2023-2024 Concert Season
Christmas with The Phil:
Let the Trumpets Sound!
Crescent Arts Centre (Crescent Fort Rouge United Church)
17 December 2023, 3 pm & 7 pm
SEASON SPONSOR:
Fettes Family Foundation
CONCERT SPONSOR:
Edmond Financial Group
MEDIA SPONSOR:
CJNU Nostalgia Radio 93.7 FM
PLEASE SILENCE YOUR PHONES
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PLEASE DIM YOUR SCREEN
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PLEASE SILENCE YOUR PHONES 〰️ PLEASE DIM YOUR SCREEN 〰️
CONCERT PROGRAM
Come Let Us Sing a Song of Joy
by Giovanni Gabrieli (1557-1612)
One of the most influential musicians of his time, Italian composer and organist Giovanni Gabrieli represents the culmination of the Venetian School, striding the transition from Renaissance to Baroque. While accomplished in many different forms, he preferred sacred choral music with instruments. In 1585 he became principal organist at St Mark's Basilica and his compositions were influenced by that church’s unusual layout of two choir lofts facing each other. Gabrieli pioneered the use of carefully specified groups of instruments and singers, with precise directions for instrumentation, and in more than two groups. The Phil is performing one of his most famous polychoral pieces, Cantate Domino, with text adapted from Psalm 95, published in 1597 in his group of motets Sacrae Symphoniae. (Source: various)
Gloria in Excelsis
by Dan Forrest (b 1978)
This is the fourth movement of five from Forrest’s LUX: The Dawn from On High. Composed in 2017, it explores various facets of LUX (Latin for “light”), in texts ranging from ancient liturgical chant, to Scripture, to modern secular love poetry. LUX was inspired thematically and spiritually by these profound texts; visually by the light in the Reims Cathedral in France and at the Poulnabrone Dolmen in Ireland; and musically by a variety of musical sources from ancient chant to modern minimalist composers. (Source: https://danforrest.com/music-catalog/lux#)
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
arr. David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Dating back to the mid-1600s, the author of this merry olde English classic is unknown. In Charles Dickens’ 1843 classic “A Christmas Carol,” Ebenezer Scrooge is in his counting house when a lone caroler stops for a song outside: “...at the first sound of — ‘God bless you merry, gentlemen! Let nothing you dismay!’ — Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost.” Why Dickens altered the lyrics is anyone’s guess; historians point out that “rest” means “keep”, and that the comma in the title is often misplaced. (Source: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-12-17-8503270360-story.html)
Winter Wonderland and Let It Snow
arr. Neil Weisensel (composed 1995)
Winnipeg composer and conductor Neil Weisensel is one of the most frequently performed and prolific opera composers in Canada. Well-versed in a multiplicity of styles and genres, Neil has also written music for theatre productions, television, film, and multi-media, and these carols were composed in the mid-1990s for a CBC television Christmas special featuring the Phil. A veteran of his craft, Neil’s background is white settler with French/German ancestry, and his latest project is a new opera based on the life of Louis Riel and the Métis people, entitled Li Keur, Riel's Heart of the North, supported by three major Canada Council grants. Based on a libretto by Métis poet and scholar Dr Suzanne Steele, Li Keur, Riel's Heart of the North was premiered by Manitoba Opera in November 2023. Brian Fristensky, Soloist on Winter Wonderland.
SINGALONG
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Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies
With th’angelic host proclaim “Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”Christ, by highest heav’n adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail th’incarnate deity.
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell; Jesus , our Immanuel!
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of peace! Hail, the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, ris’n with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die,
Born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Winnipeg Brass Quintet
The Phil is excited to welcome back The Winnipeg Brass Quintet performing arrangements of familiar Christmas music. I Saw Three Ships, by Keith Snell, is a much-loved carol from the 17th century. As Bethlehem is a good way from the coast, it is highly unlikely Mary and Joseph boarded seafaring ships. It is instead believed that the ships either represent the vessels that carried the purported relics of the Three Wise Men to Cologne Cathedral in the 12th century, or they perhaps refer to the camels the wise men rode to visit baby Jesus, as camels are known as the ships of the desert. Gustav Holst’s Christmas Day – A Choral Fantasy on Old Carols, by Douglas Haislip, is a set of variations on In Dulci Jubilo (Good Christian Men, Rejoice), God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, and The First Nowell. Johnny Marks was already a successful composer when he took an idea from a children’s book and penned “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 1949. Gene Autry, at his wife’s urging, agreed to sing the song and over the years it has had dozens of other incarnations, by artists ranging from Paul McCartney’s Wings (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae) to mambo, jazz and choral groups. While Autry’s treatment, which has sold 13 million records, remained Marks’ favorite, we’re sure he would’ve loved this version by Arthur Frankenpohl.
