THCS Haydn ConcertTHCS Haydn Concert
Sopranos Altos Tenors Basses Cheryl Clark Janis Clark John Bloxdorf John Daniel Lynn Curts Amanda Dowell Rich Dowell Christopher Heap Dea Ann Eaton Jo Eglen Don Richards Paul Mason Marcie Eckard Kathryn George John Rickert Boice McCain Joan Fuelle Diana Joslin Mike Wicker Darrell Swarens Bev Herrig Lisa Miller Jimmy Hilton Curt Winkle Marsha Miller Jo Ann Swift Lillian Murphy Mary Richards Krislyn Weber
Haydn was in England for the second time when he received a letter from the fourth reigning member of the Esterhazy family under whom he was to serve: Prince Nikolaus II wanted his Kalpellmeisrer to return to Austria and re-establish the Prince's choir and orchestra. Haydn had contractual ties which kept him in England until the sulnmer of 1795, but after that he was glad to return to his native country, especially since the Napoleonic Wars showed no signs of abatilig.
Prince Nikolaus II required of his Kapellmeister that he deal with the (in part onerous) administrative duties as head of a large musical establishment, but, apart from that, Haydn was expected only to provide, once a year, a largescale mass to celebrate the name day of the Princess Maria Hermenegild, nee Princess Lichtensteill, with whom Haydn was on the best of terms- much better than with the arrogant Prince Nikolaus II, whose knowledge of female anatomy was infinitely superior to his knowlelge of music.
The small orchestra to which Haydn would return consisted of a wind band (pairs of oboes, clarinets, bassoons and horns), a small choir with organ and a string orchestra with a timpani player. The horn players could also play trumpets, and were in fact required to do so in the new mass. It was for this group that Haydn composed the first of his six final masses which spanned the years 1796-1802. Since Haydn was not sure who would sing the solo vocal parts he was careful to avoid difficult writing, taking his soloists from the choir.
The new mass was dedicated to St. Bernard of Offida (1604-'94), who had been beatified by Pope Pius Vl on May 19, 1795; it was presumahly first performed on September 12, 1796, the name-day of the Princess, at the Bergkirche in Eisenstadt. Not knowing his orchestra very well, Haydn wrote very conservative clarinet parts, but a year or so later he rewrote them, giving them much more to do, and also providing horn parts to double, one octave lower, the trumpets. It is this second version that has been recorded here.
Haydn's Missa Sancti Beenardi de Offida makes full use of the symphonic form which he had brought to a new level of sophistication and inspiration in the twelve symphonies he had composed for London between 1791 and 1795. But the customary symphonic scheme was artfully modified to fit ecclesiastical purposes. Thus the Kyrie opens with the kind of slow introduction found in eleven of the twelve "London" Symphonies; but the rest of the movement is very diffetent. The ensning Allegro moderato has a theme of almost folk-like simplicity, which is interupted by a brilliant fugue; but, it too, is broken off to allow for the "Christe eleison", before it is continned - in short a suhtle combination of church and symphony.
In the Gloria, after the opening fanfare-like announcement, we arrive at perhaps the most astonishingly intellectllal achievement of the mass, a movement uniting "Gratias agimus tibi" with "Qui tollis", and containing contrapunltal feats so intricate that they are scarcely recognizable except to experts (the orchestra is divided into top and bottom sections, which are then reversed in double counterpoint at the octave). There is a sense of enermous momentum in this spiritulally dense music, which is unlike anything Haydn had previously composed.
In the Credo we may note that the "Et incarnatus est" is a strict canon, which also exists as a secular work by Haydn with the words "Gott im Herzen, ein gut Weibchen im Arm" (God in the heart amd a good girl on the arm.) The final section of the Credo is a grand fugue on the words "Et vitam venturi".
The Sanctus is based on an old German church melody (the Latin words being translated "Heilig, heilig, heilig") which Haydn weaves into the middle parts of the texture. This device led to the work being assigned the subtitle "Heiligmesse".
The Benedictus is another slowish Moderato movement of great depth and spirituality, with no vocal soloists. Haydn's later clarinet parts are especially telling here.
