December 18, 2017
Our Saviour's Atonement Lutheran Church, New York City
John Z. Flack, Pastor
Paul F. Mueller, Music Director
SOPRANOS
Andrea Hoffman-Simmel Lisa Holsberg Maria Langberg Frances Niduaza-Murphy Susannah Skiver Barton |
ALTOS
Naoko Aita Susan Andima Karol Wollenburg |
TENOR
John Flack Brent Ness David Zimmerman |
BASS
Peter Holsberg Arnold Simmel Kurt Willet |
INSTRUMENTALISTS
Paul F. Mueller, organ and continuo Peter Holsberg, trumpet OSA Handbell Ringers Paul F. Mueller, Lisa Holsberg, Naoko Aita, Brent Ness |
Beverly Au, gamba Susan Iadone, gamba and recorder Carlene Stober, gamba Terry Pierce, sacbut Don Hayward, sacbut |
Prelude: Gloria
Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474)
Glória in excélsis Deo
et in terra pax homínibus bonæ voluntátis. Laudámus te, benedícimus te, adorámus te, glorificámus te, grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam, Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis, Deus Pater omnípotens. Dómine Fili unigénite, Jesu Christe, Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris, qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis; qui tollis peccáta mundi, súscipe deprecatiónem nostram. Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis. Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus, tu solus Altíssimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spíritu: in glória Dei Patris. Amen. |
GLORY to God in the highest,
and peace on earth to men of good will. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we adore Thee, we glorify Thee, we give Thee thanks for Thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, Thou takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; Thou takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For Thou alone art the Holy One, Thou alone art the Lord, Thou alone art the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. |
Bidding Prayer: Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming
Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)
Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming
As men of old have sung.
It came, a flower 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 men a Savior
When half-spent was the night.
Carol: Joy to the World
First Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7
Magnificat, SSWV 299
Nr. XIII - from Geitliche Konzerte - Teil III (1635)
6 Verse nebst 6 deutschen Liedern à 2, 3, 4 v (6 German interpolations for Christmas)
Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654)
This afternoon’s Christmas Festival is, in part, a conclusion of OSA’s observation of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Martin Luther started a theological revolution in 1517, which subsequently influenced culture in many ways, including some of Germany's greatest music. Perhaps Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654) is not as well-known as other German composers of his time, but his music is a descendant of Luther's work.
With the Reformation, Latin did not immediately disappear from Protestant worship, and settings of the Latin Magnificat were sung for morning services (Matins), and especially at Christmas. Scheidt interpolates German Christmas Carol arrangements between the Latin verses of the Magnificat, a tradition we see in J.S. Bach’s setting of the Magnificat, nearly 100 years later.
Some of Scheidt’s interpolations hint at familiar German tunes, such as Vom Himmel Hoch (From Heaven Above), which was originally written by Luther for his own family celebration of Christmas Eve. Toward the end of Scheidt’s work we hear an arrangement of Psallite, a tune Scheidt borrowed from Praetorius as published in 1609. Finally, Scheidt closes his Magnificat with a delightful arrangement of Joseph, lieber Joseph mein (Joseph, dearest Joseph mine), familiar and popular German carol dating back to the 14th century.
The end result is a wonderfully charming setting of the Magnificat, alternating Latin and German texts and, in our performance, accompanied by the early instruments of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. - Paul Mueller
Symphonia
TRACK 5
Chant – Magnificat Magnificat anima mea Dominum |
My soul magnifies the Lord |
Et exsultavit spiritus meus
in deo salutari meo |
And my spirit has rejoiced
in God my Saviour |
1a. Versus á 2 voc. – Soli – Vom Himmel hoch (text: Martin Luther, 1535)
Frances Niduaza-Murphy and Susannah Skiver Barton, sopranos
Vom Himmel hach da kornm ich her,
Ich bring euch gute neue Mär; Der guten Mär bring ich so viel, Davon ich sing'n und sagen will. |
From heaven on high I come to you;
I bring you good new tidings! I bring you so many good tidings of which I want to sing and speak. |
TRACK 7
Chant – Quia respexit Quia respexit humiltatem ancillae suae: ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generations |
For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, all generations shall call me blessed. |
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen ejus. |
For he who is mighty has done great things to me, and holy is his name
|
2a. Versus à 2 voc. - Soli – Euch ist ein Kindlein Heut geborn
Brent Ness and David Zimmerman, tenors
Euch ist ein Kindlein Heut gebom
Von einer Jungfrau auserkom, Ein Kindelein, so zart und fein, Das soll eur Freud und Wonne sein. |
To you this day a tiny child is born
of a chosen virgin; a child so gentle and fine who shall be your joy and delight. |
