NewClassicSingers-Boys & GirlsFINALProofRev

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NEW CLASSIC SINGERSLee R. Kesselman, Music Director

William Buhr, Accompanist

29th Concert Season

2010-2011

Aaron & LennySaturday, Nov. 6, 8 p.m. at St. Petronille Church, Glen Ellyn

Sunday, Nov. 7, 3 p.m. at Plainfield United Methodist Church, Plainfield

In the Sweet Mid-WinterFriday, Dec. 10, 8 p.m., Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights

Sunday, Dec. 12, 4 p.m., McAninch Arts Center, Glen Ellyn

The little match girl passionSaturday, March 5, 8 p.m. at

Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church, Glen Ellyn Sunday, March 6, 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s Church in the Loop, Chicago

Boys and Girls

Saturday, May 7, 8 p.m.McAninch Arts Center, Glen Ellyn

New Classic Singers425 Bonnie Brae Rd.Hinsdale, IL 60521

www.newclassicsingers.org630.654.9717

Ticket office for McAninch Arts Center concerts:

(630) 942-4000www.AtTheMac.org

New Classic Singers celebrates its 29th season in residence at College of DuPage. Members include conductors, educators, and soloists from throughout the

Chicago metropolitan area. The Singers have been praised for their imaginative programs and performing excellence. New Classic Singers has performed

three times for conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and frequently commissions and performs new works. NCS has performed with the

Kronos Quartet and Nexus Percussion Ensemble and has recorded new issues for Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers.

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MUSIC D IRECTOR B IOGR APHY

ACCOMPANIST B IOGR APHY

Founder and Music Director Lee R. Kesselman has been Director of Choral Activities at College of DuPage since 1981. Conductor, pianist, teacher and award-winning composer, in New Classic Singers he has created an ensemble from his love for the vocal art and interest in a wide variety of literature. A member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and recipient of 17 consecutive ASCAP awards. Mr.

Kesselman’s compositions have been published by Boosey & Hawkes, Roger Dean Music Co., Colla Voce and Kesselman Press. He co-founded the Choral Music Experience Institute for Choral Teacher Education with Doreen Rao and has served on its faculty since 1986. He is in frequent demand as a guest conductor, lecturer and clinician and as a composer-in-residence throughout the United States and abroad. Kesselman is well-known as a composer of vocal works, including opera, music for chorus, and solo songs. Large works include the operas THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS and THE EMPEROR›S NEW CLOTHES, LOVE PHASES for baritone voice and piano, NIGHTS IN ARMOR for mixed chorus, SHONA MASS for voices and African percussion, and INFINITY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND, a symphony for treble chorus and orchestra. His works for children›s choirs have brought him national attention and he has been commissioned to write for children›s choirs, middle school, junior school, high school, college, community, church, and professional ensembles.

Enjoying a national reputation as an accompanist, chamber musician, adjudicator and clinician, William Buhr’s work as a collaborative pianist has taken him to performing engagements in over thirty countries on six continents. Buhr has served on the accompanying staff of the Chicago Symphony Chorus at the invitation of founder/director Margaret Hillis, and has accompanied James Levine, Michael Tilson Thomas, Yo-Yo Ma,

June Anderson, Berndt Weikl and others at the Ravinia Festival. He has also worked with Stephen Sondheim, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald and Michael Cerveris in the Ravinia Festival productions of Sunday In The Park With George and Anyone Can Whistle. Holding degrees from the University of Illinois and DePaul University, Mr. Buhr has appeared in many international festivals as well as numerous national and regional conventions of major musical and educational organizations. Mr. Buhr has served on the faculty of the Choral Music Experience Institute for Choral Teacher Education with Doreen Rao since its inception in 1986, and has played for the national touring companies of numerous Broadway musicals including Showboat, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and The Phantom of the Opera. He has served as the Associate Director and accompanist of the New Classic Singers since 1986, and has enjoyed an association with Anima - Young Singers of Greater Chicago (formerly the Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus) since 1984.

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FROM THE MUSIC D IRECTOR

Welcome to our 29th season! Love and Death—the chief topics of most poetry. Tonight’s program explores the universal dance between boys and girls, songs of love, of flirtation, of adoration, of play. Many of our songs are stories, little tales of the interplay between the genders. Others are descriptions of one or the other. Some are clever or humorous, others, quite serious. Whatever your place in the game of love, we hope you’ll recognize some of the voices in tonight’s concert.

We’ve been busy planning next season—our 30th. We have four extraordinary concerts (and some special events) that will contain great music, filled with beauty, spirit, variety, and entertainment. Here’s the plan:

November PSALMS & SPIRITUALS December WORLD CAROLS March KADOSH! A Jewish Music Celebration May THE NEW CLASSICS RADIO HOUR

We look forward to sharing another great season of music with you!

