Leland Spindler, artistic director
Dr. Seth Bott, organ
Mark Johnson, piano
Lux Orchestra
Mark Johnson, piano
Lux Orchestra
Traditional
arr. Leland Spindler
Evan Moss, tenor
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
Our spirits by Thine Advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
19th Century English Carol
arr. Audrey Snyder
God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day,
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray,
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.
From God our heav’nly Father
A blessed angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same.
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.
God rest ye merry, gentlemen.
Noël Nouvelet, French carol
arr. Kyle Pederson
Sing we now of Christmas,
Noel sing we here.
Hearts in expectation,
Noel drawing near.
Sing we Noel,
Sing we now of Christmas,
Sing we now Noel.
In stillness lays the world
In silent reverie;
Longing for the birth
Of love and mercy.
Yearning for hope,
Good news to fill our souls;
Turning to the manger
That grounds all mystery.
Noel, Noel, Noel!
Angels bending low,
Shepherds bend their knee,
Wisemen from the east,
All have come the child to see.
All of creation
Where love has come to dwell;
Sing we now of Christmas,
The good news that we tell.
Sing Noel!
Henry T. Smart (1813-1879)
arr. Dan Forrest
Angels from the realms of glory
Wing your flight o’er all the earth.
Ye who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Shepherds in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant light.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Sages, leave your contemplation,
Brighter visions beam afar.
Seek the great Desire of Nations,
Ye have seen His natal star.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
All creation join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son.
Evermore your voices raising
To th’eternal Three in One!
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Richard Elliott (b. 1957)
Dr. Seth Bott, organ
Traditional Irish Carol
arr. Elaine Hagenberg
Good people all, this Christmas time
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved son
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born
Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep
To whom God's angels did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear
'Prepare and go, ' the angels said
'To Bethlehem, be not afraid
For there you'll find, this happy morn
A princely babe, sweet Jesus born
With thankful heart and joyful mind
The shepherds went, this babe to find
And as God's angel had foretold
They did our saviour Christ behold
Within a manger he was laid
And by his side the virgin maid
Attending on the Lord of life
Who came on earth to end all strife
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born
 - Sweet Jesus - Messiah born.
Mateo Flecha el Viejo (1481-1553)
arr. Jim Leninger
Riu, riu, chiu  (onomotopoetic sound of either a shepherd calling his sheep or of a kingfisher bird)
la guarda ribera (the riverbank is guarded)
Dios guardó el lobo (God has kept the wolf)
de nuestra cordera (from our ewe lamb)
Dios guardó el lobo (God has kept the wolf)
de nuestra cordera. (from our ewe lamb.)
El lobo rabioso (the rabid wolf)
la quiso morder (desired to bite her)
Mas Dios Poderoso (But Almighty God)
la supo defender (knew how to defend her)
Quizo la hacer que (He desired to make her)
no pudiese pecar (unable to sin)
Ni aun original (Not even original [sin])
esta virgen no tuviera. (did this virgin have.)
Riu, riu, chiu…
Este que es nascido (He who is born)
es El Gran Monarca (is the Grand Monarch.)
Cristo Patriarca (Christ the Patriarch
de carne vestido (clothed in flesh)
Ha nos redimido (He has redeemed us)
con se hacer chiquito (by making himself little.)
Aunque era infinito (Although he was infinite)
finito se hiciera. (he made himself finite.)
Riu, riu, chiu …
Riu, riu, chiu …
Medieval Plainchant Responsorio
Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943)
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum
natum, jacentum in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum. Alleluia!
O great mystery,
and wondrous sacrament,
that animals should see the newborn Lord,
lying in their manger!
Blessed is the Virgin, whose womb
was worthy to bear the
Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Lux Orchestra
Franz Biebl (1906-2001)
Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae,
Et concepit de Spiritu sancto.
Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus.
Sancta Maria, ora pronobis
Nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae, Amen.
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Holy Mary, pray for us sinners,
Now, and in the hour of our death, Amen.
William J. Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)
arr. Mack Wilberg
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the heavens 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 by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.
Traditional English, 19th Century
arr. Tommee Proffitt
Ka'imiloa Ruberson, tenor
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel! Noel, Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made Heaven and Earth of naught
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel! Noel, Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
He is born, He is born!
The Son of God has come to dwell.
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Emmanuel!
He is born, He is born!
Hope for all, now, go and tell!
He has come to save the world!
We sing Noel!
Noel, Noel! Noel, Noel!
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Emmanuel!
Noel, Noel! Noel, Noel!
He has come to save the world!
We sing Noel, Noel!
Dan Forrest (b. 1978)
Green leaves all fallen, withered and dry;
Brief sunset fading, dim winter sky;
Lengthening shadows, dark closing in;
Then through the stillness, carols begin.
O fallen world, to you is the song!
Death holds you fast, and night tarries long.
Jesus is born, your curse to destroy;
Sweet to your ears, a carol of joy!
Pale moon ascending, solemn and slow;
Cold, barren hillside shrouded in snow.
Deep empty valley, veiled by the night:
Hear angel music, hopeful and bright.
O fearful world, to you is the song!
Peace with your God, and pardon for wrong.
Tidings for sinners, burdened and bound,
Carol of joy, a Saviour is found!
Earth wrapped in sorrow, lift up your eyes,
Thrill to the chorus filling the skies.
Look up, sad-hearted! Witness God's love;
Join in the carol swelling above!
O friendless world, to you is the song!
All heaven's joy to you may belong!
You who are lonely, laden, forlorn:
Now unto you, a Savior is born!
Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863)
arr. Dan Forrest
Zack Young, narrator
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
John F. Wade (c. 1711-1786)
arr. Mack Wilberg
O 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,
Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest:
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Son of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.