I’m delighted to welcome you to our first public concert since January 2020. (A lot has happened since then.) There’s something uniquely special about a live concert, from the history of the space, to the gathering of loved ones and supporters, to the suspension of time in the silence before and after a piece. It’s a feeling many of us in Lux have missed now for years, and we’re elated to be able to return to it with you.
Director’s note
I’m delighted to welcome you to our first public concert since January 2020. (A lot has happened since then.) There’s something uniquely special about a live concert, from the history of the space, to the gathering of loved ones and supporters, to the suspension of time in the silence before and after a piece. It’s a feeling many of us in Lux have missed now for years, and we’re elated to be able to return to it with you.
About the artists
About Paul Mealor
Mealor is deeply involved with musical organizations in Wales and across the UK, and is Composer in Residence with Canada’s top professional choir, Pro Coro Canada. In 2020, he was given the Fletcher of Saltoun Award for outstanding contribution to the arts and humanities in Scotland. He is also an Officer of the Venerable Order of St John (OStJ), a Great Shogun of the Order of the Samurai (OSS), and a Commander of the Catholic Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem (CLJ).
About Lux
Venue information and reminders
- In the moments before the concert begins, please silence your cell phones and anything else that might beep or buzz. You are encouraged to use your phone to view this program during the concert, but please ensure it is silenced, and considering turning your screen brightness down as low as is comfortable for you.
- Restrooms are accessible downstairs through the Gold Room (clearly indicated in the church foyer). The women’s restroom is at the bottom of the stairs, while the men’s restroom is through a hallway at the far left edge of the Gold Room. There is also a gender-neutral/“family” restroom within the utility room in the church foyer (clearly indicated with signage).
Timeline
Tap/click to jump to relevant notes
Paul Mealor (b. 1975)
Matin Responsory
Performance details
Thomas Rust, Adam Whitman, and Amanda Densmoor, soloists.
About the work
Text
Go ye out to meet him and say:
Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel?
High and low, rich and poor, one with another.
Go ye out to meet him and say:
Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep.
Tell us, art thou he that should come?
Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come to reign over thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Paul Mealor (b. 1975)
O beata Trinitas
Performance details
Austin Nikirk, soloist.
About the work
Text
the earth, the rainfall and the grass.
Bless this land through which we pass.
Drindod Sanctaidd ddiwahân:
gair a llais a cherdd ein cân,
dyro’th ras drwy’n henaith lân.
Drindod Sanctaidd ddiwahân.
Holy, blessed Trinity:
the well, the river and the sea,
guide us to the mystery.
Amen.
Translation
[the earth, the rainfall and the grass.
Bless this land through which we pass.]
Holy and undivided Trinity,
word and voice and music of our song,
bestow your grace through our pure ancient tongue,
Holy and undivided Trinity.
[Holy, blessed Trinity:
The well, the river and the sea,
guide us to the mystery.
Amen.]
Paul Mealor (b. 1975)
God So Loved The World
About the work
Text
David Hurd (b. 1950)
O Night That Is Brighter Than The Day
About the work
Text
O night more dazzling than the sun,
O night more sparkling than the snow,
O night more brilliant than our lamps!
O night that is sweeter than paradise,
O night delivered from darkness,
O night that dispels sleep,
O night that makes us keep vigil with the angels,
O night terrible for the demons,
O night desired by the all the year,
O night that leads the bridal church to her Spouse,
O night that is mother to those enlightened!
O night in which the devil, sleeping, was despoiled,
O night in which the Heir brings the coheirs to their heritage!
Dale Trumbore (b. 1987)
1. Echo’s Histories
from History’s Stories
About the work
History’s Stories is a musical puzzle. The first piece (Echo’s Histories for TTBB chorus) and the second piece (Echo’s Stories for SSAA chorus) combine to make up a third SSAATTBB work (History’s Stories), which layers the two previous pieces together without changing a note.
Contemporary poet Diane Thiel’s text for History’s Stories describes the myth of Narcissus and Echo and can be read three ways. Reading just the last word of every line forms a poem (“art allows chance turns…”); the poem can be read as it is on the page; or it can be read with the last word of every line – which “echoes” part of the preceding word – omitted. These three interpretations inspired the three different movements of History’s Stories.
