Chamber Choir
About Indian Springs School Chamber Choir
Hailed by one reviewer as a “symbol of excellence,” the Indian Springs School Concert Choir and smaller Chamber Choir delight audiences of all ages and diverse backgrounds in cities from San Antonio, Chicago, and New York City to Lucerne, Madrid, and Edinburgh. Up to 100 students sing in our top-rated private school Concert Choir, which tours domestically each year. A third of those singers also participate in the Chamber Choir, which tours internationally. Led by Director of Choral Music Dr. Lee Wright, the groups sing an extraordinary range of music, including major Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th-century works; Broadway tunes; spirituals; arrangements of well-known pop hits; and traditional folk songs performed in up to 15 original languages.
The Chamber Choir is Indian Springs School's flagship choral ensemble. Founded in 1980, it has represented the school at state, regional, and national conferences in cities such as Los Angeles, San Antonio, Chicago, and New York City. The ensemble has also traveled abroad to destinations in Europe and Asia, with a Tour of Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia in May 2024.
Chamber Choir 2023-2024
| Soprano | Alto | Tenor | Bass |
| Miriam Beschliesser ’24 | Lielle Berkowitz ’25 | Ethan Arias ’26 | Pierce Chen ’25 |
| Sophie Dabbs ’25 | Jadyn Daniel ’25 | Chenrui Cai ’25 | Joseph Embry ’24 |
| Cadence Daniel ’25 | Evie Froshin ’25 | Ellis Carter ’25 | Xiuwen Hu ’26 |
| Mattison Holsomback ’25 | Lily Hampton ’24 | Henry Chen ’26 | Robin Lacy ’25 |
| Valentina Knowles ’27 | Samantha King ’25 | Santiago De La Pava Jerez ’26 | CJ Nwosu ’25 |
| Sydney Schneider ’24 | Alex Robinson ’25 | Mason Forman ’24 | Eason Shi ’24 |
| Erin Sides ’24 | Jupiter Spensley ’26 | Jackson Geisen ’25 | Chance Smith ’25 |
| Alexandra Watson ’26 | Ava Taylor ’24 | Duncan Holditch ’26 | Nate Street ’24 |
| Ryan Le ’24 | Matthew Thomson ’24 | ||
| Jason Wu ’25 | |||
| Jayden Xu ’27 | |||
| Max Xu ’25 |
Chamber Choir European Tour 2024 Program
Saturday, May 25, 8:30 p.m. | Franciscan Church, Bratislava, Slovakia
Sunday, May 26, 11:00 a.m. | Mass Participation in the Jesuit Church, Bratislava, Slovakia
Monday, May 27, 7:00 p.m. | Saint Giles Church, Nymburk, Czech Republic
Tuesday, May 28, 6:00 p.m. | Church of St. Martin in the Wall (Kostel svatého Martina ve zdi), Prague, Czech Republic
Friday, May 31, 7:30 p.m. | Municipal Theatre, Třeboň, Czech Republic
Sunday, May 26, 11:00 a.m. | Mass Participation in the Jesuit Church, Bratislava, Slovakia
Monday, May 27, 7:00 p.m. | Saint Giles Church, Nymburk, Czech Republic
Tuesday, May 28, 6:00 p.m. | Church of St. Martin in the Wall (Kostel svatého Martina ve zdi), Prague, Czech Republic
Friday, May 31, 7:30 p.m. | Municipal Theatre, Třeboň, Czech Republic
During these performances, the program is to be selected from the following...
Prelude
Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978)
|
Exsultate, Jubilate
O vos animae beatae
Exsultate, Jubilate
Summa Trinitas revelatur
Et ubique adoratur,
Date gloriam,
Date illi gloriam
Summa Trias adoratur,
Date illi gloriam.
Tu virginum corona,
Tu nobis pacem dona.
Tu consolare affectus,
Unde suspirat cor.
Alleluia.
|
Rejoice, resound with joy.
O you blessed souls,
Rejoice, resound with joy,
The Great Trinity is revealed
And everywhere adored;
Give glory,
Give it glory,
The Great Triad is adored,
Give it glory.
You, o crown of virgins,
Grant us peace,
Console our feelings,
From which our hearts sigh.
Alleluia.
|
Justorum animae, Op. 38, No. 1
Charles Villers Stanford (1852 - 1924)
|
Justorum animae in manu Dei sunt,
et non tanget illos tormentum mortis.
Visi sunt oculis insipientium mori,
illi autem sunt in pace.
|
The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and the torment of malice shall not touch them:
in the sight of the unwise they seemed to die
but they are in peace.
|
Choral Excerpts from The Creation
F. Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
14. "The Heavens Are Telling"
Chorus
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
The wonder of his work displays the firmament;
Trio (Sydney Schneider '24, Henry Chen '26, Robin Lacy '25)
Today that is coming speaks it the day,
The night that is gone to following night.
In all the lands resounds the word,
Never unperceived, ever understood.
26. "Achieved is the Glorious Work"
Chorus
Achieved is the glorious work;
Our song let be the praise of God.
Glory to his name forever.
He sole on high exalted reigns. Hallelujah.
Ave verum corpus
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
|
Ave, verum corpus natum
de Maria Virgine:
vere passum, immolatum
in cruce pro homine:
cuius latus perforatum
fluxit aqua et sanguine:
esto nobis praegustatum,
in mortis examine.
|
Hail the true body, born
of the Virgin Mary:
Who truly has suffered and was sacrificed
on the cross for humankind.