The austere Agnus Dei in B-flat minor leds ot a conclusion of symphonic grandure ("Dona nobis pacem"), where, towards the end, we find a colossal deceptive cadence, rounded off by a theratical fortissimo flourish.
Kyrie Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy. Christe eleison. Christ, have mercy. Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy. Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo. Glory to God in the highest. Et in terra pax And peace hominibus bonae voluntatis. to His people on earth. Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. We praise Thee. We bless Thee. Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. We adore Thee. We glorify Thee. Gratias agimus tibi We give Thee thanks, propter magnam gloriam tuam. we praise Thee for Thy glory. Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Lord God, heavenly King, Deus Pater omnipotens. almighty God and Falher. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Lord Jesus Christ only Son of the Father. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Lord God, Lamb of God, Filius Patris. Son of the Father. Qui tollis peccata mundi, Thou take away the sins of the worId, miserere nobis. have mercy on us. Qui tollis peccata mundi, Thou take away the sins of the world, suscipe deprecationem nostram. receive our prayer. Qul sedes ad dexteram Patris, Thou are seated at the right hand of the Father mlserere nobis. have mercy on us. Quoniam tu solus sanctus. For Thou alone are the Holy One. Tu solus Dominus. Thou alone are the Lord. Tu solus altisslmus, Jesu Christe. Thou alone are the most high, Jesus Christ Cum Sancto Spiritu With the Holy Spirit in gloria Dei Patris. in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Amen. Credo Credo in unum Deum, I believe in one God, Patrem omnipotentem, the Father, the Almighty, factorern coeli et terrae, Maker of heaven and earth, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. of all things visible and invisible. Et in unum Dominum, Jesum Christum, And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, Filiulm Dei unigenitum. the only-begotten Son of God. Et ex Patre natum Begotten of the Father ante omnia secula. before all worlds. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, God from God, light from light, Deum verum de Deo vero. true God from ture God. Genitum, non factum, Begotten, not made, consubstantialem Patri, being of one substance with the Father, per quem omnia facta sunt. through Him all things were made. Qui propter nos homines For us men et spropter nostram salutem and for our salvation decendit de coelis. He came down form heaven. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto By the power of the Holy Spirit ex Maria virgine He was born of the Virgin Mary et homo factus est. and became man. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis For our sake He was crucified sub Pontio Pilato, under Pontius Pilate; passus et sepultus est. He suffered, died, and was buried. Et resurrexit tertia die On the third day He rose again secundum scripturas. in fulfilment of the scriptures. Et ascendit in chelulm, He ascended into heaven sedet ad dexteram Patris. and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria He will come again with glory judicare vivos et mortuos, to judge the living and the dead; cujus regni non erit finis. and His kingdom will have no end. Et in Spirinlm Sanctum, We believe in the Holy Spirit, Dominum et vivificantem. the Lord, the giver of Iife. Qui cum Patre et Filio With the Father and the Son simul adoratur et conglorificatur; He is worshipped and glorifled; qui locutus est per Prophetas. He has spoken through the prophets. Et unam sanctam catholicam We believe in one catholic et apostolicam ecclesiam. and apostolic Church. Confiteor unum baptisma We acknowledge one baptism in remissionem peccatorum. for the remission of sins. Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum. We look for the resurrection of the dead. Et vitam venturi saeculi. And for the life of the world to come. Amen. Amen. Sanctus Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Holy, holy, holy, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Lord God of power and might. Pleni sunt coeli et terra Heaven and earth gloria tua. are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest. Benedictus Benedictus, Blessed is he qui venit in nomine Domini. who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest. Agnus Dei Angus Dei, Lamb of God, qui tollis peccata mundi, Thou take away the sins of the world: miserere nobis. have mercy on us. Dona nobis pacem. Grant us peace.
Far away silent lay,
Born today, your homage pay,
For Christ is born for aye,
Born on Christmas Day
Cradled by mother so fair,
Tender her lulaby;
Over her son so dear
Angel hosts fill the sky.
