Gisele Becker, music director of the Cantate Chamber Singers

since 1994, is one of the Washington area’s leading choral conductors.

Her vision of musical excellence and her commitment to imaginative

programming have earned for her the highest admiration and respect

from her professional colleagues and audiences alike. Her extensive

experience in choral preparation has included the Folger Consort’s 1995

production of Dido and Aeneas, the Cathedral Choral Society’s

production of Hindemith’s When Lilacs in the Dooryard Bloomed for

guest conductor Robert Shaw, and the Washington Bach Consort’s

performance of Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 4 with the National 

Symphony under Leonard Slatkin.

A graduate of the Catholic University of America, Gisele Becker

has served on the faculties of Trinity College in Washington and the

Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia. She is also

active as a singer, adjudicator, and clinician.

Concerts at the National Gallery of Art

Under the direction of George Manos

December 2002 and January 2003

December

29 Luigi Piovano, cellist Brahms: Sonata No. 1

Luisa Prayer, pianist Schumann: Adagio and Allegro

Martucci: Two Romances

January

5 National Gallery Orchestra Gala Viennese New Year Concert

George Manos, conductor

The use of cameras or recording equipment during

the performance is not allowed. Please he sure that cell

phones, pagers, and other electronic devices are turned off.

For the convenience of concertgoers

the Garden Cafe remains open until 6:30 p.m.

The Sixty-first Season of

THE WILLIAM NELSON CROMWELL and

F. LAMMOT BELIN CONCERTS

National Gallery of Art

4-

n

2439th Concert

CANTATE CHAMBER SINGERS

GISELE BECKER, music director

KATE HAZZARD ROGERS, harpist

ERIC PLUTZ, pianist

MEMBERS OF THE

THOMAS PYLE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHORUS

Christmas Concert

Sunday Evening, 22 December 2002

Seven O’clock

West Building, West Garden Court

Admission free
Program

Benjamin Britten

(1913-1976)

Procession

Anonymous, 14th century

Hodie Christus natus est: hodie Salvator apparuit,

Hodie in terra canunt angeli laetantur archangeli,

Hodie exsultant justi dicentes: gloria in excelsis Deo.

Alleluia!

Wolcum Yole!

Wolcum, wolcum, wolcum be thou hevene king,

Wolcum Yole!1 Wolcum, born in one morning,

Wolcum for whom we sail sing!

Wolcum be ye, Stevene and Jon,

Wolcum, Innocentes every one,

Wolcum, Thomas marter one,

Wolcum be ye good Newe Yere,

Wolcum, Twelfthe Day both in fere,

Wolcum seintes2 lefe and dere,

Wolcum Yole, wolcum! '

Candelmesse, quene3 of bliss,

Wolcum bothe to more and lesse.

Wolcum, wolcum, wolcum be ye that are here,

Wolcum Yole, wolcum alle and make good cheer. 

Wolcum alle another yere, wolcum Yole. Wolcum!

1. Yule, 2. saints, 3. queen

There Is No Rose

Anonymous, 14th century

There is no rose of such vertu 

As is the rose that bare Jesu. Alleluia.

For in this rose conteined was 

Heaven and earth in lite1 space. Res 

miranda.

By that rose we may well see

There be one God in persons three.

Pares forma.

The aungels sungen the shepherds to:

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gaudeamus. Leave we all this werldly

mirth,

And follow we this joyful birth.

Transeamus.

Alleluia, res miranda, pares forma,

gaudeamus, transeamus.

A Ceremony of Carols

(1942)

That Yonge Child

Anonymous, 14th century

John Wieking, countertenor

That yonge child when it gan1 weep

With song she lulled him asleep:

That was so sweet a melody

It passed alle minstrelsy.

The nightingale sang also:

1. began to

Balulalow

James, John, and Robert Wedderburn, 1561

Marjorie Coombs Wellman, soprano

O my deare hert, young Jesu sweit,

Prepare thy creddil1 in my spreit,2

And I sail rock thee to my hert,

And never mair from thee depart.

1. cradle, 2. spirit

Her song is hoarse and nought thereto:

Whoso attendeth to her song 

And leaveth the first, then doth he

wrong.

But I sail praise thee evermoir

With sanges sweit unto thy gloir;

The knees of my hert sail I bow,

And sing that richf Balulalow!

3. right

As Dew in Aprille

Anonymous, c. 1400

1 sing of a maiden that is makeles:1

King of all kings to her son she ches.2

He came al so stille, there his moder was, 

As dew in Aprille that falleth on the grass.

He came al so stille to his moder’s bour,

As dew in Aprille that falleth on the flour.3

He came al so stille, there his moder lay,

As dew in Aprille that falleth on the spray.

Moder and mayden was never none but she:

Well may such a lady Goddes moder be.

1. immaculate, 2. chose, 3. flower
This Little Babe

Robert Southwell (15617-1595)

This little Babe so few days old.

Is come to rifle Satan’s fold;

All hell doth at his presence quake,

Though he himself for cold do shake;

For in this weak unarmed wise

The gates of hell he will surprise.

