After a three year hiatus, the Great Bend Chorale and Youth Chorale resume their tradition of a fall masterwork performance with Vivaldi’s magnificent Gloria, RV 589. The Red Priest’s setting of this Catholic hymn has resonated with audiences in ways that he could never have imagined. Since it’s discovery about a century ago, at least 100 recordings of have been made in addition to the many film and television soundtracks it has graced. 

Music is a powerful community development tool.

Great Bend’s work is to explore the ways music can be used as a community development tool to build educational equity, health & wellness, and civic engagement. We make music that builds community.

GREAT BEND CHORALE & YOUTH CHORALE
MATTHEW MELENDEZ, director

Program

Antonio Vivaldi, Sonata á Quatro in E flat major – RV 130

Al Santo Sepulcro

G.F. Handel, Largo from Xerxes – HWV 40

Ombra Mai Fù

Thankful, Carole Bayer Sager, David Foster, Richard Page (arr. Mark Hayes)

Ashlin Ingalls & August Melendez Blegen

Antonio Vivaldi, Sinfonia for Strings in B minor – RV 16

Al Santo Sepulcro

Antonio Vivaldi, Gloria – RV 589

I. Gloria in Excelsis

II. Et in terra pax

III. Laudamus Te (Emily Adams, soprano – Jennifer Heisleman, soprano)

IV. Gratias Agimus Tibi

V. Propter Magnam Gloriam

VI. Domine Deus (Jennifer Heisleman, soprano)

VII. Domine Fili Unigenite

VIII. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei (Janine Kohanim, mezzo soprano – Ferren Morse, counter-tenor)

IX. Qui Tollis Pecata Mundi

X. Qui Sedes Ad Dexteram (Anna Miller, mezzo soprano)

XI. Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus

XII. Cum Sancto Spiritu

PROGRAM NOTE & TRANSLATIONS

The Sonata and Sinfonia Al Santo Sepolcro, RV 130 and 169, are unusual works in Vivaldi’s output. Both are in two movements, an adagio and fugue, and seem as if they were intended to accompany some paraliturgical service between Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday in the chapel at the Pieta. Probably composed around 1730, both are characterized by musical gestures expressing grief, and their contrapuntal textures and rich chromatic intensity place them far apart from the dazzling virtuosity often associated with the music of the Red Priest. In the Sinfonia, in particular, chromaticism is used as a structural element, from the introductory movement to the two fugue subjects — one ascending and the other descending — that intersect in an undoubtedly specific allusion to the cross as an image of the Passion and Vivaldi’s awe at the message of redemption.

Commonly known as Handel’s ‘Largo of Love’, Ombra mai fù is the opening aria in the 1738 opera Serse. Sung by the character Xerxes I of Persia, the vocal part is composed for a countertenor. To set the scene of the aria, there is a nine bar instrumental from the chamber ensemble (composed of a chamber string group and a harpsichord). The slow and melancholy tone is set for the voice to enter freely. The title of the aria translates into ‘Never was a shade’, and within the context of the opera, Xerxes is singing about the admiration and love he has for the shade of the plane trees with a deep feeling of awe and gratitude.

Translation: G.F. Handel, Largo from Xerxes, HWV 40 — Ombra mai fù

Ombra mai fù
di vegetabile
cara ed amabile
soave piú.
Never was a shade
of any plant
dearer and more lovely
or more sweet.
Originally released by Josh Groban in 2007, “Thankful” written by songwriting powerful house Carole Bayer Sager with David Foster and Richard Page. This arrangement by Mark Hayes is not only an ideal collaboration with our youth singers, but a great kick off to the holiday season. 
Thankful
Somedays, we forget to look around usSomedays, we can’t see the joy that surrounds usSo caught up inside ourselvesWe take when we should give
So for tonight we pray forWhat we know can beAnd on this day we hope forWhat we still can’t seeIt’s up to us, to be the changeAnd even though we all can still do moreThere’s so much to be thankful for
Look beyond ourselvesThere’s so much sorrowIt’s way too late to say, I’ll cry tomorrowEach of us must find our truthWe’re so long overdue
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can beAnd everyday, we hope forWhat we still can’t seeIt’s up to us, to be the changeAnd even though we all can still do moreThere’s so much to be thankful for
Even with our differencesThere is a place we’re all connectedEach of us can find each others light
So for tonight, we pray forWhat we know can beAnd on this day, we hope forWhat we still can’t seeIt’s up to us, to be the changeAnd even though this world needs so much moreThere’s so much to be thankful for

Ordained in the Roman Catholic tradition, and nicknamed il Prete Rosso – the Red Priest – for his shock of red hair, Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria in D major, RV 589 was probably composed in Venice sometime after 1713 and before 1717, shortly after he retired from full-time teaching at the Ospedale della Pietà. The score was clearly intended for performance by the orphanage’s gifted chorus. 

