NEC Concert Choir: Persistence of the Human Spirit – Through Darkness to Light
The NEC Concert Choir offers a program of choral works from the 16th century to the present that tracks the progression of the human spirit — from the darkness of despair to the re-awakening of hope in the future. This concert was created using a combination of in-person ensemble recording and remote submission.
Choral singing, whether in unison or in parts, is the oldest form of ensemble music-making. It has lived for thousands of years despite human oppression and catastrophe. The pandemic has required us to try our hand at replicating the traditionally intimate experience of choral singing while standing 16 feet apart, masked, and in some cases, separated by thousands of miles. What this pandemic could not change is the passion for choral artistry, and it most certainly was not going to prevent NEC choristers from dedicating themselves to finding a way, despite the challenges, to share their art.
Every human has a voice, whether the use of that instrument flows from their vocal cords or their hands. Every human must be seen and should be heard.
–Erica J. Washburn
Watch Concert Stream:
- Erica J. Washburn, conductor
- Joseph Nizich '21 MM, conductor
- Jennie Segal '21 MM, conductor
- Da-Yu Liu, piano
- Luke Camarillo, djembe
AFFLICTION - Johann Walter | Aus tiefer Not schrei' ich zu dir
Text
Aus tiefer Not schrei' ich zu dir
Aus tiefer Not schrei’ ich zu dir
Herr Got, erhoer’ mein Rufen
Dein grädig’ Ohren kehr zu mir,
Und meiner Bitt’ sie öffnen!
Denn so du willst das sehen an,
Was Sünd’ und Unrecht ist getan,
Wer kann, Herr, vor dir bleiben?
Psalm 130From deep affliction I cry out to you
From deep affliction I cry out to you,
Lord God, hear my call;
incline your merciful ear here to me
and be open to my prayer!
For if you want to look at this,
what sin and injustice is done,
who can, Lord, remain before you?Artists- Joseph Nizich '21 MM, conductor
RESIGNATION - Gustav Mahler (arr. Stanley Hoffman) | Ich bin der Welt abhanden kommen
Text
Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen
Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen,
Mit der ich sonste viele Zeit verdorben,
Sie hat so lange nichts von mir vernommen,
Sie mag wohl gluben, ich sei gestorben!
Es ist mir auch gar nichts daran gelegen,
Ob sie mich für gestorben hält.
Ich kann auch gar nichts sagen dagegen,
Den wirklich bin ich gestorben der Welt.
Ich bin gestorben dem Welt getümmel
Und ruh’ in einem stillen Gebiet!
Ich leb’ allein in meinem Himmel,
In meinem Lieben, in meinem Lied.
Friedrich RückertI am lost to the world
I am lost to the world
With which I used to waste much time;
It has for so long known nothing of me,
It may well believe that I am dead.
Nor am I at all concerned
If it should think that I am dead.
Nor can I deny it,
For truly I am dead to the world.
I am dead to the world’s tumult
And rest in a quiet realm!
I live alone in my heaven,
In my love, in my song!
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder, published by Faber, provided courtesy of Oxford Lieder, www.oxfordlieder.co.ukArtists- Jennie Segal 21 MM, conductor
- Da-Yu Liu, piano
SACRIFICE - Adolphus Hailstork | Crucifixion (from Five Short Choral Works)
Text
My Lord.
They crucified my Lord and he never said a mumblin’ word.
Not a word.
They nailed him to a tree, and he never said a mumblin’ word.
Not a word.
They pierced him in the side, and he never said a mumblin’ word.
He bowed his head and died, and he never said a mumblin’ word.
Oh, my Lord, not a word, and he never said a mumblin’ word.
TraditionalArtists- Joseph Nizich '21 MM, conductor
PERCEPTION - Robert Schlidt | Perhaps They Are Not Stars
Based on an Inuit proverb, this reflective piece was originally composed for the Centennial High School Concert Choir from Circle Pines, Minnesota, in memory of my mother, Coralynn, who passed away when I was five years old.
– Robert SchlidtText
Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven
where the love of our lost ones pours through
and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.
Inuit ProverbArtists- Jennie Segal '21 MM, conductor
TRANSFORMATION - Yu-Wei Hsie (arr. Yu-Shan Tsai) | Fa Shu Ha (Under That Flower Tree)
The island of Taiwan was originally inhabited by more than a dozen tribes of aboriginal people, many with their own customs and languages. In the 17th century, Chinese migrant workers – including two different ethnic groups, the Hoklo and the Hakka – began to settle on the island. Today, the Hoklo account for nearly 70% of the population while only 15% of the residents are Hakka. Mandarin is now the dominant language, and the indigenous non-Mandarin dialects are in danger of disappearing.
Fa Shu Ha is the old name for a Hakka village remembered by the lyricist, Gu Siou-Ru, as a place bustling with people like the flowers on the Tung flower tree and proud of its traditional blue-dyed garment shops. Sadly, both the flowering trees and the traditional customs are now gone. Fa Shu Ha is set in the Hakka dialect.Text
Fa Shu Ha, have you not heard of it?
