CRSP-Program-2015-Dec2

YRD &
BIRDS
presented by
Calgary Renaissance
Singers & Players
Directed by Jane Perry
With Chellan Hoffman, organ
Saturday, December 5, 2015
St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Calgary
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Sopranos: Leslie Buckle, Lauretta Carrick, Shari Derksen, Marcia
Epstein, Liz Graves, Jennifer Hibbard, Lisa Hurrle
Altos: Rachel Ewert, Jennifer Farrand, Sheila Gow, Marsha Haug,
Brandis Purcell, Lorna Rowsell-Petti, Sandy Willott
Tenors: Michael Bruch, Frejya Evenstar, Ian Macdonald, Llyn Strelau,
Dick Willott
Basses: Michael Coulson, Marlin Derksen, Ian Kennedy,
Nicholas Žekulin
Lorna Rowsell-Petti
Jennifer Farrand, Lisa Hurrle, Ian Kennedy
Chellan Hoffman (organ, piano)
Nicholas Žekulin
In this concert, we feature music by William Byrd,
arguably England’s best known Renaissance
composer. He left a rich library of works, both
sacred and secular, that have delighted listeners
for the last 400 years. We supplement Byrd with
music from other Renaissance masters and some
more modern composers, including other Brits – Sir
David Willcocks, John Rutter – and as the title suggests, we will sing
songs about birds. We tie all this together to make a delightful
musical evening for you, our listeners. Our program includes
many Christmas songs, of course.
“No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings."
William Blake (1757-1827)
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Our purpose is to inspire,
entertain, and educate our
audiences and members
through the music, culture,
and history of the
Renaissance. We enrich our
performances with works of
other periods that celebrate the spirit of the Renaissance. CRSP has
been a proud part of Calgary’s musical landscape since it was founded
by Dr. Anthony Petti in 1970. CRSP has given Canadian premiere
performances of seminal Renaissance sacred works, such as the
Monteverdi Vespers of 1610, as well as commissioning and performing
new choral works in Renaissance polyphonic style. We thrive on new
creative opportunities: from singing at the planetarium to acting,
dancing, and playing instruments; from collaborating with brass,
harpsichord, and recorder players to jamming with jazz saxophonists.
Jane Perry is a choral conductor, church musician,
collaborative pianist, and teacher in Calgary. She is
the Artistic Director of the Calgary Renaissance
Singers & Players, Music Director at the Unitarian
Church of Calgary, and Artistic Director of One Voice
Chorus (of which she is also the founding conductor). Jane holds a
Master of Music degree (chamber music performance) from the
University of Ottawa and an Associate Diploma (piano performance)
from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. In autumn 1998,
she was an Artist-in-Residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts. Jane
spent twenty years working as a professional musician in Ottawa
before moving to Calgary. She is now happily ensconced in Calgary’s
arts scene.
"Love is a bird; she needs to fly." Madonna (b.1958)
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Chellan Hoffman, a native of Saskatchewan, moved to
Calgary in 1992. She's been active in the musical life of
this city as an accompanist/performer (organ, piano
and harpsichord), playing for community theatre
shows, education programs, choral, instrumental and
solo concerts. Over the past 25 years, she has served as organist for
Baptist, Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches. In 2013, she was
appointed music director of Knox United Church, where she is
conductor and organist, and overseesthe music program there. An
enthusiastic advocate for the pipe organ, Chellan enjoys introducing
this instrument to the public through organ crawls, demonstrations
and education programs. She is curator of early music instruments at
the University of Calgary, and is also a tuning assistant with the firm,
Pipework. She served as Chair of the Royal Canadian College of
Organists, Calgary Centre from 2008-2014 and each year takes on
roles in the annual Calgary Organ Festival – as performer, event
organizer, teacher, and symposium presenter. In her other life, she is
a Hockey Mom - cheering on her two boys, who love to play the great
Canadian winter sport!
To our audience, sponsors, and many volunteers and professionals:
Funding
 Alberta Foundation for the Arts
 Calgary Arts Development
Rehearsal space
 Unitarian Church of Calgary
Affiliations
 Choir Alberta
"Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds
sang there except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)
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I Saw Three Ships
(SATB)
With soloists: Dick Willott,
Michael Bruch, Shari Derksen
William Byrd
(c. 1539/40 – 1623)
Hodie Christus
Natus Est
(SATB)
Trad. English carol, arr.
David Willcocks
(1919-2015)
Today Christ was born; today the Savior appeared; today on earth the
angels sing, the archangels rejoice; today good people exult,
saying: Glory to God in the highest, alleluia.
Hodie Christus Natus Est
From A Ceremony of Carols
Benjamin Britten
(1913 – 1976)
William Byrd
(c. 1539/40 – 1623)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among
women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Alleluia.
Ave Maria, Gratia
Plena
(SSATB)
Christmas Lullaby
(SATB)
The Carman’s
Whistle
This Day Christ
Was Born
(SSAATB)
With Chellan Hoffman, organ
John Rutter
(b. 1945)
Clear in the darkness a light shines in Bethlehem: Angels are singing,
their sound fills the air. Wise men have journeyed to greet their
Messiah; but only a mother and baby lie there. Ave Maria, Hear the
soft lullaby the angel hosts sing. Maiden and mother of Jesus our
King.
