Transcription
Affiliated to the National Operatic & Dramatic AssociationHITCHIN THESPIANS is a Registered Charity, Number 1005332
The ChoirSopranoMandy Atkin, Jane Baxter, Gwenda Beech, Gill Cheaney, Joanna Chugg,Margaret Coxall, Lesley Greasley, Wendy Hazelwood, Jane Homer,Michelle Marple, Susan Osbourn, Ann Peacock, Melanie PlowmanCobb,Jackie Sayer, Julia Skinner, Sheila Soothill, Jane Tunesi, Mary YoungAltoLucy Arnold, Gillian Clough, Brenda Cundell, Sarah Cunningham,Lilian Dixon, Viv Hamilton, Judith Harrison, Antonia Homer-Bennett,Sheila Mole, Jan Nash, Keryle Rutherford, Elizabeth Sturges, AndreaThorpeTenorAlan Dickinson, Peter Goff, Andy Johnson, Howard Roberts,Iain Rutherford, David YoungBassJohn Beal, Eddie Cullum, Jack Lardent, Nick Morgan, Keith Mortland,Mike Steele, Trevor Sturges, Andrew WyllieSoloistsJane Baxter, Joanna Chugg, Lilian Dixon, Jane Homer, AndyJohnson,Jack Lardent, Susan Osbourn, Ann Peacock, Melanie PlowmanCobb,Sheila Soothill, Mike Steele, Mary YoungReadersGill Cheaney, Joanna Chugg, Margaret Coxall, Eddie Cullum,Alan Dickinson, Lilian Dixon, Viv Hamilton, Wendy Hazelwood,Jane Homer, Andy Johnson
Part OneIt is intended that Part One of tonight's concert should run continuouslywithout comment or applause between items.Choir:O Come, O Come EmmanuelReading:BC:ADU A FanthorpeSolo:Adam Lay YboundenPeter WarlockReading:Advent 1955 (extract)Choir:Of the Father's Heart BegottenReading:How the Light ComesAudience:It Came Upon the Midnight Clear15th C French MelodySir John BetjemanArr: Sir David WillcocksJan RichardsonSir Arthur SullivanArr: Sir David WillcocksIt came upon the midnight clear,That glorious song of old.From angels bending near the earthTo touch their harps of gold:“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,From heav'n's all gracious King.”The world in solemn stillness layTo hear the angels sing.Still through the cloven skies they come,With peaceful wings unfurled;And still their heavenly music floatsO'er all the weary world;Above its sad and lowly plainsThey bend on hov'ring wing;And ever o'er its Babel soundsThe blessed angels sing.
Yet with the woes of sin and strifeThe world has suffered long;Beneath the angel strain have rolledTwo thousand years of wrong;And man, at war with man, hears notThe love song which they bring:O hush the noise, ye men of strife,And hear the angels sing!For lo the days are hastening on,By prophet-bards foretold,When, with the ever circling yearsComes round the age of gold;When peace shall over all the earthIts ancient splendours fling,And the whole world give back the songWhich now the angels sing.Reading:In Memoriam (extract)Trio:Angelus ad VirginemChoir:Nativity CarolReading:The Simplicity of Christmas (extract)Mary McDonnellChoir:Still, Still, StillArr: Philip LedgerReading:New Prince, New Pomp (extract A)Robert SouthwellAudience:Away in a MangerAlfred, Lord TennysonArr: Sir David WillcocksJohn RutterArr: Sir David WillcocksAway in a manger, no crib for a bed,The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,And stay be my side until morning is nigh.Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stayClose by me for ever, and love me I pray.Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.Robert SouthwellReading:New Prince, New Pomp (extract B)Choir:Jesus ChildReading:Angels' SongCharles CausleyChoir:Rise Up, Shepherd, and FollowArr: John RutterReading:The Wise Men Ask the Children the WayChoir:Birthday CarolReading:Kings Came RidingAudience:As With Gladness Men of OldAs with gladness men of oldDid the guiding star behold,As with joy they hailed its light,Leading onward, beaming bright,So, most gracious God, may weEvermore be led to thee.As with joyful steps they spedTo that lowly manger bed,There to bend the knee beforeHim whom heaven and earth adore,So may we with willing feetJohn RutterHeinrich HeineSir David WillcocksCharles WilliamsArr: Sir David Willcocks
Ever seek thy mercy seat.As they offered gifts most rareAt that manger rude and bare,So may we with holy joy,Pure and free from sin's alloy,All our costliest treasures bring,Christ, to thee our heavenly king.In the heav'nly country brightNeed they no created light;Thou its light, its joy, its crown,Thou its sun which goes not down.There for ever may we singAlleluyas to our King.Reading:ChristmasChoir:A Maiden Most GentleReading:CarolChoir:Joy to the WorldShauna StoltzArr: Andrew CarterCarla Lanyon LanyonArr: John RutterINTERVALduring which mulled wine and mince pies will be served
Part TwoChoir:Wassail!Reading:Christmas GreetingsChoir:I Saw Three ShipsChoir:Jingle BellsReading:The Best Day of All the YearAlison UttleyAudience:O Little Town of BethlehemArr: R. Vaughan WilliamsJohn Owen EdwardsDorothy Brown ThompsonArr: John RutterArr: Sir David WillcocksO little town of Bethlehem,How still we see thee lie!Above thy deep and dreamless sleepThe silent stars go by.Yet in thy dark streets shinethThe ever lasting light;The hopes and fears of all the yearsAre met in thee tonight.O morning stars, togetherProclaim the holy birth,And praises sing to God the King,And peace to men on earth;For Christ is born of Mary;And, gathered all above,While mortals sleep, the angels keepTheir watch of wond'ring love.How silently, how silently,The wondrous gift is giv'n!So God imparts to human heartsThe blessings of his heav'n.
