nowell sing we
What Cheer?
William Walton (1902-1983)
What cheer? What cheer? Good cheer! Good Cheer!
Be merry and glad this good New Year.
Lift up your hearts and be glad!
In Christ’s birth the angel bade;
Say each to other, if any be sad:
What cheer? What cheer? What cheer! What Cheer!
Now the King of heaven His birth hath take,
Joy and mirth we ought to make!
Say each to other, for his sake:
What cheer? What cheer? What cheer! What Cheer!
I tell you all with heart so free,
Right welcome ye be to me.
Be glad and merry for charity!
What cheer? What cheer? Good cheer! Good Cheer!
Be merry and glad this good New Year.
- English Carol
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
arr. Steven Landau (b. 1960)
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
[Chorus]
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
- Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
arr. David Wilcocks (1919-201 5)
Tenor: Karsten Longhurst
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance;
Refrain:
Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love,
my love,
This have I done for my true love.
Then was I born of a virgin pure,
Of her I took fleshly substance
Thus was I knit to man’s nature
To call my true love to my dance.
In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
So very poor, this was my chance
Between an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance.
- English Carol
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
arr. Jan Sandström (b. 1 954)
Sopranos: Clarisse Colao,
Kiersten Honaker
Mezzo-sopranos: Charity Butterfield,
Ann Powell
Tenors: Dalan Guthrie,
Karsten Longhurst
Basses: Jack Delac, Matthew Bryner
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 flow’ret bright,
Amid the cold of winter
When half-spent was the night.
- Anonymous
translation by Theodore Baker (1851 - 1934)
Gaudete
arr. Karl Jenkins (b. 1944)
Solo: Kiersten Honaker, Soprano
Duet: Charity Butterfield, Mezzo-Soprano; Dalan Guthrie, Tenor
Trio: Kiersten Honaker, Soprano; Ann Powell, Mezzo-Soprano; Scott Boyce, Tenor
Quintet: Rebecca Warthen, Soprano; Devan Weixlar, Countertenor; Benjamin Bird,
Tenor; Brent Rogers, Baritone; Matthew Bryner, Bass
Percussion: Michael Carter, Kameron Kavanaugh, and Hannah McLaughlin
Refrain:
Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete!
Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary, rejoice!
Tempus adest gratiæ
Hoc quod optabamus,
Carmina lætitiæ
Devote reddamus.
The time of grace has come –
what we have wished for,
songs of joy
Let us give back faithfully.
Deus homo factus est
Natura mirante,
Mundus renovatus est
A Christo regnante.
God has become man,
(With) nature marvelling,
The world has been renewed
By Christ (who is) reigning.
Ezechielis porta
Clausa pertransitur,
Unde lux est orta
Salus invenitur.
The closed gate of Ezekiel
Is passed through,
Whence the light is raised,
Salvation is found.
- Piae Cantiones
A Spotless Rose
Paul Mealor (b. 1975)
Bogoroditse Djevo
Arvo Pärt (b. 1935)
A Spotless Rose is growing,
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.
Богородице Дево, радуйся,
Благодатная Марие,
Господь с Тобою;
благословена Ты в женах
и благословен Плод чрева Твоего,
яко Спаса родила еси душ наших.
The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest Maid;
Through God’s great love and might
The Blessed Babe she bare us
In a cold, cold winter’s night.
Hodie Christus Natus Est
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525 - 1594)
- Anonymous, translation
by Catherine Winkworth
(1 827 - 1878)
Hodie Christus natus est:
Noe! Noe!
Hodie Salvator apparuit:
Hodie in terra canunt Angeli,
laetantur Archangeli
Hodie exsultant justi, dicentes:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Rejoice, O Virgin,
Mary full of grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
for thou hast borne the Savior of our
souls.
Today Christ is born:
Nowell! Nowell!
Today the Savior appeared:
Today on Earth the Angels sing,
Archangels rejoice:
Today the righteous rejoice, saying:
Glory to God in the highest.
Tis Winter Now
arr. Paul Halley (b. 1952)
Tis winter now; the fallen snow
Has left the heav’ns all coldly clear;
Through leafless boughs the sharp
winds blow,
And all the earth lies dead and drear.
And yet God’s love is not withdrawn;
His life within the keen air breathes,
His beauty paints the crimson dawn,
And clothes the boughs with glitt’ring
wreaths.
And though abroad the sharp winds
blow,
And skies are chill, and frosts are keen,
Home closer draws her circle now,
And warmer glows her light within.
Refrain:
Nowell sing we, both all and some
For Rex pacificus is come.
In Bethlem, in that fair city,
A Child was born of a maiden free,
That shall a lord and prince be,
A solis ortus cardine.
Nowell Sing We
Gabriel Jackson (b. 1962)
King of Peace
A rising sun.
Children were slain full great plenty,
Jesu, for the love of Thee;
Wherefore their soules saved be,
Hostis Herodes impie.
The wicked enemy Herod.
As sunne shineth through the glass,
So Jesu in his mother was;
Thee to serve now grant us grace.
O lux beata Trinitas!
O light blessed Trinity!
O God! who giv’st the winter’s cold
As well as summer’s joyous rays,
Us warmly in Thy love enfold
And keep us through life’s wintry days.
Now God is comen to worshipen us,
Now of Mary is born Jesus;
Make we merry amonges us,
Exultet celum laudibus!
- Samuel Longfellow (1819-1892)
- English Carol
Let Heaven praise!