Fa Shu Ha, full of blossoming flowers.
If people strolled by, the red and white flowers would float down in front of you,
on your shoulders and under your feet.
Fa Shu Ha has a blue-dye garment shop.
Fa Shu Ha has an elderly master who has crafted blue-dye garments
and dressed charming girls like the flowers in front of the door,
I don’t know how many.
Fa Shu Ha stands under the flowering tree.
Gu, Siou-RuArtists- Ruoxi Peng '21 BM, soprano
- Joseph Nizich '21 MM, conductor
ILLUMINATION - Traditional Ecuadorian (arr. Gerardo Guevara) | Apamuy Shungo (Giving of the Heart)
The text of Apamuy Shungo is in Quichua, one of the indigenous languages spoken in Ecuador. The piece itself is a Yumbo, one of the fundamental rhythmic styles found in the Andean music of Ecuador.
Text
Jatun Rupay can apamuy cansay canuy;
Jatun Rupay cuyaranchi tucuy shungo
Tarpurranchi allpa, ricu ranchichuri.
Tayta yucapag, tayta tucupag.
Jatun Rupay.
Gerardo GuevaraGreat Sun, you bring life and heat.
Great Sun, we worship you with all our heart.
We will cultivate the land and care for your children.
My Father, Father of all.
Great Sun.Artists- Luke Camarillo, djembe
- Jennie Segal '21 MM, conductor
ASPIRATION - Christopher Tin | Sogno di Volare (Dream of Flight), theme from the video game Civilization VI
Text
Sogno di volare
Una volta che avrai
Spiccato il volo, desiderai
Sguardo verso il ciel saprai:
Lì a casa il cuore sentirai.
Prenderà il primo volo verso il sole il grande uccello
Sorvolando il grande Monte CeceriRiempendo l’universo di stupor e gloria.
Una volta che avrai…
L’uomo verrà portato dalla sua creazione
Come gli uccelli, verso il cielo…
Riempendo l’universo di stupor e gloria.
Una volta che avrai…
Adapted from the writings of
Leonardo da Vinci by Chiara CortezDream of flight
Once you have taken flight,
You’ll decide
Gaze towards the sky, you’ll know that
That is where your heart will feel at home.
The first great bird will take flight towards the sun,
Sweeping over the great Mt. Ceceri,
Filling the universe with wonder and glory.
Once you have taken flight…
Man will be lifted by his own creation,
Just like the birds, towards the sky,
Filling the universe with wonder and glory.
Once you have taken flight…
Chamber Ensemble
Flute: Elizabeth Kleiber
Oboe: Coleton Morgan
Clarinet: Theodore Robinson
Bassoon: Julien Rollins
Contrabassoon: Evan Judson
French horn: Jenna Stokes, Tess Reagan
Trumpet: Sarah Heimberg
Trombone: Elias Canales
Tuba: James Curto
Timpani: Rohan Zakharia
Percussion: Mark Larrivee
Piano: Erica Washburn
Harp: Jessica Ding
Violin: Natalie Boberg, Jiyoung Lee
Viola: Ayano Nakamura
Cello: Jasmine Park
Bass: Diego MartinezConcert Choir
Hanna Bao
Marina Beeson
Jádon Brooks
Lila Brucia
Brittany Bryant
Kaitlin Burton
Hongbo Cai
Chen Chen
Linxi Chen
Pin-Chieh Jewel Chen
Sophia Daisy Chesler
Lily Chien
Lina Chung
Su Cong
Josaphat Contreras
Minoo Dixon
Sophia Grace Donelan
Colleen Ernandes
Runyu Feng
Edward Ferran
Marissa Fieland
Jonathon Fornoff
Rae Fredette
Shengying Gu
David Helder
Maxwell Herman
Jack Keller
Song Hyeon Kim
Wanjoong Kim
Hexue Li
Mengyuan Li
Pengyi Li
Sunwei Li
Yuhang Li
Yunqi Li
Bairun Liu
Mingyang Ma
Jonas Man
Sally Millar
Tristan Murphy
Nan Ni
Joseph Nizich
Ruoxi Peng
Pauline Pu
Linyue Qiu
Alexander Romanov
Rafe Schaberg
Jennie Segal
Hanwen Shi
Emma Strange
Cobi Tadros
Alexander Tsereteli
Ranfei Wang
TanNi Wang
Yinuo Wang
Xiaoye Wei
Hongjian Yan
Grace Yu
Beyoncé Zambrano
Zhiqiao Zhang
Vincent Zheng
ZhuoYa ZhuArtists- Erica J. Washburn, conductor
We are deeply grateful again this semester to
Bob Winters and the Concert Halls staff,
Ashton Bush of the Performance Library,
the Tech Central staff,
Lisa Nigris and the Recording and Performance Technology Services staff,
and videographers Andrew Hurlbut and Dave Apostolides.