Where are his courtiers, and who are his people? Why does he bear
neither sceptre nor crown? Shepherds his courtiers, the poor for
his people. With peace as his sceptre and love for his crown.
What though your treasures are not gold or incense? Lay them before
him with hearts full of love. Praise to the Christ Child, and praise
to his mother who bore us a Saviour by grace from above.
Chellan Hoffman, organ
William Byrd
(c. 1539/40 – 1623)
William Byrd
This day Christ was born, this day our Saviour did appear. This day the
angels sing on earth. The archangels are glad. This day the just
rejoice saying: glory be to God on high. Alleluia.
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Blackbird
Il Bianco e Dolce
Cigno
(SATB)
Le Chant des
Oyseaux
(SATB)
Dolcissimo
Usignolo
(SSATB)
With soloist: Llyn Strelau
John Lennon (1940 – 1980) and
Paul McCartney (b. 1942), arr.
Daryl Runswick (b. 1946)
Jacob Arcadelt
(C. 1507 – 1568)
The gentle white swan sings while dying, and I approach the end
of my life weeping. How strange and different a fate, that he
dies disconsolate and I die happy in a death that fills me with
joy and desire. If I were to feel no other pain in my death I
would be happy to die a thousand times.
Clement Janequin
(1485 – 1558)
Wake up, you sleepy hearts, the god of love is calling you. On
this first day of May the birds make wonderful sounds to
remove your sadness; you will be really happy because the
season is good.
Birdsong...
The cute little starling passes mischievously; it is time to go drink
to my mistress’ words, to St. Trotin, to St. Robin; to laugh and
make merry is my plan... for all to indulge themselves.
Birdsong...
Nightingale of the lovely wood, whose voice resounds to pass the
hours of boredom, your throat utters only trivial notes; fly
away, regrets and cares, because the season demands it!
Birdsong...
Master cuckoo, leave our place; everyone sends you to the owl
because you are nothing but a traitor. You deposit in each
nest treacherously, without anyone’s permission.
Wake up, you sleepy hearts, the god of love is calling you.
Claudio Monteverdi
(1567 – 1643)
With Shari Derksen, soprano soloist, and Chellan Hoffman,
organ
Most sweet nightingale, you call to your beloved mate, singing:
come, my soul. But song is of no avail to me, and I have no
wings to fly as you have. Happy little bird, kind nature rewards
you well in your delight, and though she denied you
knowledge, she gave you good fortune.
Capriccio on the Notes of
the Cuckoo
Girolamo Frescobaldi
(1583 – 1643)
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Joy to the World
Chellan Hoffman, organ
arr. John Ferguson
(b. 1941)
Craig Courtney
(b. 1948)
A Musicological Journey
Through the Twelve
Days of Christmas
(SATB)
With Chellan Hoffman, piano
Following this evening’s program, please join the performers
downstairs for refreshments and conversation.
From the main lobby, there is elevator access as well as a stairway to the lower level.
Concert
Production
Volunteers
 Concert producers – Sandy Willott, Lisa Hurrle 
Concert programme – Rachel Ewert assisted by Tania
Smith, Jane Perry, Nick Žekulin, Lorna Rowsell-Petti,
Marcia Epstein and others  Concert recording &
photography – Rod Shaver  Facebook, Online
tickets – Frejya Evenstar  Front of House – Jillian
Gow, Georgia Derksen, Ben Gaudet, Ruby Gaudet coordinated by Ian Kennedy  Graphic design –Tania
Smith  Journalist – Terri Huxley  Programme
printing – Brandis Purcell  Publicity – Lauretta
Carrick, Leslie Buckle, Jennifer Farrand  Reception
catering: Catering by Design – coordinated by Lauretta
Carrick  Reception volunteers – Fay Giroux  Slides
and banners – Nick Žekulin, Dick Willott, Ian Kennedy
 Slide Projection -Jack Partridge  Stage manager –
Rik Barry  Snacks for choir –Ian Macdonald 
Thank-you notes & gifts – Marsha Haug and Llyn
Strelau  Tickets – Michael Coulson  Treasurer – Liz
Graves  Venue logistics – Michael Bruch, Jane Perry
 Website – Tania Smith
Engage an ensemble of CRSP singers for your special occasion,
celebration or festival: corporate events, school visits, Christmas, Easter,
birthdays, weddings, etc. Contact us at:
businessmgr@renaissance-singers.com
Calgary Renaissance Singers & Players invite prospective new singers
(especially tenors and basses!) and instrumentalists to audition for
admission to the choir. We rehearse on Wednesdays 7:30-9:30pm at the
Unitarian Church of Calgary, 1703 - 1 St NW. To arrange an audition,
contact Artistic Director Jane Perry at:
conductor@renaissance-singers.com
Sunday, Dec 6, 2015 at 3:00 PM - Spiritus
Chamber Choir present “A Venetian Christmas”
at Knox United Church. Information at:
www.spirituschamberchoir.ca
Sunday, Dec 31, 8:00 PM Luminous Voices
presents “A Luminous New Year’s Eve” at Knox
United Church. Information at:
www.luminousvoices.ca
"The birds are moulting. If only man could moult also -- his mind once a year its errors, his
heart once a year its useless passions." James Allen (1864-1912)