Arguably his most significant work, the score disappeared after Vivaldi’s death and remained undiscovered for nearly two centuries until, in the late 1920s, it was found buried among a pile of forgotten manuscripts. But even then, it still was not performed until September 1939 in Siena in an edition by the composer Alfredo Casella. This was by no means an authentic edition (he described it as an “elaborazione”), as he embellished the original orchestration and cut sections from three movements. It was not until 1957 that the now familiar original version was published and given its first performance at the First Festival of Baroque Choral Music at Brooklyn College, NY.

In the Roman Catholic tradition, the Gloria text is a hymn of praise used as the second part of the Ordinary of the Latin Mass, after the Kyrie. It begins with the words of the angels, as recounted in the Gospel of Luke: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.”  The piece is in twelve sections, each distinguished by a different musical setting. Eight of the numbers are composed for the entire chorus; the remaining four feature soloists, singing either alone or with other performers. The wonderfully sunny nature of the Gloria, with its distinctive melodies and rhythms, is sure to brighten not only our return to live performance, but the kick off to the holiday season. 

Translation: Vivaldi, Gloria — RV 589

Gloria in Excelsis Deo,Glory to God in the highest,
et in terra pax hominbus bonae voluntatis.and on earth, peace to people of good will.

 

Laudamus te,We praise you,
benedicimus te,we bless you,
adoramus te,we adore you,
glorificamus te,we glorify you,
gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam,we give you thanks for your great glory,
Domine Deus, Rex caelestis,Lord God, heavenly King,
Deus Pater omnipotens.O God, almighty Father.

 

Domine Fili Unigenite, Jesu Christe,Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris,Lord God, Lamb of God,
qui tollis pecata mundi,you take away the sins of the world,
     miserere nobis;     have mercy on us;
qui tollis pecata mundi,you take away the sins of the world,
     suscipe deprecationem nostram;     recieve our prayer,
Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris,you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
     miserere nobis.     have mercy on us.

 

Quoniam tu solus sanctus,For you alone are the Holy One,
tu solus Dominus,you alone are the Lord,
tu solus Altissimus,you alone are the Most High,
Jesu Christe,Jesus Christ,
cum Sancto Spiritu,with the Holy Spirit,
in gloria Dei Patris.in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.Amen.

PERFORMERS

Youth Soloists

Ashlin Ingalls 

August Melendez Blegen

Great Bend Chorale

SOPRANOALTOTENORBASS
Emily AdamsLeisa AshbaughAmy BohnJim Coventry
Jennifer HeislemanSara Kaufman-BradstreetDr. Gary Cannon*Michael Harris
Laura JohnsonErin MartinacheJanine KohanimRiley Maddux
Inez McGregorAnna MillerFerren MorseEric Melendez Blegen
Maureen ReillyMichael MooreJames Poirson
Jae StillHeidi Nelson
Melissa Plagemann*
Mary White

*Visiting Teaching Artist

Orchestra

Violin 1
Blayne Barnes *†
Peter Krysa
Shelby Mass
Violin 2
Jennifer Yarbrough*
Monica Boros
Sue Jane Bryant
Viola
Rick Neff*
Maria Ritzenthaler
Cello
Tim Pizzichemi*
Lauren McShane
Bass
Todd Gowers
Oboe
Janet Putnam
Trumpet
Vince Green
*Principal
†Concert Master

Save the Dates

12/3: Holiday Magic Christmas Parade Carols at Downtown Shelton’s Christmas Parade | Great Bend Root Beer Choir

12/17: Cocoa & Carols Beer Choir at Potlatch Brewing Co. | Great Bend Beer Choir

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First Chairs are the principals of each section of the orchestra, responsible for each section’s unity and musicianship.
Likewise, Great Bend First Chair patrons will provide leadership throughout our community, each communicating as an insider about Great Bend’s vision to establish North America’s first center for applied research in community music in Mason County, and helping to ensure that news and information about our progress is delivered in the most orchestrated of ways.

Each First Chair patron will receive a number of acknowledgments, but the primary is a named chair or chairs in the proscenium theater of our planned center. Patrons also receive:

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