With tears he fights and wins the field,

His naked breast stands for a shield;

His battering shot are babish cries,

His arrows looks of weeping eyes,

His martial ensigns Cold and Need,

And feeble Flesh his warrior’s steed.

His camp is pitched in a stall.

His bulwark but a broken wall:

The crib his trench, haystalks his

stakes;

Of shepherds he his muster makes;

And thus, as sure his foe to wound,

The angels’ trumps alarum sound.

My soul, with Christjoin thou in tight;

Stick to the tents that he hath pight.1

Within his crib is surest ward;

This little Babe will be thy guard.

If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,

Then flit not from this heavenly Boy.

1. pitched

Interlude

In Freezing Winter Night

Robert Southwell

Marilynn Flood, soprano, Lisa Velapoldi, alto

Behold, a silly tender babe, in freezing

winter night.

In homely manger trembling lies,

Alas, a piteous sight!

The inns are full; no man will yield

This little pilgrim bed.

But forced he is with silly beasts

In crib to shroud his head.

This stable is a Prince’s court,

This crib his chair of State;

The beasts are parcel of his pomp,

The wooden dish his plate.

The persons in that poor attire

His royal liveries wear;

The Prince himself is come from

heav’n;

This pomp is prized there.

With joy approach, O Christian wight'

Do homage to thy King,

And highly praise his humble pomp.

Which he from Heav’n doth bring.

1. folk

Spring Carol

William Cornish (cl. 1523)

Judy Dean, soprano, Christie King, alto

Pleasure it is to hear iwis, the birdes sing,

The deer in the dale, the sheep in the vale, the corn springing.

God’s purvayance for sustenance, it is for man.

Then we always to him give praise, and thank him than.

Deo Gracias

Anonymous, 15th century

Adam lay ibounden,1 bounden in a

bond:

Four thousand winter thought he not to

long.

Deo gracias!

And all was for an appil, an appil that

he tok,2

1. bound, 2. took

Recession

Hodie Christus natus est: hodie Salvator apparuit,

Hodie in terra canunt angeli laetanlur arehangeli,

Hodie exsultantjusti dicentes: gloria in excelsis Deo.

Alleluia!

As clerkes linden written in their book.

Deo gracias!

Ne had the appil take ben,

Ne hadde never our lady a ben hevene

quene.

Blessed be the time that appil take was.

Therefore we mould singen,

Deo gracias!

3. must
Carolsfor Choir and Audience

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

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.”

Hark! The herald angels sing: “Glory to the newborn king.”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the son of righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings, Ris’n 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, 

Hark! The herald angels sing: “Glory to the new-born king.”

It Came upon the Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, 

From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: 

“Peace on the earth, good will to men,

from heav’n’s all-gracious king:”

The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come, 

with peaceful wings unfurled,

And still their heav’nly music Boats o’er all the weary world:

Above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hov’ring wing, 

And ever o’er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing.

God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen

God rest you, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,

For Jesus Christ, our Savior, was born upon this day,

To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray: 

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy!

From God our heav’nly father a blessed angel came,

And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same, 

How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name: 

O tidings....

Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas doth bring redeeming grace:

O tidings....

Intermission

Benjamin Britten A Boy Was Born

(1932-1933)

Theme: A Boy Was Born

German, 16th century

A boy was born in Bethlehem:

Rejoice for that, Jerusalem!

Alleluya.

He let himself a servant be,

That all mankind he might set free:

Alleluya.

Then praise the Word of God who

came

To dwell within a human frame:

Alleluya.

Variation I: Lullay, Jesu

Anonymous (before 1536)

Mine own dear mother, sing lullay!

Lullay, Jesu, lullay, lullay!

Mine own dear mother, sing lullay!

So blessed a sight it was to see,

Mine own dear Son, why weepest Thou

thus?

Is not Thy father King of bliss?

Have I not done that in me is?

How Mary rocked her Son so free; Your grievance, tell me what it is

So fair she rocked and sang “By-by.
“Therefore, mother, weep I nought.

But for the woe that shall be wrought

To me, ere I mankind have bought.

Ah, dear mother! Yet shall a spear

My heart in sunder all to-tear;

No wonder though I careful were. 

Now, dear mother, sing lullay,

Variation II: Herod

Anonymous, 15th century

Noel!

Herod that was both wild and wode, 

Full much he shed of Christian blood,

To slay the Child so meek of mood,

That Mary bare, that clean may.1

Herod slew with pride and sin

Thousands of two year and within;

The body of Christ he thought to win

And to destroy the Christian fay.2

1. maid, 2. faith

And put away all heaviness;

Into this world I took the way.

Again to heav’n I shall me dress,

Where joy is without end ay,

Mine own dear mother, sing lullay!”

Lullay, Jesu, lullay, lullay!

Mine own dear mother, sing lullay!

Mary with Jesu forth yfraught,'

As the angel her taught,

To flee the land till it were sought.

To Egypt she took her way.

Now Jesus that didst die for us on the

Rood,

And didst christen innocents in their

blood.

By the prayer of Thy mother good.

Bring us to bliss that lasteth ay.

