2004

Exultate Deo (Hans Leo Hassler, 1564-1612)
Exultate Deo, adjutori nostro, Jubilate Deo Jacob. Sumite psalmum, ET Date tympanum, psalterium jucundum, cum cythara.

Sing to joy for God our strength; shout joyfully to the God of Jacob. Raise a song, and strike the cymbal, the sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

Utrecht Jubilate (G. F. Handel, 1685-1759)
Text from Psalm 100

I. O be joyful in the Lord all ye lands! (Soloist: Michael Petersen)

II. Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before His presence with a song.

III. Be ye sure that the Lord He is God, it is He that has made us and not we ourselves, we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. (Soloists: Ruthann Lovetang and David Irvine)

IV. O go your way into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and speak good of His name.

V. For the Lord is gracious, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures from generation to generation. (Soloists: Ruthann Lovetang, Steven Bronfenbrenner and David Irvine)

VI. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.

VII. As it was in the beginning now and ever shall be world without end, Amen.

Handel wrote the Utrecht Jubilate in 1713, when he was 28 on his second trip to England where he settled permanently. It represents one of his first attempts at writing in English. It was so well received by the public and the courts, Queen Anne rewarded his efforts with an annual stipend of two hundred pounds. It is considered a true addition to the rich repertoire of English Cathedral music.

O Heiland, Reiss die Himmel auf (Johannes Brahms, 1833-1897)

1. O Heiland, reiss die Himmel auf, herab vom Himmel lauf! Reiss ab, vom Himmel Tor und Tür, reiss ab, wo Schloss und Riegel für!
O Redeemer rend the heavens, come down from heaven above. Tear down from heaven the gate and door. Release all that is bolted and barred.

2. O Gott, ein’ Tau vom Himmel giess, Im Tau herab, O Heiland, fliess! Ihr Wolken, brecht und regnet aus den König über Jakobs Haus!
O God from heaven pour down a dew, Your clouds break rain out over the king of Jacob’s house.

3. O Erd, schlag aus, das Berg und Tal grün alles werd! O Erd, herfür dies Blümlein bring, O Heiland, aus der Erden spring!
O earth flourish the mountains and valleys to be always green. O Savior bring forth the flowers, spring out of the earth. 

4. Hier leiden wir die grösste Not, vor Augen steht der bittre Tod; ach komm, führ uns mit starker Hand vom Elend zu dem Vaterland!
Here suffering we are with great need. Before our eyes stands bitter death. Oh come for us with strong hand, bring us out of our misery to the homeland.

5. Da wollen wir all danken dir, unserm Erlöser, für und für; da wollen wir all loben dich je allzeit immer und ewiglich. Amen.
Then want we all to thank You, our Savior, through and through, to praise you now and forever, always, everlasting. Amen.

Les Fleurs et les Arbres (Camille Saint-Saëns, 1835-1921)

Les fleurs et les arbres, Les bronzes, les marbres, Les ors, les émaux. La mer, les fontaines, Les monts et les plaines Consolent nos maux. Nature éternelle Tu sembles plus belle Au sein des douleurs! Et l’art nous domine, Sa flamme illumine Le rire et les pleurs.

The flowers and the trees, the metals, the marbles, the golds, enamels, [all the painted colors on the meadows], the sea, the fountains (waterfalls), the mountains, the plains, console our pain. Nature eternal you appear more beautiful to a suffering heart and art dominates us – its flame lights both laughter and tears.

Two motets by Paul Hindemith (1896-1963)

The Doe
Text: Rainer Maria Rilke
O thou Doe, what vistas of secular forests appear in thine eyes reflected! What confidence serene affected by transient shades, by shades of fear. And it all is borne on thy bounding course, for so gracile art thou! Nor comes aught, aught to astound the impassive profound unawareness of thy brow.

Springtime
Text: Rainer Maria Rilke
O song that from the sap art pouring And through the soundingboard of all this greenwood art soaring, Amplify our brief tone, The dying strain restoring. ‘Tis but few measures’ duration That we share the fantasy, The endless variation Of thy long ecstacy, O nature, fount of creation. After our song is ended, Others will assume the part, But meanwhile how can I tender Unto thee all my heart in full surrender?

Two love songs by David C. Dickau (1953-)

in time of
Text: e.e. cummings
in time of daffodils (who know the goal of living is to grow) forgetting why, remember how; in time of lilacs who proclaim the aim of waking is to dream, remember so (forgetting seem); in time of roses (who amaze our now and here with paradise) forgetting if, remember yes; in time of all sweet things beyond whatever mind may comprehend, remember seek (forgetting find); and in a mystery to be (when time from time shall set us free) forgetting me, remember me. 

Come, O Come, My Life’s Delight
Text: Thomas Campion
Come, O come, my life’s delight! Let me not in languor pine: Love loves no delay, thy sight the more enjoyed, the more divine, O come, and take from me the pain of being deprived of thee. Thou all sweetness dost enclose, like a little world of bliss: Beauty guards thy looks: the rose in them pure and eternal is. Come then! And make thy flight as swift to me as heav’nly light!

David Dickau received his bachelor and doctoral degrees from U.S.C. and his Masters from Northwestern in Chicago. He is the professor and Choral Chair at Mankato State University in Minnesota. He is married to Allan Petker’s sister (an excellent decision!).

Messe Solennelle (Louis Vierne, 1870-1937)

KYRIE
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison.
LORD
Lord, have mercy. Christ have mercy. 

GLORIA (incipit: Michael Petersen)
Gloria in exclesis Deo. Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Dominae Deus, Rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotentens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus sanctus. Tu solus Dominus. Tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe. Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
GLORY
Glory to God in the highest. And on earth peace to all those of good will. We praise Thee. We bless Thee. We worship Thee. We glorify Thee. We give thanks to Thee according to Thy great glory. Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father almighty. Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father. Thou who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon us. For Thou alone art holy. Thou alone art the Lord. Thou alone art the most high, Jesus Christ. With Thy Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

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

BENEDICTUS
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
BLESSED
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

AGNUS DEI
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: dona nobis pacem.
LAMB OF GOD
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Nearly blind from birth, Louis Vierne composed this mass in 1900, inspired in part by the magnificent Cavaillé-Coll organ at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, where he had recently been appointed titular organist. Written for choir and two organs, it was dedicated to Théodore Dubois, a French composer and organist. We are blessed to have a venue at the First Presbyterian Church, San Anselmo, where two pipe organs are present, to perform this work as it was originally intended.

Roll, Jordan, Roll (Arr. by Brian Tate, 1954-)

(Soloists: Kevin Massey, Martha Wall, Christopher Zombres, Jan Young)
Roll, Jordan roll, I wanna go to heaven when I die to hear old Jordan roll. O, brothers, you ought-a been there, sittin’ up in the kingdom, to hear old Jordan roll. I wanna go to heaven when I die to hear old Jordan roll.

The Peace of God (Allan Robert Petker, 1955-)
Based on Phil. 4:7

The peace of God be with you forever more, which surpasses all understanding. Keep your heads and hearts and minds filled with the presence and love of God. The peace of God be with you forever more. Amen.