From whose pierced side
flowed water and blood:
Be a foretaste for us
in death’s examination.
|
Geistliches Lied, Op. 30
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
|
Laß dich nur nichts nicht dauren mit Trauren,
sei stille. Wie Gott es fügt,
so sei vergnügt mein Wille!
Was willst du heute sorgen auf morgen?
Der Eine steht allem für,
der gibt auch dir das Deine.
Sei nur in allem Handel ohn Wandel,
steh feste, was Gott beschleußt,
das ist und heißt das Beste.
Amen.
|
Let nothing ever grieve you;
be at peace. Whatever God ordains,
accept it gladly, my soul!
Why do you want to worry today about tomorrow?
The One is lord of all,
He also gives to you that which is yours.
In all things, be constant,
Stand firmly. Whatever God ordains
Is and signifies the best.
Amen.
|
Sing, My Child
Text and Music by Sarah Quartel (b. 1982)
Sing for the promise in each new morning.
Sing for the hope in a new day dawning.
All around is beauty bright!
Wake in the morning and sing, my child.
Dance in the joy of the day unfolding.
Dance as you work and dance as your learning.
All around is beauty bright!
Take in the day and dance, my child.
But when trouble comes and worry is all that can be found,
Gather your strength and hear your voice. Sing, my child.
Laugh in the cool and the fresh of the evening.
Laugh in your triumph, laugh in succeeding.
All around is beauty bright!
Rest in the evening and laugh, my child.
Peace in the stillness and dark of the night.
Peace in the dreams of your silent delights.
All around is beauty bright!
Sleep in the night and peace, my child.
Over the Rainbow
Music by Harold Arlen (1905-1986)
Arranged by Molly Ijames (b. 1978)
Text by E. Y. Harburg (1896-1981)
Sydney Schneider ’24, violin
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high,
There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue
and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.
Someday I’ll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me,
Where troubles melt like lemon drops away above the chimney tops,
that’s where you’ll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly,
Birds fly over the rainbow, why then, o why can’t I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow,
Why, oh why can’t I?
The Peace of Wild Things
Music by Jake Runestad (b. 1986)
Text by Wendel Berry (b. 1934)
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night [at the least sound]
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
A Departing Blessing
Music by Amelia Ouverson (b. 2000)
Text by Andrew F. Newell
Sydney Scheider ’24, violin
Before you venture on your own and leave this home behind,
May God grant you wisdom, courage, and fortitude of mind.
And in departing through my door to seek a temperate place,
May God bring low the bronze sun to warm your kindred face.
You’ll walk and walk ‘till night adorns the ancient endless sky
With God’s own flock of crystal stars that you can travel by.
As path leads on to further path, beyond the world you’ve known,
May God restore your clouding eyes to show you how you’ve grown.
For you shall find a place to rest beneath a willow tree
Where God will guide your dreaming soul to live eternally.
But worry not, my soul, my heart, we’ll meet again some day,
For God will place the ones we love to greet us on our way.
Napadly písně
Music by Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Text by Vitězslav Hálek (1835-1874)
|
Napadly písně v duši mou, nezavolány znenadání,
jako když rosy napadá, po stéblokadeřavé stráni.
Kol se to mihá perlami,
i cítím dech tak maldý, zdravý,
že nevím, zda jsou radost má,
či pláč mé duše usedavý.
Však rosu luna zrodila, a není písním v duší stání:
tekou co slast a slza má,
a den se chystá ku svítání.
|
Appear the songs from my soul, uncalled, they come suddenly,
Like when dew appears on the blades of grass on the hills.
The wheel turns quickly and shines like pearls,
I feel my breath, youthful, healthy,
I do not know whether I am feeling joy,
Or the anguished crying of my soul.
But, the dew, through the moon, is born, and no song remains in my soul:
The song flows with bliss and my tears,
and day is about to dawn.
|
Earth Song
Text and Music Frank Ticheli (b. 1958)
Sing, Be, Live, See…
This dark stormy hour,
The wind, it stirs.
The scorched earth
cries out in vain:
O war and power,
You blind and blur.
The torn heart
cries out in pain.
But music and singing
Have been my refuge,
And music and singing
Shall be my light.
A light of song
Shining strong: Alleluia!
Through darkness, pain, and strife, I’ll
Sing, Be, Live, See…
Peace.
Down in the River to Pray
Traditional Southern Hymn
David L. Mennicke (b. 1961)
As I went down in the river to pray,
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the robe and crown;
Good Lord, show me the way!
Oh sisters, let’s go down,
Let’s go down, come on down.
Oh sisters, let’s go down,
Down in the river to pray.
As I went down in the river to pray,
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown;
Good Lord, show me the way!
Oh brothers…
Oh fathers…
Oh mothers…
Oh sinners…
Oh children…
190 Woodward Drive, Indian Springs, Alabama 35124
Phone: 205.988.3350
Indian Springs School, an independent school recognized nationally as a leader in boarding and day education for grades 8-12, serves a talented and diverse student body and offers admission to qualified students regardless of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Located in Indian Springs, Alabama, just south of Birmingham, the school does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs.
© 2023 Indian Springs School. All Rights Reserved.
© 2023 Indian Springs School. All Rights Reserved.