Liner Notes: Christmas With the Master Chorale of Washington (1999)

1. Sir Christèmas -- William Mathias [1:40] 2. There Is a Flower -- John Rutter [4:54] Magnificat -- Jonathan Willcocks   3. Magnificat [4:36]   4. Et misericordia [4:46]   5. Fecit potentiam [4:19]   6. There Is No Rose of Such Virtue [4:49]   7. Gloria Patri [2:40]   8. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence [6:53]        -- arranged by Donald McCullough   9. Angels We Have Heard on High -- Traditional [2:20] 10. The Glory of the Father -- Egil Hovland [3:05] 11. Make We Joy -- Edwin Fissinger [1:56] 12. There Is No Rose of Such Virtue [5:22]        -- arranged by R. H. Young 13. The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy [3:18]        -- arranged by Robert DeCormier 14. African Noel -- arranged by André J. Thomas [1:47] 15. What Child Is This? -- arranged by Donald McCullough [5:32] 16. Hodie Christus Natus Est -- Donald McCullough [4:30] Total Playing Time [62:27]

Christmas with the Master Chorale of Washington Donald McCullough, Music Director with: Brass and Percussion Ensemble J. Thomas Mitts, Keyboards Angela Powell, Soprano Metropolitan Memorial Handbell Ensemble

Sir Christèmas -- William Mathias
Published by Oxford University Press

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.
Who is there that singeth so,
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell?

I am here, Sir Christèmas.
Welcome, my lord, Sir Christèmas!
Welcome to all, both more and less,
Come near, come near.
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.

Dieu vous garde, beaux sieurs,
(God save you, good sirs)
Tidings I you bring:
A maid hath borne a child full young,
Which causeth you to sing:
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.

Christ is now born of a pure maid,
Born of a pure maid;
In an oxstall he is laid,
Wherefore sing we at a brayde:
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.

Buvez bien, buvez bien, par toute la compagnie.
(Drink up, drink up, with all the company!)
Make good cheer and be right merry,
And sing with us now joyfully:
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell!
Nowell!

There Is a Flower -- John Rutter (Words by John Audelay (15th century))
Published by Oxford University Press
Dawn Kasprow, Soprano

There is a flower sprung of a tree,
The root thereof is callèd Jesse,
A flower of price;
There is none such in paradise.

This flower is fair and fresh of hue,
It fadeth never but ever is new;
The blessed branch this flower on grew
Was Mary mild that bare Jesu;
A flower of grace;
Against all sorrow it is solace.

The seed hereof was Goddes sand*,
That God himself sowed with his hand,
In Nazareth that holy land,
Amidst her arbour a maiden found;
This blessed flower
Sprang never but in Mary’s bower.

When Gabriel this maid did meet,
With Ave Maria he did her greet;
Between them two this flower was set
And safe was kept, no man should wit,
Till on a day
In Beth’lem it could spread and spray.
When that fair flower began to spread
And his sweet blossom began to bed+,
Then rich and poor of every land
Marvelled how this flower might spread,
Till kinges three
That blessed flower came to see.
Alleluia, alleluia.

Angels there came from heaven’s tower
To look upon this freshele flower,
How fair he was in his colour
And how sweet in his savour;
And to behold
How such a flower might spring in gold.
Alleluia, alleluia.

There is a flower sprung of a tree,
The root thereof is callèd Jesse,
A flower of price;
There is none such in paradise.

* sand = gift
+ bed = bud

Magnificat -- Jonathan Willcocks
Published by Roger Dean Publishing Company
Angela Powell, Soprano

1. Magnificat
Magnificat anima mea Dominum: My soul doth magnify the Lord:
et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo and my spirit hath rejoiced in God
salutari meo. my Savior.
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae: For he hath regarded the lowliness of his
ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth
omnes generationes. all generations shall call me blessed.
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: For he that is mighty hath magnified me:
et sanctum nomen ejus. and holy is his name.

2. Et misericordia
Et misericordia ejus a progenie in And his mercy is on them that fear him
progenies timentibus eum. throughout all generations.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
thou who didst bear the Savior
of our race;
Hail Mary, Queen of heaven,
turn not from us thy face.

3. Fecit potentiam
Fecit potentiam in bracchio suo: He hath showed strength with his arm:
dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. He hath scattered the proud in the
imagination of their hearts.
Deposuit potentes de sede, He hath put down the mighty from their seat,
et exultavit humiles. and hath exalted the humble and meek.
Esurientes implevit bonis: He hath filled the hungry with good things:
et divites dimisit inanes. and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Suscepit Israel puerum suum, He, remembering his mercy, hath holpen
recordatus misericordiae suae. his servant Israel.
Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, As he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham et semini ejus in saecula. Abraham and his seed for ever.