In the Bleak Midwinter
arr. Abbie Betinis (b. 1980)
Solo: Charity Butterfield, Mezzo-Soprano
Duet: Clarisse Colao, Soprano; Ann Powell, Mezzo-Soprano
Piano: Jared Pierce
In the bleak mid-winter
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 mid-winter
Long ago.
Angels and archangels
May have thronged the air,
Shepherds, beasts and wise men,
May have gathered there,
But only His mother
In her tender bliss
Blessed this new redeemer
With a kiss.
Christ a homeless stranger
So the gospels say,
Cradled in a manger
And a bed of hay;
In the bleak mid-winter,
A stable place sufficed,
Mary and her baby,
Jesus Christ.
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.
- Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), John Andrew Storey (1935-1997), and Abbie
Betinis
I Saw Three Ships
arr. Wolfram Buchenberg (b. 1962)
Baritone: Stephen Pace
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.
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Then let us all rejoice amain,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
- English Carol
Go Tell It On the Mountain
arr. Steven Barnett
Mezzo-soprano: Charity Butterfield
Soprano: Julie Barker
While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light.
Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.
The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo, above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior’s birth.
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.
- John W. Work (1901-1967)
Serenity (O Magnum Mysterium)
Ola Gjeilo (b. 1 978)
Cello: Catherine Willey
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent
Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see
the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia.
Credits
BREVITAS is a professional vocal ensemble based along the Wasatch front
in Utah that is dedicated to performing the greatest choral music from all
eras. Founded in 2013, Brevitas has quickly gained a reputation for engaging
performances and polished recordings. The word “Brevitas” means brevity
referring to the soul of wit and a desire to strip away extraneous material leaving
only the most impactful rhetoric. Brevitas is conducted by Matthew D. Nielsen.
Brevitas is a 501(c)(3) tax- exempt organization. For more information, please
visit www.brevitaschoir.com or email [email protected]
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brevitaschoir
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/brevitas
Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/brevitaschoir/
Soprano
Julie Barker
Clarisse Colao
Emily Duncan
Kiersten Honaker
Marianne Meiners
Rebecca Warthen
Heidi Webb
Tenor
Benjamin Bird
Scott Boyce
Stephen Cluff
Dalan Guthrie
Karsten Longhurst
Kyle Nielsen
Clayton Watts
Alto
Charity Butterfield
Jane Fjeldsted
Cherie Hall
Hannah McLaughlin
Whitney Larsen
Shannyn Palmer
Natalie Paukstys
Geneil Perkins
Ann Powell
Kelsey Rogers
Devan Weixlar
Bass
Devin Andertonˇ
Steven Branham
Matthew Bryner
Michael Carter
Steven Carroll
Jack Delac
Chris Downard
Dane Erikson
Brent Rogers
Jason Ross
Patrick Tatman*
Brent Zeyer
ˇOn tracks 2, 12, and 14 *On tracks 1, 3-11, and 13
Matthew D. Nielsen is an active conductor, freelance composer, baritone,
producer, and sound engineer. He has conducted performances in venues such
as Norwich Cathedral, St. Giles-in-the-Fields, and St. John’s, Smith Square.
Matthew has also received numerous requests to appear as a guest conductor.
As a composer, he has received commissions from the Barlow Endowment
for Music Composition, the Combined Choirs and Philharmonic Orchestra
at Brigham Young University, Cantorum, and St. Andrew United Methodist
Church in Plano, Texas. Matthew’s music has been published with Walton
Music, Santa Barbara Music Press, and featured internationally on BYU Radio
and American Public Media’s Performance Today with Fred Child. As a soloist,
he has studied with Karen Anderson & Jennifer Welch-Babidge and performed
in Ireland, England, Germany, Ukraine & the United States.
Q
Recorded at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Salt Lake City, Utah
on 25-28 May 2016
Engineered by Jon Barton
Produced by Matthew D. Nielsen & Leland Spindler
Edited and Mastered by Matthew D. Nielsen
Company Manager, Kevin Lew
Cover Photo and Design by Devin Anderton
With thanks to Daynes Music, The Waterford School, and the
clergy, staff, and parishioners of St. Ambrose Catholic Church,
Salt Lake City. And boundless gratitude to our supporters,
patrons, and donors.
© Brevitas Records 2016
nowell sing we
Matthew D. Nielsen, Music Director
1
Hark the Herald Angels Sing – arr. Steven Landau (b. 1960) 2:51
2
3
What Cheer? – William Walton (1902-1983) 1:22
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day – arr. David Wilcocks (1919-2015) 2:04
4
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming – arr. Jan Sandström (b. 1954) 3:21
5
6
7
8
Gaudete – arr. Karl Jenkins (b. 1944) 1:41
A Spotless Rose – Paul Mealor (b. 1975) 4:30
Bogoroditse Djevo – Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) 1:16
Hodie Christus Natus Est – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525 - 1594) 2:23
11
14
9
Tis Winter Now – arr. Paul Halley (b. 1952) 3:14
10
Nowell Sing We – Gabriel Jackson (b. 1962) 2:01
In the Bleak Midwinter – arr. Abbie Betinis (b. 1980) 6:14
12
I Saw Three Ships – arr. Wolfram Buchenberg (b. 1962) 2:04
13
Go Tell It On the Mountain – arr. Steven Barnett 5:07
Serenity (O Magnum Mysterium) – Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978) 5:28
©2016 Brevitas Records. All rights reserved.
www.brevitaschoir.com
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