Thanks for being a part of our audience. We sing for you.

Sincerely,

Lee R. KesselmanFounder and Music DirectorNew Classic Singers

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PROGR A M

NEW CLASSIC SINGERSLee R. Kesselman, Music Director

William Buhr, Accompanist

Boys and GirlsSaturday, May 7, 8 p.m.

McAninch Arts Center, Glen Ellyn

(The audience is requested to kindly hold applause until each section break.)

IChanson de Grand-Père (in French) .............................................................Clyde Thompson (b. 1947)

(Grandfather’s Song)

Dance, little girls,All in a ring,

Seeing prettiness in you,The woods laugh.

Dance, little queens,All in a ring,

The lovers under the ash-treesWill kiss.

Dance, little madwomen,All in a ring,

The books in the schoolsGrumble.

Dance, little beauties,All in a ring,

The birds with their wingsWill applaud.

Dance, little fairies,All in a ring,

Dance, with flowered headdresses,With dawn on the brow.

Dance, little ladies,All in a ring,

The gentlemen say to the ladiesIt’s you we want.

- Victor Hugo (translated by Clyde Thompson)

A Boy and a Girl ..........................................................................................................Eric Whitacre (b. 1970)

Stretched out on the grass, a boy and a girl. Savoring their oranges, giving their kisses like waves exchanging foam.

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PROGR A M (c o n t.)

Stretched out on the beach, a boy and a girl. Savoring their limes, giving their kisses like clouds exchanging foam. Stretched out underground, a boy and a girl. Saying nothing, never kissing, giving silence for silence. -- Octavio Paz

Banks of the Ohio (from Love – By the Water) ...........................................Gwyneth Walker (b. 1947)

IIDrei Lieder, Op. 31 (in German) .................................................................... Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Wechsellied zum Tanz

(Dialogue at the Dance) The indifferent ones: Come with me to the dance, o beauty; dancing is right for a festive day. You can become my sweetheart if you are not, but if you will never be, we can just dance. Come with me to the dance, o beauty; dancing glorifies a festive day. The tender ones: Without you, dearest, what would a festival be? Without you, my sweet, what would a dance be? If you were not my sweetheart, I would not want to dance. If you stay my sweetheart forever, life will be a celebration. Without you, dearest, what would a festival be? Without you, my sweet, what would a dance be? The indifferent ones: Let them love, but let us dance! Languishing love shuns the dance. Let us merrily weave about in spinning rows, and let the others creep off into the twilit wood. Let them love, but let us dance! Languishing love shuns the dance. The tender ones: Let them twirl, and let us wander! Wandering in love is a heavenly dance. Cupid is nearby and hears this mockery; he will have revenge someday—and soon! Let them twirl, and let us wander! Wandering in love is a heavenly dance.

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PROGR A M (c o n t.)

Neckereien

It’s true, my dear, I am now courting, and I will establish you as my wife; you will be mine, my dear, truly mine, and even if you don’t also want it.

“Then I’ll become a dove with a white form - I will fly from you, fly into the wood, and so I may not be yours, may not be yours: that hour will never come.”

I have a flintlock that can fire quickly - I’ll shoot the dove down in the wood; You will be mine, my dear, truly mine, and even if you don’t also want it.

“Then I’ll become a little fish, a golden fish - I’ll spring into the fresh water; and so I may not be yours, may not be yours: that hour will never come.”

I have however a net that fishes very well; I will catch me this golden fish in the water. You will be mine, my dear, truly mine, and even if you don’t also want it.

“Then I’ll become a hare, full of swiftness - and run in the fields, the broad fields. and so I may not be yours, may not be yours: that hour will never come.”

I have however a hound that’s smart and fine; he’ll catch me that hare in the fields. You will be mine, my dear, truly mine, and even if you don’t also want it.

Der Gang Zum Liebchen

The moon gleams down, I should yet again Go to my darling, How does she fare? Alas, she’s despondent and laments and laments, That I will never see her Again in her life! The moon sinks, I hurry off briskly - Hurrying so that nobody Shall steal my love away. O coo, you doves! O whir, you breezes! - So that nobody Shall steal my love away!

IIIAmerican Madrigals ...............................................................................................Kirke Mechem (b. 1925) Kind Miss He’s Gone Away Kansas Boys Adam’s Bride New York Girls

INTERMISSION

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PROGR A M (c o n t.)

IVMy Bonnie Lass She Smelleth .................................................................................P. D. Q. Bach (1807-1742?)

