Oct 6 Concert Program — Tandy Reussner DMA

Organ Vespers 2024 Program Notes

Tonight’s program is all about “Christmas Lights” - music about stars, starry nights, The Star of Bethlehem, red and green Christmas lights, or is shimmery and sparkly in nature!

Noel Parisienne by Charles Quef is one of the sparkly pieces and features the Cimbelstern, a star-shaped disc with bells attached that “ring” when activated by the organ’s bellows. The melody is paired with fast moving 16th notes to provide a glistening start to the concert.

I Saw Three Ships by Dale Wood Tandy is joined by professional harpist, Erin Wood, for the next piece, “I Saw Three Ships, “ by Dale Wood (not related!). The melody floats between the organ and the harp in this jaunty, shimmery piece.

I Wonder As I Wander, arranged by Daniel Kelley Also joining Tandy this evening is a quartet of French Horn players: Robert Dinsdale, Barry Frank, Robin Liston, and Mallory Rogers. The first piece they will play is “I Wander as I Wonder,” which mentions the Star of Bethlehem.

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus, the Savior, had come for to die
For poor on'ry people, like you and like I.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus, t'was in a cow's stall
With wisemen and farmers and shepherds and all,
But high in God's heaven a Star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages, it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
A Star in the sky or a bird on the wing
Or all of God's angels in heaven for to sing
He surely could have it, for He was the King!

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus, the savior, had come for to die
For poor on'ry people like you and like I
I wonder as I wander… out under the sky. John Jacob Niles, 1933

The Night of the Star, by Robert Elmore Continuing the theme of the Star, the next piece on the program, “The Night of the Star,” features a wide variety of organ stops to represent that starry night so long ago. The piece is reminiscent of a bygone era - if you are older than a Baby Boomer, the sounds of this piece may stir nostalgia! Tandy will use many different sounds and all four keyboards, plus pedal board for this piece!

Joy To The World/Ding Dong, Merrily on High arr. by Claire Swanson The next medley features Erin on the harp with a shimmering version of Joy to the World and Ding Dong Merrily on High.

O Holy Night arr. by Jonathan Scott If you were to ask almost anyone to name a Christmas Carol that mentions starlight, a likely answer would be, “O Holy Night.” The version played this evening begins with a dramatic flourish of the “First Noel” before dovetailing into the beautiful carol, originally in the mid 1800s.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth

The thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
And yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night O night divine

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name Christ is the Lord, Oh praise His name forever
His power and glory, evermore evermore proclaim
His power and glory, evermore evermore proclaim

Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night O night divine Adolphe Adam, Rolando Villazón, and Xavier de Maistre, mid 1800s

I Wish You Christmas by John Rutter The first half of tonight’s performance concludes with the beautiful “ I Wish You Christmas,” written by John Rutter in 2008 and sung this evening by Genee Figueiras and Liesel Callahan, both long-time Organ Vespers soloists. Joined by the French Horn quartet, the harp, and the organ, we all wish you Christmas - for it is because of Christmas that we can even dare to hope for peace, joy, and love every other day of the year.

I wish you starlight on fields of snow, the winter's morning light and evening's glow; I wish you candles that shine from every tree, so all the world can see the light that there could be.

I wish you starlight on fields of snow, The winter′s morning light and evening's glow, I wish you candles that shine from every tree, So all the world can see, The light that there could be.

I wish you music, I wish you song, With voices echoing, joyous and strong, I wish you church bells, ringing true and clear, I wish you Christmas, a merry Christmas, a Merry Christmas to remember all the year.

I wish you loved ones around your fire, may Christmas bring you all your heart′s desire, I wish you children to make the season new, With dreams you help come true, Just like it was for you

I wish you blessings, I wish you love, The sound of angel choirs from high above, I wish you laughter, happiness and cheer, I wish you Christmas, a Merry Christmas, and may its joy and peace be with you through the year

I wish you music, I wish you song, I wish you harmony your whole life long, The warmth of memories that long remain, And may God bless you 'till we all shall meet again. John Rutter, 2008

INTERMISSION

Four Variations Pastorale by Marcel Samuel Rousseau The four variations of the familiar tune, Sing We all of Christmas, is artfully treated between the harp and the organ by French composer Marcel Samuel Rousseau, (1882-1955). Listen to the sparkly harp juxtaposed with intricate metric rhythms played by the organ.

Sing we now of Christmas,
Noel, sing we here!
Hear our grateful praises
to the Babe so dear.

Refrain:
Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel! Traditional French Carol

Bright and Glorious Is The Sky by John Leavitt As the sanctuary gets brighter with more and more lit candles, we are building the excitement! John Leavitt’s short piece, “Bright and Glorious Is The Sky,” is a setting of the Danish carol, “Dejlig Er Den Himmel Blaa.” It goes by lickety split!

Silver Bells by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans Now, it’s your turn to sing along! The beloved “Silver Bells,” mentions the sights and sounds of the season, including the street lights that flash a bright red and green!

We Three Kings by Joel Raney As Composer and producer of commercial music, Joel Raney wrote this jazzy piano version of “We Three Kings,” a Christmas carol about the journey of the three wisemen from Persia to visit the newborn King, baby Jesus. Join in on the familiar chorus, but watch for the longer phrase endings!

We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign. [Refrain]

Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high. [Refrain]

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]

Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies. [Refrain] Author: John H. Hopkins (1857)

O Little Town of Bethlehem and Silent Night, traditional carols Now that the sanctuary is full of glittery candlelight, we’ll sing together two beautiful carols, one that sings about the starry night in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago, and the other one is a carol that many associate with candlelight. The words will be on the screen.

Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella by Keith Chapman With more candlelight comes a chance for the organ to really shine! (Did you catch the pun?!) Composer Keith Chapman treated the melody of this traditional French carol in a variety of intricate rhythms and canons between hands and feet. By the end of the piece, Tandy will literally pull out all the stops!

Halleluiah Chorus from Messiah by George Frideric Handel For 28 years, Organ Vespers concludes the concert with the singing of the “Halleluiah Chorus.” In line with tradition, you are invited to stand and sing along! Music scores are in the pew pockets in front of you. Please leave them on your seat after the concert so we can use them again next year. Thanks for singing, and thanks for coming!