4. There Is No Rose of Such Virtue
There is no rose of such virtue
as is the rose that bare Jesu;
For in this rose contained was
heaven and earth in little space.
By that rose we may well see
that he is God in persons three.
The angels sungen the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis Deo. Alleluia!
(Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia!)

5. Gloria Patri
Gloria Patri, et Filio, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
et Spiritu Sancto. and to the Holy Ghost.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, As it was in the beginning, is now,
et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen. Amen.

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence -- Arranged by Donald McCullough
Published by Hinshaw Music, Inc.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
In the body and the blood,
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.
Alleluia, alleluia.

Rank on rank the host of heaven,
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the light of light descendeth,
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish,
As the darkness clears away.
Alleluia, alleluia.

At his feet the six-winged seraph,
Cherubim, with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry,
Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleuia, Lord most high!
Alleluia!

Angels We Have Heard on High -- Traditional

Angels we have heard on high,
Singing sweetly through the night,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brave delight.

Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
(Glory to God in the highest.)

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear?
Refrain

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

The Glory of the Father -- Egil Hovland
Published by Walton Music Corporation

The Word was made flesh,
And dwelt among us,
We beheld the glory of the Father,
Full of grace and truth.

In the beginning was the Word,
The Word was with God.
In him, in him was life,
And the life was the light of men.
He came to his own,
And his own received him not.

The Word was made flesh,
And dwelt among us,
We beheld the glory of the Father,
Full of grace and truth.

Make We Joy -- Edwin Fissinger
Published by Walton Music Corporation

Make we joy now in this feast,
In quo Christus natus est:
(In that Christ is born:)
O make we joy now in this feast.
Eya, Eya, Eya, Eya!

A Patre unigenitus
(The only begotten of the father )
Through a maiden is come to us.
Sing we of him and say, “Welcome,
Welcome Veni Redemptor gentium.”
(He who came as redeemer of humanity.)

Make we joy now in this feast,
In quo Christus natus est:
(In that Christ is born:)
O make we joy now in this feast.
Eya, Eya, Eya, Eya!
For he is born, for he is born, O joy!

There Is No Rose of Such Virtue -- Arranged by Robert H. Young
Published by Gentry Publications

There is no rose of such virtue,
As is the rose that bare Jesu;
Alleluia.

For in this rose contained
Was heaven and earth in little space;
Resmiranda. (Wonderful circumstance)

By that rose we may well see
That he is God in persons three;
Pari forma. (Equal beauty)

The angels sung the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gaudeamus.
(Glory to God in the highest!
Let us rejoice.)

Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth;
Transeamus. (Let us cross over.)

The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy -- Arranged by Robert DeCormier
Published by Lawson-Gould Music Publishers, Inc.

The Virgin Mary had a baby boy,
An’ they said that his name was Jesus.

Refrain:
He come from the glory, he come down,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
Oh yes, believer, Oh yes, believer,
He come from the glory, he come down,
He come from the glorious kingdom.

The wise men saw where the baby was born,
He was hidin’ in the manger...
The wise men saw where the baby was born,
…with the donkey…and the sheep.
The wise men saw where the baby was born,
An’ they said that his name was Jesus.
Refrain

The angels sang when the baby was born,
Hear the angels sing the chorus,
The angels sang when the baby was born,
Hear the angels sing the baby,
The angels sang a-when the baby was born,
An’ they said that his name was Jesus.
Refrain

African Noel -- Arranged by André J. Thomas
Published by Lawson-Gould Music Publishers, Inc.

Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel.
Sing we all Noel, sing we all Noel.

O 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.

Sing Noel, sing Noel, Noel, Noel.
Oh, sing Noel, Noel
Sing Noel, Noel, sing Noel!

What Child Is This? -- Arranged by Donald McCullough
Published by Hinshaw Music, Inc.

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?

Refrain:
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 Christian, fear for sinners here
The silent word is pleading.
Refrain

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

Hodie Christus Natus Est -- Donald McCullough
Published by Plymouth Music Co., Inc.

Hodie Christus natus est! Today Christ is born!
Hodie Salvator apparuit. Today the Saviour has appeared.
Hodie in terra canunt Angeli: Today the Angels sing on earth,
laetantur Archangeli. The Archangels rejoice.
Hodie exultant justi dicentes: Today the righteous rejoice, saying:
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Glory to God in the highest! Alleluia!

