Program Notes
Giovanni Gabrieli composed his “sacred symphony,” Jubilate Deo, in the 1590’s (it
was published in 1597) for the famous St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice. St. Mark’s is built
in the shape of a cross, and was already well-known for performances of music using
multiple choirs (“polychoral” music) before Gabrieli’s two sets of sacred symphonies
were performed there. Two choirs, and frequently instrumental groups, would be
placed at opposite arms of the cross for the performances of this music, and the
changes in texture and dynamic could be controlled by the number of voices used at
any given time.
In his Mass in G minor for double chorus and solo quartet, British composer Ralph
Vaughan Williams calls upon the harmonic and rhythmic resources of the English
Renaissance composers. It seems hard to imagine that this work was written in
1922, at the same time that Stravinsky was developing the “neo-classic” style and
Schoenberg was creating a following for his atonal, dodecaphonic music, but Vaughan
Williams was secure in his tonal vision and, in this work, created music of timeless
beauty. We will do the first two movements of the work this afternoon, and will feature
a solo quartet made up of graduating seniors.
The Chamber Singers will follow with three sacred works from the past and present.
The first, a brief antiphon by English composer William Byrd, is from the high
Renaissance and shows his typical mix of triadic harmony and flexible rhythms.
The second, Exsultate Justi, is a new composition written by Dr. Powell expressly for
the Chamber Singers. Using text from Psalm 32, the piece is set in three short, clearly
divided stanzas: the first uses the actual gregorian chant associated with the text; the
second involves the ensemble imitating a ten-string psaltery (a type of small, wooden
harp) with a pastoral melody above; and the third introduces a more dramatic melody
in counterpoint with the returning chant.
The third work is somewhat longer and is very rarely performed. French Baroque
composer François Couperin is known almost entirely for his keyboard music, but
he did write a small number of motets for chorus and strings, and this Motet de St.
Suzanne is the most ambitious of the group. The work is in a modified rondo form,
with a repeated chorus of praise surrounded by a series of solos and duets.
The Chorus will return to conclude this afternoon’s concert with one of the last
works of Franz Schubert. Schubert was, along with Beethoven, one of the two great
transitional composers between the Classical and Romantic periods of music.
However, while Beethoven was the master of the symphony, Schubert was the
supreme composer of the lied [German art-song] and his work has influenced every
songwriter of the past 180 years.
Miriam’s Siegesgesang, D. 942, was one of Schubert’s last works. One assumes that
Schubert intended to orchestrate the work, but he died before doing so—leaving this
as one of the few “choral-symphonic” works in the repertoire written for chorus and
piano.
The poem is a paean of praise to God, sung by Miriam, sister of Moses, and the
Israelites after their deliverance from Pharaoh and his army. The setting is filled with
Schubertian touches: trumpet fanfares in the piano, the galloping horses of Pharoah’s
hoards, the disjunct vocal lines on the words “eingewickelt” (“crashing together”—
describing the fate of Pharaoh’s army when they tried to follow the Israelites across
the Red Sea), the sudden “heartbeat” in the piano on the words “schwartz wie deine
Brust” (“black is your heart”), and the masterful picture of Pharoah’s death beneath
the waves of the Red Sea, slowly returning to their original calm. Finally, Schubert
completes the work with a fugue clearly showing his interest in the music of G.F
Handel.
Drexel University's Department of Performing Arts presents
The University Chorus
and Chamber Singers
Sunday, June 4, 2006
3:00 p.m.
Great Court
Translations
Program
Jubilate Deo....................................................... Giovanni Gabrieli (1557–1612)
Mass in G minor...................................Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
Kyrie
Gloria
Johanna Mikitka, soprano
Michael Maicher, tenor
Kate Sherlock, alto
Chris Barron, bass
University Chorus
Haec Dies.................................................................William Byrd (1540?–1623)
Exsultate Justi................................................................................Steven Powell
Motet de St. Suzanne....................................... François Couperin (1668–1733)
Julie Miller, violin I
Jonathan Mauer, cello
Daniel Roukous, violin II
Chelsea Meyer, keyboard
Chamber Singers
Miriam’s Siegesgesang, op. 136............................. Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
Kimberly Rushing, soprano
Brian Dilts, piano
University Chorus
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Ron Lipscomb, director of Drexel’s String Ensemble, for “loaning
us” the three talented string players on today’s program. Watch for the String
Ensemble’s end of the year concert coming up next week.
