Her beacon-hand beckons (Caroline Shaw)

give
give to me
those yearning to breathe free
tempest-tossed they cannot see
what lies beyond the olive tree
whose branch was lost amid the pleas
for mercy, mercy
give
give to me
your tired fighters fleeing flying
from the
from the
from
let them
i will be your refuge
i will be your refuge
i will be
i will be
we will be
we will

-words by the composer, responding to the 1883 sonnet

“The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, which was mounted

on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in 1903

 

 

Invitation to Love (Marques L.A. Garrett)

Come when the nights are bright with stars
Or when the moon is mellow;
Come when the sun his golden bars
Drops on the hay-field yellow.
Come in the twilight soft and gray,
Come in the night or come in the day,
Come, O love, whene’er you may,
And you are welcome, welcome.

You are sweet, O Love, dear Love,
You are soft as the nesting dove.
Come to my heart and bring it rest
As the bird flies home to its welcome nest.

Come when my heart is full of grief
Or when my heart is merry;
Come with the falling of the leaf
Or with the redd’ning cherry.
Come when the year’s first blossom blows,
Come when the summer gleams and glows,
Come with the winter’s drifting snows,
And you are welcome, welcome.

- Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

 

In Paradisum (Nadia Boulanger)

 

In paradisum de decant te angeli

et cum Lazaro quondam paupere,

aeternam habeas requiem

 

Translation:

May the angels lead you into paradise; 

May the choir of Angels greet you

and like Lazarus, who once was a poor man,

may you have eternal rest.

 

Vedro con mio diletto (Antonio Vivaldi / arr. Douglas Wagner)

Vedrò con mio diletto

L'alma dell'alma mia

dell'alma mia

Il core del quisto cor

Pien di contento

Pien di contento

 

E se dal caro oggetto

Lungi convien che sia

convien che sia

Sospirerò penando

ogni momento

 

Translation

What pleasure it will give me

to see the soul of my soul,

of my soul.

The heart of this heart

filled with happiness,

filled with happiness.

 

And if from the one I love,

I must be parted,

must be parted.

In sighing and suffering

I shall spend every moment.

 

 

Jam! (Jom – Ayuh – Mari!) (Tracy Wong)

JAM! (Jom – Ayuh – Mari!) is three-way play on words! (1) In Colloquial Malay, Jom, ayuh, and mari all have similar meanings – “come, let’s go!” Nada, in the context of singing, means vocal tone. (2) The catchy, repetitive, and conversation-like musical themes would also suggest a group of musicians coming together to make music (akin to a jam session). (3) “Jam” in Malay also translates to “clock” – suggesting a passing of time, represented by the consistent snapping of fingers in the music.

​

 

When we are singing (Somos del Señor—Mexican Hymn/ arr. Kevin Padrowski)

When we are singing, we are bound together

When we are sharing, we are free to be. 

Both in our singing and in our sharing,

We are brining change, we are making peace

 

Through times of trouble, though times of pain, 

We offer healing, like a gentle rain.

Both in our healing and in our caring,

We are bringing change, we are making peace

 

When we are helping, we can be our best,

When we are loving, hurt is put to rest.

Both in our helping and in our loving, 

we are bring change, we are making peace.

 

 

This is me (Penj Pasik & Justin Paul / arr. Audrey Snyder)

I am not a stranger to the dark

Hide away, they say

'Cause we don't want your broken parts

I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars

Run away, they say

No one'll love you as you are

But I won't let them break me down to dust

I know that there's a place for us

For we are glorious

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out

I am brave, I am bruised

I am who I'm meant to be, this is me

Look out 'cause here I come

And I'm marching on to the beat I drum

I'm not scared to be seen

I make no apologies, this is me

Another round of bullets hits my skin

Well, fire away 'cause today, I won't let the shame sink in

We are bursting through the barricades and

Reaching for the sun (we are warriors)

Yeah, that's what we've become (yeah, that's what we've become)

​

It May Be (Brian Jones)

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

-Alfred, Lord Tennyson

 

​

Sing to the Moon (Laura Mvula)

Hey there you, shattered in a thousand pieces

Weeping in the darkest nights

Hey there you, tryna stand up on your own two feet

And stumbling through the sky

When the lights go out and you're on your own

How you're gonna make it through till the morning sun?

[Chorus]

Sing to the moon and the stars will shine

Over you, lead you to the other side

Sing to the moon and the stars will shine

Over you, heaven's gonna turn the time

Hey there you, looking for a brighter season

Need to lay your burden down

Hey there you, drowning in a hopeless feeling

Buried under deeper ground

When the lights go out it's a waiting game

Never gonna see a day when your world will change

Sing to the moon and the stars will shine

Over you, lead you to the other side

Sing to the moon and the stars will shine

Over you, heaven's gonna turn the time

Sing to the moon and the stars will shine

Over you, lead you to the other side

Sing to the moon and the stars will shine

Over you, heaven's gonna turn the time

-Steven James & Laura Mvula

 

​

Sweetheart of the Sun

She stood so fair amid the corn

Clasped by the golden light of morn

Like the sweetheart of the sun

Who many a glowing kiss had won

 

On her cheek an autumn flush

Deeply ripened;—such a blush

In the midst of brown was born

Like red poppies grown with corn

 

Round her eyes her tresses fell

Which were blackest none could tell

But long lashes veiled a light

That had else been all too bright

 

And her hat, with shady brim

Made her tressy forehead dim;—

Thus she stood amid the stooks

Praising God with sweetest looks:—

 

Sure, I said, heaven did not mean

Where I reap thou shouldst but glean

Lay thy sheaf adown and come

Share my harvest and my home

-Thomas Hood

​

All the way home (Sarah Quartel)

Sing to me comfort, sing to me home,

Sing to me friendships I have known.

Sing me a place where I belong,

joyful, with harmonies sing me...

All the way home with a song in my heart.

All the way home brighten my path and carry me on, all the way home.

 

There's a beautiful power in what we bring,

There's strength in the glorious song we sing.

Easing all troubles, calming all fears,

joyful with harmonies sing me...

All the way home with a song in my heart.

All the way home brighten my path and carry me on, all the way home.

 

Evening brings a singing star,

her ancient anthems from a far.

Silence below, her song in the sky.

Joyful with harmonies sing me...

All the way home with a song in my heart.

All the way home brighten my path and carry me on, all the way home.

 

 

Lean on me (Bill Withers / arr. Jack Zaino)

Sometimes in our lives

We all have pain

We all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me 

When you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on...

For it won't be long

Till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride

If I have things you need to borrow

For no one can fill

Those of your needs that you won't let show

You just call on me brother when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

You just call on me brother

When you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear

That you can't carry

I'm right up the road

I'll share your load