TRACK 9
Chant – Et misericoridia Et misericorida ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum |
And his mercy is on them who fear him from generation to generation. |
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo:
dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. |
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud, even the arrogant of heart. |
3a. Versus á 3 voc. – Soli – Lob, Ehr sei Gott
Maria Langberg, soprano – David Zimmerman, tenor – Kurt Willett, bass
Lob, Ehr sei Gott
im hochstem Thron, Der uns schenkt seinen ein'gen Sohn; Des freuen sich der Engel Schar, Und singen uns solch neues Jahr. |
Praise and honor be to God
on the highest throne, who gives to us his only son, about which the host of angels rejoices and sings to us of such a new year. |
TRACK 11
Chant – Deposuit potentes Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles. |
He has deposed the mighty from their seats, and exalted the humble. |
Esurientes implevit bonis;
et divites dimisit inanes |
The hungry he has filled with good things,
And the rich he has sent empty away. |
4a. Versus á 2 voc. – Soli – Das Kindelein (text origin unknown)
Maria Langberg, soprano – Brent Ness, tenor
Das Kindelein in dem Krippelein,
Das liebe schone Jesulein, Schikket dir der liebste Vater dein, Daß es dein Freund und Wonne sei. Alleluja. |
The (small) child in the (small) crib,
The dear beautiful (baby) Jesus, That the dear Father sent us To be our joy and delight, Alleluja! |
TRACK 13
Chant – Suscepit Israel Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae |
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy. |
Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros,
Abraham et semini ejus in saecula. |
As it was spoken to our fathers,
to Abraham and his seed forever. |
5a. Versus á 4 voc. – Choir – Psallite
Psallite unigenito Christo Dei Filio!
Psallite Redemptori Domino, Puerulo, jacenti in praesepio. Ein kleines Kindelein liegt in dem Krippelein; Alle liebe Engelein dienen dem Kindelein, (Und singen ihm fein.) Singt und klingt Jesu, Gottes Kind und Marien Söhnelein, Unserm lieben Jesulein, im Krippelein beim Őchslein und beim Eselein! |
Sing to Christ, the only-begotten Son of God!
Sing to the Redeemer, our Lord, the child, lying in the manger. A tiny child lies in the little crib; all the lovely angels serve the little child (and sing sweetly to him.) Sing and play: Jesus, God's Son and the Son of Mary, our beloved Jesus-child in the manger Beside the ox and ass. |
TRACK 15
Chant – Gloria Patri Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto |
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. |
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,
et in saecula saeculorum, Amen. |
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end, Amen. |
6a. Versus á 4 voc. – Choir – Joseph, lieber Joseph mein
Lisa Holsberg, soprano – Naoko Aita, alto
Brent Ness, tenor – Kurt Willet, bass
Joseph, lieber Joseph mein,
Hilf mir wiegen mein Kindelein, Sause, liebes Kindelein, eia! Sunt impleta, quae praedixit Gabriel, Virgo Deum genuit, Quem divina voluit clementia |
Joseph, my dear Joseph
Help me rock my little child, Murmur, dear little child, ah! As was fulfilled, according to Gabriel' s prediction, God has been born of a virgin, As ordained by heaven’s grace. |
Interlude: Galliard: As it Fell on a Holie Eve
Anthony Holborne (c. 1545-1602)
TRACK 18
Carol: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
TRACK 19
Anthem: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Peter Paul Olejar (b. 1937)
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Day-Spring come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s deep shadows put to flight
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
TRACK 20
Carol: Hark! The Herald Angel’s Sing
TRACK 21
Offertory Anthem: How Great Our Joy!
Arr. by John Rutter (b. 1945)
While by the sheep we watched at night,
Glad tidings brought an angel bright.
Refrain:
How great our joy! Great our joy!
Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!
Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high!
There shall be born, so He did say,
In Bethlehem a Child today. Refrain
There shall the Child lie in a stall,
This Child who shall redeem us all. Refrain
This gift of God we’ll cherish well,
That ever joy our hearts shall fill. Refrain
TRACK 22
Anthem: O Tannenbaum
Arr. by William Hall
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,
Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Thou Tree most fair and lovely.
The sight of thee at Christmastide
Spreads hope and gladness far and wide,
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Thou Tree most fair and lovely.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Thou hast a wondrous message.
Thou dost proclaim the Savior’s birth,
Goodwill to me and peace on earth.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Thou hast a wondrous message.
TRACK 23
Carol: Silent Night
TRACK 24
Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful
TRACK 25
Choral Postlude: Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Arr. by Roland M. Carter (b. 1942)
Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
When I was a seeker
I sought both night and day,
I asked the Lord to help me
and He showed me the way.
Refrain
Shepherds lay a watching
Their flock that starry night,
An angel of the Lord came
And shone a holy light.
Refrain