Jubilate Deo
Rejoice in God all lands, because the man is thus blessed who respects the Lord.
Rejoice in God all lands. The God of Israel binds you to one another and himself to you. With the
help of the Holy One and from Zion.
Rejoice in God all lands. May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
Rejoice in God all lands, serve the Lord with gladness. Rejoice in God all lands.
Mass in G minor
Kyrie: Lord have mercy; Christ have mercy; Lord have mercy.
Gloria: Glory to God on high. And on earth peace to men of good will. We praise thee. We bless
thee. We adore thee. We glorify thee. We give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God,
heavenly king, God the Father almighty, O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Lord God,
Lamb of God, Son of the Father.
Haec Dies
This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice therein. Alleluia.
Exsultate Justi
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: Praise is fitting for the upright.
Give praise to God upon the harp, play upon the ten-stringed psaltery.
Sing to him a new song, Sing skillfully with a strong voice.
Motet of St. Suzanne
Come, promised of Christ; come to be wreathed. Truly, you have been selected by God to be
honored on Earth.
We give you a wreath, we give you a flourish. Thus is the martyr consecrated; Thus is the pure
maiden honored.
We sing joyfully, we exult: the heavens resound to our acclaim.
Oh Susanna, how great is your glory. With your great beauty and noble family, we lift your name
into the heavens.
God has made the sacrifice and has given us Christ. Because death was the choice, the flame
burns brighter.
[We sing joyfully, we exult: the heavens resound to our acclaim.]
Oh Susanna, how great is your glory. Your lips are like honey, annointed in beauty.
Children of Israel, listen to her teaching and never cast away what she has given you.
[We sing joyfully, we exult: the heavens resound to our acclaim.]
Miriam’s Song of Praise
(on separate sheet)
Drexel Chorus
Dr. Steven Powell, director
Brian Dilts, accompanist
Drexel Chorus
Dr. Steven Powell, director
Brian Dilts, accompanist
Soprano
Marielle des Etages-----------------------------------------------------Business
Jillian Giblin---------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Stefanie Gonnella-----------------------------------Business Administration
Kristin Imhoff--------------------------------------- Mechanical Engineering
Anna Klebanov----------------------------------Business/Higher Education
Elizabeth Ko----------------------------------------------------Fashion Design
Nancy Lan----------------------------------------------------Communications
Teresa Lepak----------------------------------- Screenwriting & Playwriting
•#Johanna Mikitka------------------Architectural & Civil Engineering
Marielle Octaviano------------------------------------- Information Systems
#Kimberly Rushing--------------------------------Business Administration
Jamie Tijerina-------------------------------------------------Biology/Pre-Med
Alison Toback------------------------------------------------Biology/Pre-Med
Brittany Tress-----------------------------------------------------Digital Media
Soprano
Marielle des Etages-----------------------------------------------------Business
Jillian Giblin---------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Stefanie Gonnella-----------------------------------Business Administration
Kristin Imhoff--------------------------------------- Mechanical Engineering
Anna Klebanov----------------------------------Business/Higher Education
Elizabeth Ko----------------------------------------------------Fashion Design
Nancy Lan----------------------------------------------------Communications
Teresa Lepak----------------------------------- Screenwriting & Playwriting
•#Johanna Mikitka------------------Architectural & Civil Engineering
Marielle Octaviano------------------------------------- Information Systems
#Kimberly Rushing--------------------------------Business Administration
Jamie Tijerina-------------------------------------------------Biology/Pre-Med
Alison Toback------------------------------------------------Biology/Pre-Med
Brittany Tress-----------------------------------------------------Digital Media
Alto
#Mahallani Bandong------------------------------ Mechanical Engineering
Madison Eggert-Crowe----------------------------------- History & Politics
Gehanne Joseph------------------------------------------------General Studies
Heather Le---------------------------------------------------------------Business
Erica Louth-----------------------------------------------------Interior Design
Chelsea Meyer------------------------------------------------- Graphic Design
•Kate Sherlock------------------------------------------------ Music Industry
Kate Strubinger----------------------------------------------------Engineering
Alto
#Mahallani Bandong------------------------------ Mechanical Engineering
Madison Eggert-Crowe----------------------------------- History & Politics
Gehanne Joseph------------------------------------------------General Studies
Heather Le---------------------------------------------------------------Business
Erica Louth-----------------------------------------------------Interior Design
Chelsea Meyer------------------------------------------------- Graphic Design
•Kate Sherlock------------------------------------------------ Music Industry
Kate Strubinger----------------------------------------------------Engineering
Tenor
Jeff Arlen-----------------------------------------------------Biology/Pre-Med
Brian Grahn------------------------------------------ Mechanical Engineering
David Humes--------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Michael Jeffers------------------------------------------------------Engineering
Anthony Kotula--------------------------------------- Chemical Engineering
•Michael Maicher----------------------------- Commerce and Engineering
Benjamin Mell-------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
John Park------------------------------------------------------------- Psychology
#Brian Summers------------------------------------------ Computer Science
Jordan Turkenkopf------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Tenor
Jeff Arlen-----------------------------------------------------Biology/Pre-Med
Brian Grahn------------------------------------------ Mechanical Engineering
David Humes--------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Michael Jeffers------------------------------------------------------Engineering
Anthony Kotula--------------------------------------- Chemical Engineering
•Michael Maicher----------------------------- Commerce and Engineering
Benjamin Mell-------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
John Park------------------------------------------------------------- Psychology
#Brian Summers------------------------------------------ Computer Science
Jordan Turkenkopf------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Bass
•Chris Barron--------------------------------------------- Computer Science
Ray Canzanese--------------------------------------- Computer Engineering
David Grow------------------------------------------ Mechanical Engineering
Ben Guez-----------------------------------------------------------------Business
Kyle Jones------------------------------------------Architectural Engineering
Ryan Ketner------------------------------------------ Computer Engineering
Gary Ko------------------------------------------------ Electrical Engineering
Von López-Jacobs------------------------------------------ Civil Engineering
Jason McGovern----------------------------------------------Communication
Thomas Peed--------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Rob Rehner---------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Matt Ridgway---------------------------Civil & Architectural Engineering
Luke Rodgers ---------------------------------------------- Computer Science
Devin Ruffner-------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Brandon Rutter------------------------------------------------ Music Industry
#Arin Sang-urai-------------------- Film & Video and Dramatic Writing
Matthew White----------------- Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
Bass
•Chris Barron--------------------------------------------- Computer Science
Ray Canzanese--------------------------------------- Computer Engineering
David Grow------------------------------------------ Mechanical Engineering
Ben Guez-----------------------------------------------------------------Business
Kyle Jones------------------------------------------Architectural Engineering
Ryan Ketner------------------------------------------ Computer Engineering
Gary Ko------------------------------------------------ Electrical Engineering
Von López-Jacobs------------------------------------------ Civil Engineering
Jason McGovern----------------------------------------------Communication
Thomas Peed--------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Rob Rehner---------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Matt Ridgway---------------------------Civil & Architectural Engineering
Luke Rodgers ---------------------------------------------- Computer Science
Devin Ruffner-------------------------------------------------- Music Industry
Brandon Rutter------------------------------------------------ Music Industry
#Arin Sang-urai-------------------- Film & Video and Dramatic Writing
Matthew White----------------- Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
• Section Leader
# Pi Nu Epsilon Member
Graduating seniors in bold
• Section Leader
# Pi Nu Epsilon Member
Graduating seniors in bold
Chamber Singers
Chamber Singers
Chris Barron
Marielle des Etages
Ben Guez
Anna Klebanov
Anthony Kotula
Michael Maicher
Ben Mell
Johanna Mikitka
Matt Ridgway
Arin Sang-urai
Jamie Tijerina
Chris Barron
Marielle des Etages
Ben Guez
Anna Klebanov
Anthony Kotula
Michael Maicher
Ben Mell
Johanna Mikitka
Matt Ridgway
Arin Sang-urai
Jamie Tijerina