I Saw Three Ships
Trad, arr. Keith Snell
Christmas Day
by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) arr. Douglas D. Haislip
Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
by Johnny Marks (1909-85) arr. A. Franckenpohl
INTERMISSION
Good King Wenceslas
arr. Paul Halley (b 1952)
Wenceslas the Holy was really a duke, a 10th Century Bohemian ruler who was murdered by his brother in a long-forgotten power struggle. His goodness led to his canonization. The song itself was originally an ode to spring, but the aforementioned Rev. John Mason Neale of Sussex converted it to a St. Stephen`s Day (Dec. 26) carol in the mid-19th Century. (Source: various)
A mainstay of the Phil’s annual holiday concert is a guest performance by some of Winnipeg’s finest young singers. The Phil considers young choristers to be vital to the future health of Manitoba’s vibrant choral community and, in that spirit, youth choirs are invited to perform their own pieces and join with the Phil in works conducted by Maestro Klaz. The Phil is excited to welcome the Grant Park and Riverview Trebles, who are performing four works under the direction of Karis Wiebe and Donna Klassen.
SINGALONG
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Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king; Let every heart prepare him room, and heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns! Let men their songs employ While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness, and wonders of his love, And wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.
Grant Park & Riverview Trebles
The Snow Begins to Fall and Under Winter Moon
by Andy Beck (composed 2008 and 2013)
Andy Beck has written hundreds of works, vocal resource books, and children’s musicals. He says his composition process can be expressed in three steps. First, he finds the subject and then he develops musical motives, phrases, or patterns associated with that subject. Finally, he writes text and puts it to the music that matches its emotional depth. According to Beck, “Text is everything for a choir. The text should have deep meaning behind it, like the roots of an oak tree that give it strength. This strength is similar to the strength we need in our lives to weather the storms we face.” Using this process and employing deep, meaningful text, Beck has created some of the most popular modern choral music. (Source: https://blogs.jwpepper.com/the-inside-voice-an-interview-with-andy-beck)
Carol of the Bells
by Mykola Leontovych (1877-1921) arr Peter J. Wilhousky (1902-78).
Leontovych, who drew inspiration from Ukrainian folk songs and melodies as a composer, choral conductor, and teacher, was born into a religious family and completed studies at a theological seminary, and his musical career would take him across the region he called home as well as to Kyiv, St. Petersburg, and Moscow. His Shchedryk, now known to the English-speaking world as Carol of the Bells, premiered in 1916. The Ukrainian version has nothing to do with bells or Christmas; the lyrics tell the tale of a swallow summoning the master of the house to look at his livestock and the bounty the coming spring season will bring as well as to look at his beautiful dark-eyebrowed wife. In pre-Christian times, the coming of the new year and spring were celebrated in March. Besides Shchedryk, he produced over 150 other classic works for choirs during a career that was cut short.
The Cheka, which evolved into the Russian KGB, killed thousands to build and consolidate Bolshevik rule in a period (1918–1922) that became known as the Red Terror. Ukraine’s intellectual class and religious leaders were primary targets, and in 1921 Leontovych was murdered by a Soviet agent.
A year after his murder, the American composer and conductor Peter Wilhousky heard Shchedryk performed at Carnegie Hall by the Alexander Koshetz Choir. In 1936, Wilhousky published the song to Leontovych’s music as a Christmas carol, with his own text in English that bears no resemblance to the original Ukrainian words of the song. (Source: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/12/carol-bells-shchedryk-ukraine-leontovych.html)
Listen to the Bells
by Dave & Jean Perry (composed 2015)
The Perrys have been writing and publishing their songs for schools and churches for nearly 30 years. Their music has been performed by choirs in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, North America and Australia. They have over 250 songs in print and are recipients of special composer awards from ASCAP. Listen to the Bells is a bright, festive original sparkling with the energy and anticipation of the holidays.
