Download the full concert book for Snow Angel
Concert Program for "Snow Angel"
Veni Veni Emmanuel - Michael John Trotta
In Winter - Victor Johnson
Christmas Memories - Rosephanye Powell
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol - John Rutter
O Holy Night - Keith Christopher
Deck the Halls * - Traditional
Intermission
Fantasia on Greensleeves for cello and piano - Ralph Vaughn Williams
Snow Angel - Sarah Quartel
Angels We Have Heard on High* - Traditional
We Wish You A Merry Christmas - arr. Livingston Gearhart
* Audience Sing-along
In Winter - Victor Johnson
- Flute: AJ Coppola
Christmas Memories - Rosephanye Powell
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol - John Rutter
O Holy Night - Keith Christopher
Deck the Halls * - Traditional
Intermission
Fantasia on Greensleeves for cello and piano - Ralph Vaughn Williams
- Alex Ellsworth, Cello
- Laura Belanger, Piano
Snow Angel - Sarah Quartel
- Prologue
- Creatures of Light
- God Will Give Orders
- Sweet Child
- Snow Angel
- Narrators: Sue Chadwick, Rosemary D’Arcy and Denise Hutchins
- Djembe: Emma Forrest
- Cello: Alex Ellsworth
Angels We Have Heard on High* - Traditional
We Wish You A Merry Christmas - arr. Livingston Gearhart
* Audience Sing-along
PROGRAM NOTES
Will Gunn, Music Director
Will Gunn, Music Director
It seems fitting to center our concert program around angels. We dedicate these performances to the “angels” who have made it possible for us to sing together again — doctors, nurses, and scientists who have made incredible advancements in the last eighteen months to allow us to rehearse safely.. Angels are central figures in many religions, and are often messengers between earth and heaven. We see their depictions and images in art, literature, and music dating back thousands of years. Sarah Quartel uses this music to enhance the story of three angels, our narrators, who will tell their stories to you. The Prologue introduces the audience to these celestial beings. The ominous opening with the piano and cello bring us into the opening mantra from the choir:
All his angels, all his heavenly armies, open your eyes, sweet child.
In the second movement, Creatures of Light, Quartel uses excerpts of a poem by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) to depict the wonder of seeing
these magnificent creatures.
Creatures of light, such as still play
Like motes in the sunshine, round the Lord,
And through their infinite array
Transmit each moment, night and day
The echo of his luminous word!
Creatures of light
When earth lay nearer to the skies than in these days of crime and woe,
And mortals saw, without surprise, in midair, angelic eyes
Gazing upon the earth below
Creatures of light
The third and fourth movements, God Will Give Orders/Sweet Child, are performed together without pause. They speak to the innocence and faith of children, rooted in the comfort from the angel’s protection.
God will give orders to his angels about you,
And all his angels, all his armies sing “ah”!
Do not think poorly of these little children.
All of them have an angel in heaven,
And all of their angels can see the face of the Father.
Sweet child, hear my song
Sweet child, I will guard you
Sweet child, you’re the future
Love and mercy, show to others
Faith like a child, can hear the song
A song that falls on ears of those who wait, like a child for peace to come.
And trust that we will learn to show them love,
Like a child who knows no wrong from being loved by those who’ve taught them.
Faith, like a child, who knows no wrong from being loved by those who’ve taught them
Faith, like a child, forever strong. The circle goes on.
In the last movement, Snow Angel, the text paints the story of the third angel.
I went to my window one bright winter’s morn and gazed at the new fallen snow
The world overtaken by flurries of white had set my surroundings aglow.
I looked to the heavens seeking the source of this wonderland newly appeared.
When there I spied a snow angel holding the flakes and spreading them near.
She sang:
'Even though the snow may blow, there’s not a wind can stop my music.
For I know that winter shelters life.'
On silver blue wingtips she soared through the air ensuring the flowers were warm.
She knew that her snowflakes would blanket the earth
and keep all its friends safe from harm.
I thought for a moment she must be a dream, this angel with silvery wings.
But then I discovered she was heaven sent as her icy lips opened to sing.
‘Even though the snow may blow, there’s not a wind can stop my music.
For I know that winter shelters life.'
When she knew that the flowers were asleep, she beat her wings faster to go.
But soon, looking back on the work she had done, she let herself fall to the snow.
I saw for a moment the smile on her face ‘fore she launched herself back in the air.
I’m sure there are many snow angels in heaven, but now I have one down here.