No ear may hear his coming;But in this world of sin,Where meek souls will receive him, stillThe dear Christ enters in.O holy Child of Bethlehem,Descend to us we pray;Cast out our sin, and enter in,Be born in us today.We hear the Christmas angelsThe great glad tidings tell:O come to us, abide with us,Our Lord Emmanuel.Reading:Advent 1955 (extract)Choir:MidwinterBob ChilcottDuet:Angels' CarolJohn RutterChoir:Telling God's StoryDuet:Travellers' TalesChoir:Listen to the Sounds in HeavenReadings:My SnowmanAuntie's PresentP. S. to SantaChoir:The Virgin Mary had a Baby BoyGo, Tell it on the MountainReading:Carol for the Last Christmas EveSir John BetjemanJohn H EdwardsArr: John BarnardArr: John H EdwardsIan McMillanPaul CurtisIvor DavisArr: Robert WinterArr: John RutterNorman Nicholson
Audience:O Come, All Ye FaithfulArr: David WillcocksO 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,O come, let us adore him,O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!See how the shepherds, summoned to his cradle,Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear;We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps:O come let us adore him,O come, let us adore him,O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!Lo! Star-led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,Offer him incense, gold and myrrh;We to the Christ Child bring our hearts' oblations:O come let us adore him,O come, let us adore him,O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;Glory to God in the highest:O come let us adore him,O come, let us adore him,O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!Choir:We Wish You a Merry ChristmasArr: W. L. Reed
AcknowledgementsProgramme devised and directed by John H EdwardsChoral Manager:Concert Manager:Box Office Managers:Front Of House Manager:Artwork & Publicity:Programme Editor:Lighting:Raffle:Librarian:Rehearsal Pianist:Susan OsbournAndy JohnsonNick & Nicky MorganAnn CrookTracey GwynneSusan OsbournLuke Jones & Alan BailesVivienne TadmanJan NashNigel GrayMince pies supplied byThe Hospitality & Catering Department ofNorth Hertfordshire CollegeIf you have enjoyed this concert and are interested in joining theSociety, as either a member or a patron, please contact:Lynne Leggat, SecretaryHitchin ThespiansWoodside HallWalsworth RoadHitchinHerts SG4 9SPorsecretary@hitchinthespians.org.ukHitchin Thespians would like to wish you all a veryMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Sign up and WIN withHitchin Thespians Tickets for the 2013 100 Club are on sale here Anyone can enter!You could win: 50 (10 monthly draws) 250* (June draw) 750* (Christmas draw)Please support Hitchin ThespiansBuy as many tickets as you like the more you own, the more chances you have to win!Why not buy a ticket (or two) for someone else as well - wouldsomeone you know like a Christmas gift with a chance to win amonthly cash prize? Or maybe ask your friends and relations tobuy their own – its all in a good cause.If you’re not in, you can’t win!Tickets cost 12Forms are on your table, or next to the main entranceThis lottery is registered with North Hertfordshire District Council. Licence No LIC/66309/10Organiser: John Keogh for Hitchin Thespians26 Balmoral Road, Hitchin, Herts. SG5 1XG. Tel. 01462 620561* Maximum prize when 200 or more tickets sold. Prizes are scaled accordingly if less than 200 tickets are sold
Where meek souls will receive him, still The dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell: O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord
