This is our world, it is our only world, and it will be whatever we make it! Leonard Bernstein's Candide, adapted from a novella of the same name written by the Enlightenment-era philosopher Voltaire comically satirizes the prevailing attitudes of Voltaire's time, particularly those of the church and of monarchism.  Playwright and librettist Lillian Hellman (1905-1984) saw clear parallels between the inquisition of Voltaire's time and the surge of anti-Communist fervor that was coming from Washington during the post WWII time.

Soloists: Erin Walker, Flute

Jeanine Ford, Signer

If we want to see change in the world, we need to plant the seeds of change.  What we sow, we reap.  If we sow discord, we reap discord.  If we sow peace, we reap peace.  "Give us what we need, and we will make the world all right".

The world-renowned cellist Pablo Casals composed this incarnation of "O you that pass by, behold, and see: can there be any sorrow like my sorrow?  Behold, everyone, and see my sorrow" (Lamentations 1, v.12) to be sung during Holy Week.  The text is an expression of utter tragedy, a tragedy in which we have all played our part, and where the music gives the emotions free reign.

"Mercifully grant us peace, Lord God, during our life on earth.

There is indeed no other who could fight for us than you, our God, alone."

Martin Luther published this verse in 1528 and it is still used in German Lutheran churches today to close the worship service.

Sung by the Men of Reprise

Arranged by Oregon composer, Ron Jeffers, Workin' for the Dawn of Peace combines two famous Civil War songs: Two Brothers and Tenting Tonight.  These songs were popular with both civilians and soldiers on both sides of the war.  Jeffers quotes Gandhi on the cover of this arrangement: "We must become the change we wish to see in the world."

Soloist: Michael Telfer

Bright morning stars were popularly thought to refer to angels.  The lyrics ask, "Where are our dear mothers?  Where are our dear brothers?  Where are our dear sisters?  Oh, where is our future?"  We answer, "We are here praying....we are here singing....day is a breakin' in my soul."

Elgar's ethereal and beautiful orchestral composition has been exquisitely arranged by John Cameron with words from the Requiem Mass.  With promises of life eternal, of peace and light being part of a permanent slumber, the text offers comfort to the survivors.

May light eternal shine upon them, O Lord, with Thy saints forever, for Thou art kind. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Soloists: Lily Burton, Violin

Elizabeth Byrd, Cello

Our world is beautiful, yet we continue to fight over it like hungry animals with a bone.  If the stars are angels, how they must wonder in astonishment at our petty, foolish bickering.

Dona nobis pacem - Grant Us Peace.

Soloists: Amber Tripp & Justin McLeod

Freedom Come is the closing movement of Bandari: Inside These Walls, which encompasses a variety of African styles and combines translated Swahili and English texts.  It is written in the style of a South African freedom song creating an atmosphere in which hope can increase, healing can occur and connections to our common humanity can be strengthened.

Soloists: Daniel Warner, Tenor

David Hayden, Oboe

Set to music by countless composers, including Brian Galante, the Associate Director of Choral Studies at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, O'Shaughnessy's famous poem entitled Ode, challenges us to work for the things in life that we most desire.  If it be makers of music, we must be responsible for the melodies, the harmonies, and the rhythms and all that speaks to our soul through the medium of music.  If we desire for our dreams to come true, then we must take responsibility to work to achieve those dreams, regardless of the challenges.

Ysaye M Barnwell, a member of the group Honey in the Rock, wrote this song to celebrate the different generations, particularly the children.  "We are our grandmothers' prayers, and we are our grandfathers' dreamings, we are the breath of our ancestors, we are the spirit of God".

Sung by the Women of Reprise

John Gillespie Magee, Jr. wrote this poem in 1941 when he was eighteen years old and had recently entered flight training in the Royal Canadian Air Force.  As he climbed upward to 30,000 feet in a test flight, this poem came to his mind.  He said "It started at 30,000 feet and ended soon after I landed". Just three months later, Magee was killed in an air collision with another plane.  His poem, High Flight, has become a mantra for pilots and has been called the most famous aviation poem ever written.

Soloist: Jonathan Warner

Imagine was written and performed by English musician John Lennon.  The best-selling single of his solo career, its lyrics encourage the listener to imagine a world at peace without the barriers of borders or the divisions of religion and nationality and to consider the possibility that the whole of humanity could live unattached to material possessions.

Soloist: Bethany Schweitzer

Dello Joio's exuberant A Jubilant Song is set to a text by the equally exuberant poet, Walt Whitman.  One can hear echoes of the composer's early dalliance with jazz, along with the solid craftsmanship that marks him as a student of Hindemith.  Written in 1945, its celebratory mood reflects America's exultation at the end of WWII and our desire to, "...sing prophetic joys...sing of lofty ideals.  We sing of love awaking in hearts of men - a universal love."