Meet the Artists

The Master Chorale of Washington (formerly the Paul Hill Chorale) has attracted the praise of critics nationwide through over 200 performances at the Kennedy Center, American and European tours, and national radio and television broadcasts. Since 1969 the Chorale has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra under such conductors as Howard Mitchell, Antal Dorati, Dmitri Kabalevsky, Julius Rudel, Neville Marriner and Mstislav Rostropovich. The Chorale was featured in the inaugural concerts of the Kennedy Center in 1971 and performs an annual series of concerts in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. It has commissioned works by American composers and premiered numerous new works. The Master Chorale has also appeared with the Washington Chamber Symphony, Richmond and Fairfax Symphonies, the Joffrey Ballet and Northwest Pacific Ballet. The Chorale has performed at Carnegie Hall, the White House and the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree. The group was featured in the celebration of Victor Borge's eightieth birthday at Wolf Trap, televised nationally on PBS, and has appeared three times on Garrison Keillor's nationally broadcast American Radio Company. In June 1999, the Chorale was awarded the prestigious Margaret Hillis Achievement Award for Choral Excellence by Chorus America. There are 140 singers in the Chorale, including a professional core.

Donald McCullough, music director of the Master Chorale of Washington and the Master Chorale Chamber Singers, came to Washington in 1996 from Norfolk, Virginia, where he founded the highly acclaimed McCullough Chorale, Virginia’s only fully professional choral ensemble, in 1984 and the Virginia Symphony Chorus in 1990. He is an active arranger and composer with a number of published titles to his credit, including Holocaust Cantata—which had its world premiere at the Kennedy Center—and several other titles on this CD. Mr. McCullough is a member of the board of directors of Chorus America, the national service organization for choral groups in the United States and Canada. With a strong commitment to music education in public schools, he has been the guest conductor of numerous state and regional choral festivals for young singers. In 1997 Mr. McCullough initiated the All City Honors Chorus in partnership with the District of Columbia Public Schools, the Kennedy Center, and the Master Chorale of Washington. Mr. McCullough holds bachelor’s degrees in organ and vocal performance from Stetson University and master’s degrees in sacred music and vocal performance from Southern Methodist University. He studied conducting with Robert Page and music composition with Adolphus Hailstork and Alice Parker.

Paul Hill founded and directed the Paul Hill Chorale for 29 years and the Washington Singers for 15 years. He has prepared choruses for the Philadelphia Orchestra, Royal Ballet, Washington Opera, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Victor Borge, Garrison Keillor, and the National Symphony Orchestra. In 1980 he formed Washington's first all-professional chamber choir, the Washington Singers (now the Master Chorale Chamber Singers). For ten years he was conductor of the Charlottesville (VA) Oratorio Society and for more than 20 years was conductor and coordinator of the Kennedy Center’s annual Messiah sing-along. In June 1992 he was awarded Chorus America’s coveted Founder’s Award for his contribution to the choral art. In May 1997 American University bestowed on him an honorary doctor of music degree. Dr. Hill was also awarded the Columbia Union College Medallion of Excellence and the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music Medal of Excellence. He continues to battle A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and was designated conductor emeritus in 1997.

J. Thomas Mitts, organist and pianist, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organ performance from Louisiana State University and a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Iowa. In addition to accompanying the Master Chorale of Washington, he is organist-choir master at Augustana Lutheran Church and Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC. Dr. Mitts has taught at the University of New Orleans and Old Dominion University, and frequently serves as musical director of the Commonwealth Musical Stage of Virginia Beach.

Angela Powell, soprano, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, received her bachelor’s degree in music from Oberlin College and her master’s degree from the University of Maryland. She has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe appearing in such roles as Contessa in The Marriage of Figaro, the title role in Susanna and Mimi in La Bohème. Ms. Powell received first place awards in the Paul Robeson Competition and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She also appears on the Master Chorale of Washington Chamber Singers’ CD, Holocaust Cantata.

Master Chorale of Washington

* Member of the professional core.

Master Chorale Brass and Percussion Ensemble

Metropolitan Memorial Handbell Ensemble
Zac Gomez
Jay Hulme
Sara Sheppard
Susan Staines, Director

Recorded June 15 – 18, 1999 in St. Luke Catholic Church, McLean, Virginia
Father Martin McGuil, Pastor and Paul Skevington, Director of Music
Producer: Blanton Alspaugh
Engineer: John Newton
Assistant Engineer: B.J. Huang
Edited and mastered at Soundmirror, Boston, Massachusetts
Orchestra Contractor: Pamela Lassell
Cover photo: © 1999 by Fred J. Maroon

This Master Chorale of Washington extends special thanks to the Montgomery Family Fund for support in making this recording.

Other recordings by the Master Chorale of Washington (under the name Paul Hill Chorale): Russia! (CRC 2230),
A Paul Hill Chorale Christmas (CRC2258) and Unequaled Praise (PHC9601).

Made in USA.

© 1999 Master Chorale of Washington, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.masterchorale.org

Albany Records

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