Song to Celia ..................................................................................................................P. D. Q. Bach

It Was A Lover and His Lass .........................................................................................P. D. Q. Bach

VCindy.......................................................................................................................arr. Carol Barnett

Gentle Annie ........................................................................... Stephen Foster, arr. Shaw-Parker (1826-1864)

Song of Perfect Propriety ........................................................................................ Carol Barnett

–Dorothy Parker

My Mom Was A Woman ..............................................................Sidney Carter, arr. Nick Page

I’ll Ay Call in by Yon Town (Scottish) .............................................................arr. Mack Wilberg

VIThis Can’t Be Love (from The Boys from Syracuse) ........Rodgers & Hart, arr. Rutherford

As Time Goes By (from Everybody’s Welcome) ............ Herman Hupfeld, arr. Strommen

Someone to Watch Over Me (from Oh, Kay!) ...............Gershwin & Gershwin, arr. Chinn

I Have Dreamed (from The King and I) .........................................Rodgers & Hammerstein

Just in Time (from Bells are Ringing) ........................Comden, Green & Styne, arr. Zegree

Oh, I should like to ride the seas, A roaring buccaneer; A cutlass banging at my knees, A dirk behind my ear. And when my captives’ chains would clank I’d howl with glee and drink, And then fling out the quivering plank And watch the beggars sink.

I’d like to straddle gory decks, And dig in laden sands, And know the feel of throbbing necks Between my knotted hands. Oh, I should like to strut and curse Among my blackguard crew.... But I am writing little verse, As little ladies do.

Oh, I should like to dance and laugh And pose and preen and sway, And rip the hearts of men in half, And toss the bits away. I’d like to view the reeling years Through unastonished eyes, And dip my finger-tips in tears, And give my smiles for sighs.

I’d stroll beyond the ancient bounds, And tap at fastened gates, And hear the prettiest of sounds The clink of shattered fates. My slaves I’d like to bind with thongs That cut and burn and chill.... But I am writing little songs, As little ladies will.

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PROGR A M NOTES

IClyde Thompson and Gwyneth Walker have both served as guest composers with New Classic Singers. Love by the Water was a NCS commission. II“Composed in 1859 and 1863, the three pieces were assembled and published in 1864. Renowned for “abstract” instrumental masterpieces, Brahms wrote more vocal music than instrumental music. He published 31 volumes of solo Lieder, six volumes of duets, five of quartets, and an immense amount of choral music. During this particular period of Brahms’ creativity, the folk-song aesthetic permeated all of his vocal compositions. Brahms once wrote to Clara Schumann that the folk song is the ideal toward which the composer of songs must strive. In the Quartets, Op. 31, Brahms speaks the language of the folk song clearly in the diatonic melodies, frequent text repetition, especially of the last words of a verse, and the brief piano introductions.” – All Music Guide

IIICalifornian Kirke Mechem is a master of various choral music forms. Based on American folk songs, the American Madrigals are not settings or arrangements. Instead, they are original works designed for choral performance with polyphonic, madrigal-like pieces with a uniquely American flavor.

IVProfessor Peter Schickele brought the world the works of P.D.Q. Bach, “the last and least of the twenty-odd children of the great Johann Sebastian Bach, and certainly the oddest of the lot.” My Bonnie Lass comes from the collection, The Triumphs of Thusnelda, written long after the madrigal had died as an art form. The other two selections come from Bach’s Liebeslieder Polkas (for SATB and Piano 5-hands). Modeled after Brahms’ famous Liebeslieder Waltzes, Bach’s set is never considered its equal.

V“Song of Perfect Propriety was written for the Cornell University Women’s Chorus as part of a multi-year commissioning project unofficially called “No Whining,No Flowers,” in which several women composers were commissioned to set texts by women on topics other than the above. I was inspired by Dorothy Parker’s feisty poem, and by hearing the Chorus sing director Scott Tucker’s wonderfully unpredictable arrangement of Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm.” “Writing little verse, as little ladies do” might be construed as whining, but it doesn’t have to be that way...” -- Carol Barnett

VIThe American Songbook is the name we give to the great popular songs that grew out of the Broadway stage, films and recordings of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. The pre-rock era spawned a genre of American art-songs in which word, melody and harmony unified into an unforgettable style. In our final set, the sexes stop sparring and enjoy the fruits of love.

