is also featured on Octarium’s self-titled debut recording.

Z

Judith Lang Zaimont (b. 1945)

O Mistress Mine

SETTINGS BY:
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
ROBERT BAKSA (B. 1938)
JUDITH LANG ZAIMONT (B. 1945)
DANIEL PEDERSON (SWEET AND TWENTY )
TEXT: SHAKESPEARE TWELFTH NIGHT ACT II, SCENE III

O mistress mine, where are you roaming?
O stay and hear, your true love’s coming
That can sing both high and low.
Trip no further, pretty sweeting;
Journeys end in lovers’ meeting,
Ev’ry wise man’s son doth know.
What is love? ‘Tis not hereafter;
Present mirth hath present laughter;
What’s to come is still unsure:
In delay there lies no plenty;
Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty;
Youth’s a stuff will not endure.

This piece was performed on Octarium’s The Shakespeare Concert, May 2004. Daniel Pederson’s Sweet and Twenty was performed on Listener’s Choice, February 2011.