SINGALONG
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O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him Born the King of Angels:
O come, let us adore Him, (3x) Christ the Lord.God of God, Light of Light
Lo, He abhors not the Virgin’s womb
Very God, begotten, not created
O come, let us adore Him, (3x)
Christ the Lord.Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest:
O come, let us adore Him, (3x) Christ the Lord.Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him, (3x) Christ the Lord.
O Nata Lux
by Morten Lauridsen (b 1943)
In Lauridsen’s own words: “I composed the Requiem Lux Aeterna in response to my mother’s final illness and found great personal comfort and solace in setting to music these timeless and wondrous words about Light, a universal symbol of illumination at all levels - spiritual, artistic, and intellectual.” The third movement in Lauridsen’s Requiem, O Nata Lux (O Light from Light), is a 10th century text referring to the birth of Jesus. (Source: https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/pieces/5450/lux-aeterna#:)
Tàladh Chrìosda (Christ Child Lullaby)
arr. Paul Halley (b 1952)
Also known as Tàladh ar Slànair, this hymn based on a traditional Scottish folk tune is sung at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in the islands of Barra, South Uist, and Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides. The words were written by Father Ranald Rankin and given by him to the children of his congregation in Moidart when he left for Australia in 1855. The original song has twenty-nine verses and, as with many old Gaelic songs, several variants of the tune exist. This version was arranged by Paul Halley for the University of King's College Chapel Choir for the concert series "A King's Christmas' in 2013. (Source: https://www.pelagosmusic.com)
What Child is This?
arr. Dan Wiebe (composed 2011)
Winnipeg musician/composer/arranger Dan Wiebe created this work for Dead of Winter (formerly Camerata Nova). Dan experiments here with turning a very well-known carol written in a minor key into a major key. It has created a surprising and beautiful arrangement that sounds like it comes from the eastern Mediterranean, and an underlying drone adds to this feeling. (Source: Dead of Winter/Camerata Nova program notes)
Gloria in Excelsis Deo
by Lloyd Larson (b 1954)
Lloyd Larson has created a bright and inspiring medley of two traditional carols with brass and organ accompaniment. The original text for In Dulci Jubilo (Latin for ‘In Sweet Rejoicing’) dates from the Middle Ages and is a mix of Latin and German, with subsequent translations including this familiar one by the Rev. John Mason Neale, ‘Good Christian Men, Rejoice.’ The words for Sussex Carol, sometimes referred to by its first line ‘On Christmas night all Christians sing’ were first published by Luke Wadding, a 17th-century Irish bishop, in a work called Small Garland of Pious and Godly Songs (1684). Ralph Vaughan Williams arranged this version of the tune, featuring it in his Fantasia on Christmas Carols in 1912. (Source: various)
The Phil is always thrilled to welcome the voices of our audience to the traditional singalongs. This concert features Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World, O Come, All Ye Faithful and the return of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Please sing your hearts out with the Phil and the Winnipeg Brass Quintet!
SINGALONG
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Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!The kingdom of this world is become
the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and of His Christ;
and He shall reign for ever and ever
and He shall reign for ever and ever
and He shall reign for ever and ever
and He shall reign for ever and everKing of Kings, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
and Lord of Lords, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!King of Kings, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
and Lord of Lords, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!King of Kings, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
and Lord of Lords, for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!King of Kings, and Lord of Lords,
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords,
and He shall reign for ever and ever
and He shall reign for ever and everKing of Kings
for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
GUEST ARTISTS
Wes Elias, organ
Wes Elias is an active Winnipeg musician who works as a private music teacher, performer, RCM examiner and church musician. He has served as organist at St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church since 2009. Prior to this he was Music Director at Broadway-First Baptist Church for 17 years. Primary organ studies were with Douglas Bodle at the University of Toronto. Other organ teachers have included Winnifred Sim, Peter Letkemann and Lawrence Ritchey. He has appeared on numerous occasions with the Phil.
Donna Laube, piano
A native of Saskatchewan, pianist Donna Laube studied in her youth with Laurel Teichroeb and Jean Laube. She received a B. Mus in Piano Performance under Dr. Sister Joan Miller from Brandon University followed by a M. Mus in Accompaniment from McGill University under Dale Bartlett. Since 2006, Donna has been active in Winnipeg as an accompanist for singers, instrumentalists, and choirs. In addition, she has enjoyed playing with chamber ensembles, notably for Brandon’s Augustfest. She is the Principal Pianist for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and is also a regular orchestral pianist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Donna has worked with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir since 2008.
