'TWAS THE NIGHTINGALE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Program Notes
22 December 2023
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
Cambridge, MA
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
Cambridge, MA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CONDUCTOR, PIANIST/ORGANIST
Benjamin Kapp Perry
SINGERS
Kendra Comstock, Alexandra Ghiz (sopranos)
Chihiro Asano, Angelica Grau (altos)
Arhan Kumar, Connor Vigeant (tenors)
Adrian Cho, Nathan Halbur (basses)
Benjamin Kapp Perry
SINGERS
Kendra Comstock, Alexandra Ghiz (sopranos)
Chihiro Asano, Angelica Grau (altos)
Arhan Kumar, Connor Vigeant (tenors)
Adrian Cho, Nathan Halbur (basses)
REPERTOIRE
- Silver Bells
- Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
- arr. Blake Morgan
- solos: Arhan Kumar, Adrian Cho, Alexandra Ghiz
- Silent Night
- Franz Gruber
- arr. Stephen Paulus
- solos: Alexandra Ghiz, Arhan Kumar
- Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- arr. Jeff Frunk
- In the Bleak Midwinter
- Harold Darke
- solos: Angelica Grau, Connor Vigeant
- Sleigh Ride
- Leroy Anderson
- arr. Julie Gaulke
- Videntes Stellam
- Francis Poulenc
- A Spotless Rose
- Herbert Howells
- solo: Adrian Cho
- Jingle Bells
- James Lord Pierpont
- arr. Ben Parry
- Little Saint Nick
- Brian Wilson, Mike Love
- arr. Christopher Peterson
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
- arr. Kirby Shaw
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas
- traditional
- arr. Francesco Rossi
TEXTS
Silver Bells
(Ring-a-ling
Hear them ring)
Strings of streetlights, even stoplights
Blink of bright red and green
And above all the bustle you'll hear
Silver bells
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling
Of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear
Silver bells
Silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling
Hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas Day
Strings of streetlights, even stoplights
(Caroling, caroling through the snow)
Blink of bright red and green
(Christmas bells are ringing)
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
(But I wanna hippopotamus for Christmas!
Oh! Please no hippo!)
Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
(Frosty the Snowman made the children laugh and play,)
This is Santa's big scene
(Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa)
And above all the bustle you'll hear
(but baby it’s cold outside, yikes!)
Silver bells
Silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas Day
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
Snow had fallen
Snow on snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter
Long, long ago
Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away
when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter
a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
Enough for him whom cherubim
worship night and day,
a breastful of milk
and a mangerful of hay:
enough for him
whom angels fall down before,
the ox and ass and camel which adore.
What can I give him?
Poor as I am
If I were a shepherd
I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
But what I can I give him
Give him my heart
Sleigh Ride
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling,
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you
Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling "yoo hoo,"
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap,
Let's go, Let's look at the show,
We're riding in a wonderland of snow.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap,
It's grand, Just holding your hand,
We're gliding along with a song
Of a wintry fairy land
Our cheeks are nice and rosy
And comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together
Like two birds of a feather would be
Let's take that road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
There's a birthday party
At the home of Farmer Gray
It'll be the perfect ending a perfect day
We'll be singing the songs
We love to sing without a single stop
At the fireplace while we watch
The chestnuts pop. pop! pop! pop!
There's a happy feeling
Nothing in the world can buy
When they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie
It'll nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things
We remember all through our lives!
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling,
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you
Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling "yoo hoo",
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
It's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.
Videntes Stellam
Videntes stellam Magi
Upon seeing the star, the Magi
gavisi sunt gaudio magno:
rejoiced in great joy:
et intrantes domum
and entering the house
obtulerunt Domino aurum,
they offered gold,
thus et myrrham.
frankincense and myrrh.
A Spotless Rose
A spotless Rose is blowing,
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers' foreshowing,
Of Jesse promis'd fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
Amid the cold, cold winter,
And in the dark midnight.
The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest Maid;
For through our God's great love and might
The Blessed Babe she bare us
In a cold, cold winter's night.
Jingle Bells
Chorus:
Jingle bells
Jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun
It is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Ha ha ha
Bells on bobtail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Now the ground is white
And the night is young
Take the sleigh tonight
And join us in this song
Just get a bob tailed bay
Get ready for a run
Then hitch him to a sleigh
And now we'll have some fun!”