Text
flung limb by singing limb. Each valley swallows
her voice. In another tale, a flame enchants
encounters—Narcissus, who never returns,
her love to stone. Rocks, caves, dens, the hollow
of bones become her home—the old echoes,
that round our inner lives like the concentric
rings inside trees, reverberate for years,
Our voices rise and leave, traveling, raveling
currents across the sea, longing to reach
Atlantis, locate shapes that sounds recall—
back the world, as it was first encountered.
Dale Trumbore (b. 1987)
2. Echo’s Stories
from History’s Stories
About the work
Text
allows
chance
turns—
hollow
O’s
trick
our ears—
veiling
each
call
heard.
Paul Mealor (b. 1975)
Lead Me, Lord
Performance details
John Mullan, soloist.
About the work
Text
For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
Paul Mealor (b. 1975)
O Lord, Make Thy Servant Elizabeth
Performance details
John Mullan, Anya Trudeau, and Austin Nikirk, soloists.
About the work
Text
give her heart’s desire, and deny not the request of her lips;
but prevent her with thine everlasting blessing,
and give her a long life, e’en forever and ever. Amen.
Intermission 10m
Paul Mealor (b. 1975)
Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal (Four Madrigals On Rose Texts)
About the work
1. Now sleeps the crimson petal
Text
2. Lady, when I behold the roses sprouting
Text
Which clad in damask mantles deck the arbours,
And then behold your lips, where sweet love harbours,
My eyes present me with a double doubting.
For, viewing both alike, hardly my mind supposes
Whether the roses be your lips, or your lips the roses.
3. Upon a bank with roses set about
Text
Where pretty turtles, joining bill to bill,
And gentle springs steal softly murmuring out,
Washing the foot of pleasure's sacred hill;
There little Love sore wounded lies,
His bow and arrows broken,
Bedewed with tears from Venus’ eyes,
O grievous to be spoken.
4. A Spotless Rose
Text
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 the dark midnight.
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
Amid the cold, cold winter
And the dark midnight.
Christen Taylor Holmes (b. 2000)
Summer Shower
Performance details
About the work
Text
Another—on the Roof—
A Half a Dozen kissed the Eaves—
And made the Gables laugh—
That went to help the Sea—
Myself Conjectured were they Pearls—
What Necklaces could be—
The Birds jocoser sung—
The Sunshine threw his Hat away—
The Bushes—spangles flung—
And bathed them in the Glee—
The Orient showed a single Flag,
And signed the fête away—
Dale Trumbore (b. 1987)
3. History’s Stories
from History’s Stories
About the work
Text
flung limb by singing limb. Each valley swallows, allows
her voice. In another tale, a flame enchants chance
encounters—Narcissus, who never returns, turns—
her love to stone. Rocks, caves, dens, the hollow hollow
of bones become her home—the old echoes, O’s
that round our inner lives like the concentric trick
rings inside trees, reverberate for years, our ears—
Our voices rise and leave, traveling, raveling, veiling
currents across the sea, longing to reach each
Atlantis, locate shapes that sounds recall—call
back the world, as it was first encountered, heard.
Adrian Sims (b. 2000)
Awaken
Performance details
About the work
Text
dazed spring approaches—
cold, uncertain of all
save that they enter. All about them
the cold, familiar wind—
the stiff curl of wildcarrot leaf [naked, cold, naked, cold]
One by one objects are defined—
It quickens: clarity, outline of leaf
entrance—Still, the profound change
has come upon them: rooted, they
grip down and begin to awaken.
Paul Mealor (b. 1975)
Te lucis ante terminum
Performance details
John Mullan and Emily Shallbetter, soloists.
About the work
Text
Rerum creator poscimus
Ut solita clementia
Sis praesul ad custodiam.
Procul recedeant somnia,
et noctium phantasmata:
Hostemque nostrum comprime,
ne polluantur corpora.
Praesta, Pater omnipotens
Per Jesum Christum Dominum
Qui tecum in perpetuum
Regnat cum Sancto Spiritu.
Amen.
Translation
Creator of [all] things, we pray,
That your habitual mercy
May be our captain of the watch.
Let dreams depart from us,
And the phantoms of night:
And restrain our enemy,
That our bodies may not be defiled.
Grant this, all-powerful Father,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Who with you in eternity
Reigns with the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Paul Mealor (b. 1975)
Lead, Kindly Light
Performance details
Collin Power, soloist.
About the work
Text
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene—one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now,
Lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.
So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on. O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!