Far away silent lay,
Born today, your homage pay,
For Christ is born for aye,
Born on Christmas Day
Wise men form distant far land,
Shepherds from starry hills
Worshiped this babe so rare,
Hearts with his warmth he fills.
Far away silent lay,
Born today, your homage pay,
For Christ is born for aye,
Born on Christmas Day
Love in that stable was born
Into our hearts to flow;
Innocent dreaming babe,
Make me thy love to know.
Far away silent lay,
Born today, your homage pay,
For Christ is born for aye,
Born on Christmas Day
'Tell me, shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily
On the way to Bethlehem
Who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely
On the way to Bethlehem?'
Angels brought this message:
'Dance and sing for joy that Christ the King
is come to bring us peace on earth,
and he's lying cradled there at Bethlehem"
'None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely
On the way to Bethlehem;
But a King will hear me play sweet lullabies
When I get to Bethlehem.'
Angels in the sky came down from on high,
Hofered o'er the manger where the babe was lying
cradled in th arms of his mother Mary,
sleeping now at Bethlehem.
'Where is this new King, shepherd boy piping merrily,
Is he there at Bethlehem?'
'I will find him soon by the star shining brightly
In the sky o'er Bethlehem."
Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
'Dance and sing for joy that Christ the new-born King
is come to bring peace on earth,
and he's lying cradled there at Bethlehem.'
'May I come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily,
Come with you to Bethlehem?
Pay my homage too at the new King's cradle,
Is it far to Bethlehem?'
Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
'Dance and sing for joy that Christ the infant King
is born this night in lowly stable yonner,
Born for you at Bethlehem.'
Dark and dull night, fly hence away,
And give the honour to this day
That sees December turn'd to May
Why does the chilling winter's morn
Smile, like a field beset with corn?
Or smell like a maedow newly shorn
Thus on the sudden? Come and see
The cause, why things thus fragrant be:
"Tis he is born, whose quick'ning birth
Gives life and lustre, public mirth,
To heaven and the underearth.
We see him come, and know him ours,
Who, with his sunshine and his show'rs,
Turns the paitent ground to flow'rs.
The darling of the world is come,
And fit it is, we find a room
To welcome him.
The nobler part of all the house here, is the heart,
Which we will give him; and bequeath
This holly, and this ivy wreath,
To do him honour; who is our King,
And Lord of all this revelling.
What sweeter music can we bring
Than a carol, for to sing
The birth of this our heav'nly King.
Sing alleluia, brothers, sing allelula, sisters,
Worship the Jesus child and praise his mother mild.
'Glory to God' the angel hosts are singing:
Listen to the story of the Jesus child.
Have you heard the story of the poor humble shepherd men,
Sitting on the hillside with their flocks by night?
Suddenly the angle tells them: 'Hurry to Bethlehem;
Go and find the Jesus child, the world's new light.'
Sing alleluia, brothers, sing allelula, sisters,
Worship the Jesus child and praise his mother mild.
'Glory to God' the angel hosts are singing:
Listen to the story of the Jesus child.
Jesus child, lying at Bethlehem,
Sleeping safe at Mary's knee,
Save my soul and bring me to paradise,
Let me join the angles singing glory to thee.
Sing alleluia, brothers, sing allelula, sisters,
Worship the Jesus child and praise his mother mild.
'Glory to God' the angel hosts are singing:
Listen to the story of the Jesus child.
Have you hard the story of the kings from the orient,
Following the star that's shining over his head?
Offering their precious gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense,
Kneeling with the ox and ass before his bed?
Sing alleluia, brothers, sing allelula, sisters,
Worship the Jesus child and praise his mother mild.
'Glory to God' the angel hosts are singing:
Listen to the story of the Jesus child.
Brothers, let us celebrate the birth of the Jesus child,
Sisters, come and welcome him, the new-born King;
Praise the Lord who sent him down form heaven at Christmas time;
Young and old and rich and poor, his praises sing.
Sing alleluia, brothers, sing allelula, sisters,
Worship the Jesus child and praise his mother mild.
'Glory to God' the angel hosts are singing:
Listen to the story of the Jesus child.
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