Soloists: Bruce Kyte, Jacqueline Baxter, Rosemary Warner

Trio: Shannon Anderson, Jeanine Ford, Beth Borgstede

In ancient building practices, the cornerstone was the principal stone placed at the corner of the edifice.  The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the edifice.  Jesus describes Himself as the Cornerstone that His church would be built upon, a unified body of believers, both Jew and Gentile.  This particular text is drawn from four different books of the Bible.

To introduce our concert, we begin with a joyful and celebratory competition by Norwegian composer Ola Gjello, who has synthesized parts of two of his favorite pieces as we sing: 

"Rejoice, resound with joy! O you blessed souls, rejoice!

The great Trinity is revealed and everywhere adored;

Give glory, give it glory, the Great Triad is adored."

Sweelinck was perhaps the most important composer from the Netherlands in the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras.  He is best known for his vocal compositions as well as being one of the most famous and influential composition teachers of his time.

"Rejoice and be glad, all of you,

for behold the One whom you longed for comes.

Enter into His presence with joy,

know that He Himself is our hope. Alleluia!"

The composer has explained, "Hallelujah is a Hebrew word which means 'Glory to the Lord.'" The song explains that many kinds of Hallelujahs do exist. [Songfacts, Jeff Buckley]  To Cohen, Hallelujah comes from a place that is cold and broken.  The Cohen "light" is loaded with laers of metaphysical meaning. [Quora]

With over 600 compositions to his credit, 400 of them choral works, Grammy nominee and winner, Stephen Paulus' legacy lives on in his music.

The waltzes are a collection of love songs in a German folk-dance style for voices and piano.  The lyrics come from a collection of folk songs and love poems.  There is speculation that Brahms' motivation for the songs was his frustrated love for pianist Clark Schumann, composer Robert Schumann's wife.

Nein, es ist nicht auszukommen

"No, there's just no getting along with people;

they always make such poisonous interpretations of everything.

If I'm merry, they say I cherish loose urges; 

if I'm quiet, they say I am crazed with love."

Schlosser auf, und mache Schlösser

"Locksmith - get up and make your locks, 

locks without number; 

for I want to lock up all the evil mouths."

Nachtigall, sie singt so schön

"The nightingale, it sings so beautifully, 

when the stars are twinkling.

Love me, my beloved heart, 

kiss me in the dark!"

Translation copyright by Emily Ezust, from the LiederNet Archive http://www.lieder.net-- 

"Lullaby" is the final movement of Elder's Three Nocturnes.  It is a simple song of reassurance, as a mother may sing to her child to stave off a fear of the darkness and solitude of night.  The line "the day is done, and gone the sun" has its origins in the first line of text traditionally sung to "Taps," for military funerals or to signal the end of the day.

Domaredansen is a game played by Swedes of all ages at all times of the year including Yuletide.  The participants usually form a long chain holding hands.  Depending on the circumstances, the chain might turn into a ring, with the dancers circling a maypole or Christmas tree.

Percussion: Jeanine Selix Ford & Bob Barrett

Winning the Oscar for best original song in 1989, and a Golden Globe award the same year, the inspirational lyrics coupled with the energized melody and rhythm served as the anthem for working women everywhere following the success of the three heroines of the film.

Solos: Melanie Bair & Justin McLeod

The most endearing tune of the film is Pure Imagination which Wonka delivers after introducing the children to the enormous chocolate room.  We mourn the loss of Gene Wilder (1933-2016) and miss his creative genius.

Solos: Michelle Eussen & Brittany McEachran

The lyrics were written by the author in 1932 in horor of a friend.  The original version was never published or copyrighted, and today, many versions can be seen on the internet; there is no definitlve original version.  Composer David N CHilds dedicated this piece to the great choral director Anton Armstrong.

Solo: Rosemary Warner

Many hymns are conceived in the throes of tragedy.  The words of "Precious Lord" were written in 1932 following the death of Reverend Thomas A Dorsey's wife and infant son during childbirth.  Dorsey, considered the "father" of the African American gospel tradition utilized George Allen's tune to fit his text.  This arrangement by Ringwald was written in honor of Martin Luther King and sung by Mahalia Jackson at his funeral.

The 'Tyger' (taken from The Songs of Experience, published in 1794) is a symbolic tiger which represents the fierce force in the human soul; a divine spirit that will not be subdued by restrictions, but will arise against established rules and conventions.  The music reflects the movement of tigers and the responses that people have to being confronted with the beauty and danger of these powerful animals.

Solos: Amber Tripp & Bob Barrett

Working with choirs over our combined 100 years (!) is something we (Janet & April) can never forget!  We are honored that the founding singers of Reprise hav chosen to sing with us.  To paraphrase the song's lyrics, "Thats why....it's incredible that someone so unforgettable, things that 'we are' unforgettable, too."

Solo: Jacqueline Baxter

This gospel-style interpretation of the hymn, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" speaks to each and every one of us who find joy in singing together as we celebrate our first season of Reprise!

I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free.

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.