Little Saint Nick
Ooh
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
Christmas comes this time each year
Ooh, ooh
Well way up North where the air gets cold
There's a tale about Christmas
That you've all been told
And a real famous cat all dressed up in red
And he spends the whole year workin' out on his sled
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
Just a little bobsled we call the old Saint Nick
But she'll walk a toboggan with a four speed stick
She's candy apple red with a ski for a wheel
And when Santa hits the gas, man, just watch her peel
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
Run run reindeer
Run run reindeer (he don't miss no one)
And haulin' through the snow at a frightening speed
With a half a dozen deer with Rudy to lead
He's got to wear his goggles 'cause the snow really flies
And he's cruisin' every path with a little surprise
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
Ooh
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
(Christmas comes this time each year)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas now
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Good tidings to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Glad tidings to you, wherever you are;
Glad tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Good tidings to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Silver Bells
(Ring-a-ling
Hear them ring)
Strings of streetlights, even stoplights
Blink of bright red and green
And above all the bustle you'll hear
Silver bells
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling
Of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear
Silver bells
Silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling
Hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas Day
Strings of streetlights, even stoplights
(Caroling, caroling through the snow)
Blink of bright red and green
(Christmas bells are ringing)
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
(But I wanna hippopotamus for Christmas!
Oh! Please no hippo!)
Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
(Frosty the Snowman made the children laugh and play,)
This is Santa's big scene
(Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa)
And above all the bustle you'll hear
(but baby it’s cold outside, yikes!)
Silver bells
Silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas Day
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
Snow had fallen
Snow on snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter
Long, long ago
Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away
when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter
a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
Enough for him whom cherubim
worship night and day,
a breastful of milk
and a mangerful of hay:
enough for him
whom angels fall down before,
the ox and ass and camel which adore.
What can I give him?
Poor as I am
If I were a shepherd
I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
But what I can I give him
Give him my heart
Sleigh Ride
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling,
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you
Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling "yoo hoo,"
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap,
Let's go, Let's look at the show,
We're riding in a wonderland of snow.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap,
It's grand, Just holding your hand,
We're gliding along with a song
Of a wintry fairy land
Our cheeks are nice and rosy
And comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together
Like two birds of a feather would be
Let's take that road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
There's a birthday party
At the home of Farmer Gray
It'll be the perfect ending a perfect day
We'll be singing the songs
We love to sing without a single stop
At the fireplace while we watch
The chestnuts pop. pop! pop! pop!
There's a happy feeling
Nothing in the world can buy
When they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie
It'll nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things
We remember all through our lives!
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling,
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you
Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling "yoo hoo",
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
It's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.
Videntes Stellam
Videntes stellam Magi
Upon seeing the star, the Magi
gavisi sunt gaudio magno:
rejoiced in great joy:
et intrantes domum
and entering the house
obtulerunt Domino aurum,
they offered gold,
thus et myrrham.
frankincense and myrrh.
A Spotless Rose
A spotless Rose is blowing,
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers' foreshowing,
Of Jesse promis'd fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
Amid the cold, cold winter,
And in the dark midnight.
The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest Maid;
For through our God's great love and might
The Blessed Babe she bare us
In a cold, cold winter's night.
Jingle Bells
Chorus:
Jingle bells
Jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun
It is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Ha ha ha
Bells on bobtail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Now the ground is white
And the night is young
Take the sleigh tonight
And join us in this song
Just get a bob tailed bay
Get ready for a run
Then hitch him to a sleigh
And now we'll have some fun!”
Little Saint Nick
Ooh
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
Christmas comes this time each year
Ooh, ooh
Well way up North where the air gets cold
There's a tale about Christmas
That you've all been told
And a real famous cat all dressed up in red
And he spends the whole year workin' out on his sled
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
Just a little bobsled we call the old Saint Nick
But she'll walk a toboggan with a four speed stick
She's candy apple red with a ski for a wheel
And when Santa hits the gas, man, just watch her peel
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
Run run reindeer
Run run reindeer (he don't miss no one)
And haulin' through the snow at a frightening speed
With a half a dozen deer with Rudy to lead
He's got to wear his goggles 'cause the snow really flies
And he's cruisin' every path with a little surprise
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
Ooh
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
(Christmas comes this time each year)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas now
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Good tidings to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Glad tidings to you, wherever you are;
Glad tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Good tidings to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS!
ISM Center
Heidi Halbur
Steve Perry
Bart Dahlstrom
Paul & Nancy Haugsjaa
Eric Ritter
Stacy Dillard-Spahn
Joshua Lariscy
Tom Ritter
Carol Ehlinger
Robert Lincoln
Alice Yam
Charles Evett
Andrew List
Jeffrey Fuhrer
Matt Mastrangelo
ISM Center
Heidi Halbur
Steve Perry
Bart Dahlstrom
Paul & Nancy Haugsjaa
Eric Ritter
Stacy Dillard-Spahn
Joshua Lariscy
Tom Ritter
Carol Ehlinger
Robert Lincoln
Alice Yam
Charles Evett
Andrew List
Jeffrey Fuhrer
Matt Mastrangelo
