Cover the World with Love

Cover the World with Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Estes

Fire,  Fire,  My Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Morley, Arranged by Victoria Glaser

I Am of Sarah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jane Roman Pitt

She Piped for Us  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Libby Larsen, Words by Charles Wilson

There is a Balm in Gilead  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Traditional, Arranged by Ysaye M. Barnwell
Duet:  Yvonne R., Cathy N.

This Little Light of Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Traditional, Arranged by Ysaye M. Barnwell

 Farewell My Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Berta Poorman and Sonia Poorman
Flute:  Lisa Collins

To Sing is to Fly . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gwyneth Walker, Words by Joan Baez

How Can I Keep from Singing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Traditional, Arranged by Gwyneth Walker

One Candle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Beck
                                                Words by Andy Beck and Brian Fisher
Duet:  Virginia D., Laura D.

Our Love is Soaring Across The Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff Langley, Words by Holly Near

Soloists:  Lorraine H, Lucy T, Yvonne R and Jennie J

Danny Boy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Traditional, Arranged by Brian Finley

Thula, Babana  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Xhosa Lullaby, Arranged by Hendrik Hofmeyr

Elijah Rock. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .   Traditional African-American Spiritual, Arranged by Clifton J. Noble, Jr.

Finally Here  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Helmuth

Turn the World Around . . . . . . . .  Harry Belafonte & Robert Freedman, Arranged by Roger Emerson

Eu e Você . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brazilian Folk Song, Arranged by J.  Edmund Hughes
Extra Percussion:   Cathy N and Laura D

Color Out of Colorado  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Dick Gallagher, Words by Mark Waldrop, Arranged by Lary Moore

Razzamatazz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Andy Beck and Brian Fisher
Shelley Helsel, Kazoo and Flapper

Cover the World with Love brings with it the message we need to communicate to as many people as possible.  The melodic flow and rich tones combined with the sign language and the simple harmonies speaks volumes for the need to pay attention to the conflicts we experience daily.  Jerry Estes, the composer and lyricist, brings us this tonal piece to help heal our collective souls.

Fire, Fire, My Heart is a 16^th century madrigal that speaks to the passion and conflict we all encounter in our quest for true love and relationships.  Thomas Morley, one of the most well known composers of choral madrigals, enriches us with this bouncy yet fervent love song.           

I Am of Sarah is a tribute to the lineage of Jewish women from all periods of history.  This piece, written by Jane Roman Pitt, resounds with a Hebrew melodic tone and communicates bravery and tributes to some of women’s most profound leaders.  Most will recognize the Biblical heroines and recent political figures, and  information about the less well known women is printed elsewhere in the program.             

She Piped for Us, by Libby Larsen, comes from one of America’s prolific and most performed living composers.  This piece is from a trio of songs entitled Today this Spring.  The first line of the piece was adapted from Luke 7:32.  The rest of the song was from a eulogy by Charles A. Wilson for Kathryn Scott Peterson, a vigorous woman who succumbed to breast cancer.  The words describe the mixed feelings her loved ones had at her passing.

Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell, renowned composer and arranger, and a member of the group Sweet Honey in the Rock, arranged both There is a Balm in Gilead and This Little Light of Mine.  Both of these pieces are traditional spirituals, the first giving hope to those who feel desperate and the second a children’s chant that brings light to those who feel discouraged.  Dr. Barnwell has a three-octave range and has made more than 25 recordings with Sweet Honey, as well as other artists.  Her works are favorites of the Central Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus.

Farewell, My Friend is a blessing to those who move on to different locations, geographical and spiritual.  It is a Native American blessing and combines English and the language of the Potawatomi Native American tribe of the Great Lakes region.  “Pamamine” (pah-mah-mee-neh) simply translates to “Farewell”.  The flute adds to the spiritually inspired feeling of the music.

Gwyneth Walker, another prolific modern female composer, brings us the love of music in To Sing Is To Fly with lyrics by Joan Baez.  Walker firmly believes that music is accessible to all persons who are willing to listen and to sing.  Walker also arranges an old Quaker hymn in grandiose style with How Can I Keep from Singing.  Walker’s catalog includes over one-hundred-thirty commissioned works for chorus, orchestra, band and chamber ensembles. 

One Candle was commissioned by the Central York School District Choral Festival in York, PA and echoes our vision for peace and love throughout the entire universe.  Let your candles burn bright with this message of light to help heal our collective souls.

Our Love is Soaring Across The Land  was written for the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses Festival held in San Jose California as an anthem for all to embrace.  Holly Near is one of our favorite composers and writers and has written hundreds of songs.  This piece was blessed with a solo by the late Nell Carter and has been performed by many of the Sister Singers and GALA choruses.  Its message fits beautifully into our theme this concert.           

Danny Boy, a traditional Irish air is often mistaken for a love song between two committed partners.  It is actually a message from a mother or father saying farewell to a son who has been commissioned to serve in the armed services and the possibility that they may never meet again in this life.  This piece is as pertinent to our world as we are so conflicted in many wars and upheavals across the entire planet.            

Thula, Babana is a traditional Xhosa lullaby from the eastern coastal region of South Africa.  With all of the hunger that plagues that region of the world, this lullaby simply states “Hush, little baby, don’t you cry, Mommy’s brought your tea, my darling.”  Hendrik Hofmeyr is one of the best known South African composers.  This piece is published by Doreen Rao’s Choral Music Experience which  explores the styles and textures of all cultures and interpretations and stylistic performance. 

Elijah Rock is a traditional African American Spiritual that rocks!  The publisher’s notes say, “Did someone say the treble choir is the wimpy choir?  I don’t think so… The driving rhythms of this Gospel arrangement, with internal quotations of “Rock-a my soul” build straight for a high energy ending.”

Finally Here is a pure love song.  It speaks to love being a beautiful thing and is never wrong whether it be between two women, two men or a man and a woman.  Eric Helmuth, a member of GALA and composer for Yelton Rhodes Music, is another great source of relevant music.           

Turn the World Around,  a powerful Jamaican style piece written by Harry Belafonte, long time activist and performer, speaks to the elements and land as our true source of strength and serenity in changing the ways of the world.            

Eu e Voce, is thought to have originated in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  A favorite of Latin instrumentalists, American jazz great Stan Getz has recorded it with his ensemble. This piece is sung in the traditional Portuguese and the translation is:

 Me and You.  Ah dear my beloved one, I gave to you my heart.  Other love existed, but it was pure illusion.  I had a beautiful house prepared for us to live together.  I am happy because I know that we will share our lives together, ah!  Me and you. 

Get your rhythmic bodies ready to join together with us on this one.  Have fun!           

Color Out of Colorado is a spoof from “When Pigs Fly”, a hilarious, well-reviewed Broadway revue from the late 1990s.  That certainly shows  “you can’t have New York City without queens.”  One reviewer advised, “Probably homophobes should stay away from this show --- they'll die trying not to laugh.”   This song brings up all the gay stereotypes in a humorous context, concluding that “you need ‘us’ to make the USA!”            

Razzamatazz -----WEEEE!