3. laden

Variation III: Jesu, as Thou Art Our Saviour

Anonymous, 15th century’

Jesu, Jesu, Jesu, Jesu,

Save us all through Thy virtue.

Jesu, as Thou art our Saviour

That Thou save us fro dolour!

Jesu is mine paramour.

Variation IV: The Three Kings

Anonymous, 15th century

There came three kings fro Galilee

Into Bethlehem, that fair city,

To seek Him that should ever be

by right-a,

Lord and king and knight-a.

Blessed be Thy name, Jesu. 

Jesu was born of a may,

Upon Christemas Day,

She was may beforn and ay,

Blessed be Thy name, Jesu.

They took their leave, both old and

ying,

Of Herod, that moody king;

They went forth with their offering

by light-a,

By the star that shone so bright-a.

Till they came into the place

Where Jesus and His mother was, 

Offered they up with great solace

in fere-a1

Variation V: In the Bleak Midwinter;

In the Bleak Midwinter

Christina G. Rossetti

In the bleak midwinter

Frosty wind made moan.

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Lully, lulley, lully, lulley

Anonymous, 15th century;

Lully, lulley, lully, lulley,

The falcon hath borne my make1 away.

He bare him up, he bare him down.

He bare him into an orchard brown.

In that orchard there was an hall

That was hanged with purple and pall.

And in that hall there was a bed,

It was hanged with gold so red.

Gold, incense, and myrrh-a.

Forth then went these kinges three,

Till they came home to their country;

Glad and blithe they were all three

Of the sight that they had see

bydene-a.2

1. together, 2. together

', Lulley

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow.

In the bleak mid-winter

Long ago.

In that bed there lieth a knight.

His woundes bleeding, day and night. 

By that bedside kneeleth a may,

And she weepeth both night and day.

And by that bedside there standeth a

stone,

Corpus Christi written thereon.

1. mate
Variation VI (Finale): Noel! Wassail!; Get Ivy and Hull; Welcome Be Thou,

Heaven-king; Glory to God on High

Noel! Wassail!

Anonymous, 15th century

Good day, good day,

My Lord Sir Christemas, good day!

Good day, Sir Christemas our King,

For every man, both old and ying.

Is glad of your coining.

Good day.

Get Ivy and Hull

Anonymous, 15th Centum

Get ivy and hull,1 woman, deck up thine house.

And take this same brawn for to seethe and to souse;

Provide us good cheer, for thou knowest the old guise,

Old customs that good be, let no man despise.

At Christmas be merry and thank God of all.

And feast thy poor neighbours, the great and the small.

Yea, all the year long have an eye to the poor.

And God shall send luck to keep open thy door.

Good fruit and good plenty do well in thy loft.

Then lay for an orchard and cherish it oft.

The profit is mickle, the pleasure is much;

At pleasure with profit few wise men will grutch.

For plants and for stocks lay aforehand to cast.

But set or remove them, while Twelve-tide do last.

1. holly

Godes Son so much of might

From heaven to earth down is light 

And born is of a maid so bright.

Good day.

Noel! Our King! Hosanna!

This night a Child is born.

Welcome Be Thou, Heaven-king

Anonymous, 15th century

Welcome be Thou, heaven-king,

Welcome born in one morning,

Welcome for whom we shall sing 

Welcome Yule.

Welcome be ye that are here. 

Welcome all, and make good cheer. 

Welcome all another year!

Welcome Yule.

Glory to God on High

Francis Quarles (1592-1644)

Glory to God on high, and jolly mirth

'Twixt man and man, and peace on earth!

Wassail, Wassail!...

Lully, lulley, lully, lulley,...

Noel! Noel!...

Herod that was so wild and wode.

Mine own dear mother...

Jesu, Jesu!...

This night a Child is born;

This night a Son is given;

This Son, this Child

Hath reconciled

Poor man that was forlorn,

And the angry God of heaven.

Hosanna, sing Hosanna!

Now, now that joyful day,

That blessed hour is come,

That was foretold

In days of old.

Wherein all nations may 

Bless, bless the virgin’s womb.

Hosanna, sing Hosanna!

Let heaven triumph above,

Let earth rejoice below;

Let heaven and earth 

Be filled with mirth.

For peace and lasting love

Atones your God and you.

Hosanna, sing Hosanna!

Musicians

Cantate Chamber Singers, one of the Washington metropolitan area’s

prime chamber ensembles, is dedicated to artistically exciting

performances of distinctive choral music. In addition to maintaining high

standards of musical excellence, the singers promote local talent through

collaboration with other area artists and ensembles and creating

educational outreach for both adults and students. The singers perform

both a cappella and accompanied chamber choral works, spanning five

centuries of repertoire. Their strong commitment to twentieth-century 

repertoire results in many commissions and premiere performances.

Recent performances have included Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with

the Washington Chamber Symphony under Stephen Simon, concerts

with the National Chamber Orchestra under Piotr Gajewski, and

performances at the Kennedy Center, Epiphany Episcopal Church in

Washington, and Christ Episcopal Church in La Plata, Maryland.