Winnipeg Brass Quintet
The Winnipeg Brass Quintet has been in existence since 1975. This group has enjoyed the opportunity to perform with universities, colleges, high schools and churches both in Canada and the United States giving clinics, workshops and recitals. They are especially known for local Christmas concerts and Easter services, but they also play recitals, weddings, church services, school concerts and many other special events. The Quintet has enjoyed a long tradition of music that has been passed down through the generations. Dean Pollard is the son of Gary Pollard who was the heart of the quintet for over 30 years. Dean has been a part of the quintet since he was a teenager and is joined by Kenton McPeek, Jason Kehler, James Langridge and Michiko Singh. The Quintet is thrilled to join with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir to celebrate this Christmas season with you.
Grant Park Trebles
The Grant Park Trebles is a newly created ensemble this year under the direction of choral and musical director, Karis Wiebe. It is a select ensemble taken from the Grant Park Middle School Musical cast under the direction of Robbin Fontaine. The Grant Park Trebles will be carolling at the Grant Park Mall this December with Hanukkah and Holiday favorites. They will also be performing the Broadway Junior Musical, Finding Nemo February 5th-9th at the Gas Station Theatre. Tickets are available through Grant Park High School.
Karis Wiebe, Director
For more than three decades, Karis Wiebe has been widely establishing herself as a solid and dedicated musician and music teacher, teaching elementary to advanced university students. She maintains a German vocal studio, while upholding a flourishing Canadian clientele. Karis has performed, taught, and coached for the Internationales Theatre Frankfurt, at the Frankfurt International School, the Musikschule in Bremerhaven and instructed locally at the University of Manitoba Preparatory Studies, as well as the Canadian Mennonite University.
In addition to teaching and performing, Karis is an active and admired choral conductor and is regularly in demand as a vocal and choral clinician in the province of Manitoba.
Karis Wiebe heads the Choral department at Grant Park High School in Winnipeg, successfully operating a variety of prosperous music ensembles, choirs, guitar classes, musical theatre, and most recently, a flourishing and innovative Singer Songwriter course!
Karis holds a Masters of Music with a focus in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. She holds a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba. In addition, Ms. Wiebe acquired a Bachelor of Church Music from Canadian Mennonite University with a focus in piano performance and accompanying, singing, and choral conducting.
École Riverview School Grade 6 Chamber Choir
École Riverview School is a dual track school located in the Winnipeg School Division. It accommodates approximately 350 students from nursery to grade six. The children in the Chamber Choir have had the opportunity to sing in curricular choirs since grade one and extra-curricular choirs since grade five. The Grade 6 Chamber Choir is a new ensemble formed this fall. The choristers have enjoyed preparing for this special concert and are honoured to perform here today with our friends from Grant Park High School.
Donna Klassen, Director
Donna Klassen is in her 35th year as the music specialist at École Riverview School. She holds Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Education and Orff Music Certification from the University of Manitoba. Her choirs regularly perform in festivals and community events. Donna grew up with the rich tradition of Ukrainian choral and instrumental music. She believes in the power of choral music to build community, foster creative expression, and enrich the human spirit. Donna received the Michael J. Proudfoot Award for choral conducting and the Walter & Helen Bohonos Award from the Winnipeg Music Festival (2017, 2020), and was recently presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Manitoba), 2022 for service to the Riverview community.
Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir
Yuri Klaz, Artistic Director and Conductor
Sopranos
Alison Bartel
Rachael Buckingham
Lisa Chartrand
Brenda Dyck
Linda Feasby
Wendy Gainsborough
Deborah Ginther
Debbie Girard
Jessica Kowall
Kristin Lovrien-Meuwese
Judy Low
Jinghan (Leah) Ma
Marika Nerbas
Sahar Sharifian
Grace Suttorp
Christine Sveinson
Dolores Tjart
Lorilee Woelcke
Altos
Kaylene Blackwood
Vida Chan
Glynis Corkal
Patricia Jordan
Maria Kolarovic
Veronica Larmour
Vivien Laurie
Brenda Marinelli
Sandi Mielitz
Arlene Petkau
Wanda Prychitko
Gail Singer
Nicola Spasoff
Alison Thiessen
Tenor
Isaac Anderson
John Drewitt
Fred Dyck
Brian Fristensky
Bill Grant
Leonard LaRue
Clement Toner
Bass
Daniel Gervai
Robert Giesbrecht
John Murray
Dennis Penner
Tim Smith
Laurent Waldie
Paul Wiebe