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NCS 2010 -2011

Lee R. Kesselman, Director Bill Buhr, Accompanist

Soprano

Elise Calhoon ................................................................................................................... NapervilleBeth Majerszky ............................................................................................................. New LenoxMadeline Morris ............................................................................................................... DeerfieldKirsten O’Donnell ................................................................................................................. AuroraKaren Owen ................................................................................................................... WarrenvilleGabriela Sevilla .............................................................................................................. NapervilleSusan Van Ordstrand ...............................................................................................................ElginSadie Wynne ...............................................................................................................Bolingbrook

AltoJulie Dee .....................................................................................................................................VoloMarcia Ecker ...................................................................................................... South BarringtonPamela Eiten ...................................................................................................................... WheatonJean Follett .......................................................................................................................... HinsdaleMele Howland ......................................................................................................Downers GroveMaureen Lyons ...................................................................................................................... DarienArlayne Pekofske .................................................................................................................. DarienDottie Williames ......................................................................................................... Sugar Grove

TenorNiall Casserly ..................................................................................................... Rolling MeadowsSean Doty .........................................................................................................................Burr RidgeBrett Goad ...................................................................................................................... WoodridgeAndrew Johnson ..................................................................................................Downers GroveJay Kessen ........................................................................................................................... Oak ParkDennis Schafer.......................................................................................................................... JolietLarry Stephens.................................................................................................................. PlainfieldJohn Whittington ................................................................................................Downers GroveJim Yarbrough ....................................................................................................................Elmhurst

BassBen Adair ........................................................................................................................ WoodridgeJon Bacon ........................................................................................................................... LombardJack Dare ................................................................................................................Downers GrovePaul Drennan ................................................................................................... Glendale HeightsAllen Pedersen ...................................................................................................Western SpringsDaniel Saathoff ........................................................................................................... WarrenvilleDave Saunders .............................................................................................................. WoodridgeDavid Scott....................................................................................................................... NapervilleDoug Thompson ............................................................................................................... Hinsdale

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OUR THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTERS

McAninch Arts CenterMichael AikinsMr. & Mrs. Dean BrandtJohn D. BreenMary BurkhardtAllan & Gina CarterRobert F. DaileyJack & Laura DareRobert & Jaclyn DotyPaul DrennanMarcia EckerBarbara & John EkholmPamela EitenFollett CorporationMichael FolkerFranciscan FriarsBarbara GeisJoanna & Jack GoralGeorgia K. HamiltonHarris Bank of HinsdaleMele Howland & Timothy

Krauskopf

Cynthia & Andrew Johnson

Leah & Andrew KammSusan KempferLee KesselmanJames & Lynn KessenDurema & Robert KohlMaureen LyonsBeth MajerszkyMark MaternaMarilyn McCormickLinda MotzPhillip O’DonnellKaren Webb OwenPat & Allen PedersenArlayne & Robert

PekofskeJean PrattSigma Alpha Iota,

LaGrange Alumni Chapter

David & Janice SaundersSusan Schroeder

David H. ShaftmanFlorence SlavickJames & Linda

SmedinghoffPaul SrivatkaLarry StephensLorraine H. TaylorDoug Thompson & Jean

FollettRichard TrautJames Tucker & Neil

LuccheseSusan Van Ordstrand &

James KempferDonald G. & Helen

WestlakeJohn & Laura

WhittingtonDottie WilliamesAnn Field WilliamsWFMT-FM 98.7James Yarbrough

nothing up our sleeves

Free TickeTs

Weekly ticket giveaways

facebook.com/footlights

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Laura Kuhlman, director

630.240.3489

Concerts, Educational Programs,Corporate Events, Festivals,

Receptions and more

[email protected]

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FROM THE PRES IDENT

At the close of our 29th season we have much to reflect upon, not least of which is the longevity of New Classic Singers in the world of choral music. To have you in the audience today, and perhaps at many concerts before this (we have presented well over 100 of them), is something we are truly grateful for. Making music is marvelous, but performing it puts the icing on the cake.

In the three years since we incorporated independent of the College we have learned that it takes a village to run a chorus. This year’s varied schedule has required so many skills beyond music-making: choosing the music and making sure it arrives in time for the first rehearsal, designing the publicity materials, printing and mailing our handy postcards, keeping the books, putting up posters, selling ads in the program, staffing the ticket table, ushering, hauling equipment around from one performance space to another, arranging for these various performance venues, updating the website, writing grant proposals and so on.

We are learning and improving as an organization all the time, but welcome your ideas and contributions. It is for this reason that we hope you will take a few minutes to fill out the Audience Survey today. We always look forward to the input we get from our May Audience Survey and it does help us to shape each new season.

We look forward to seeing you when we gather again to open our30th Anniversary Season next fall.

We Sing for YouJean A. Follett

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Our CD is available at the Arts Center Ticket Office, at all of our concerts, and on our web-site.

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