UMS Concert Program, : St. Olaf Lutheran Choir --

TWENTY-THIRD SEASON
F. Melius Christiansen, Mus. D. Director
Paul G. Schmidt, Manager St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.
JANUARY,
1928
FEBRUARY,
1928
PROGRAM
PART I
1. Jesus, Priceless Treasure J. S. Bach, 1685-1750
(From the Motet)
Jesus, priceless treasure, Source of purest pleasure,
Truest friend to me: Ah, how long I've panted And my heart hath fainted,
Thirsting, Lord, for Thee. Thine I am, O spotless Lamb! I will suffer naught to hide Thee,
Naught I ask beside Thee.
So there is now no condemnation unto them which are in Jesus Christ; them who walk not by the flesh corruptly, but as the Spirit leads.
Death, death, I do not fear thee though thou standest near me.
Grave, grave, I calmly spurn thee though to dust thou turn me.
Strong in hope and faith, rising up and singing, I shall heavenward winging.
Soar, rising and singing I shall vanquish death, and with the blest shall forever
rest. He that reigns shall rend my chains. Earth may vanish, Heaven may sever, God
is God forever.
Ye are not of the flesh, but of the Spirit if in your hearts the Spirit abideth. If Jesus' Spirit be not yours, ye are not His.
Hence, all fear and sadness! For the Lord of gladness,
Jesus, enters in; Those who love the Father, Though the storms may gather,
Still have peace within; Yea, whate'er I here must bear, Thou art still my purest pleasure,
Jesus, priceless treasure.
St. Olaf Lutheran Choir
2. How Fair the Church of Christ Shall Stand
Shumann's Hymnbook, 1539
How fair the Church of Christ shall
stand,
A beacon-light in all the land, When love and faith all hearts inspire, And all unite in one desire To be as brothers, and agree To live in peace and unity.
'Tis all in vain that you profess The doctrines of the Church, unless You live according to your creed,
And show your faith by word and deed. Observe the rule: To others do As you would have them do to you.
O gracious God, wilt Thou my heart
So fashion in each secret part,
That Thou be sanctified in me,
Till Thee in heaven above I see,
Where holy, holy, holy, Lord,
We sing to Thee with sweet accord.
3. Go, Song of Mine.....Edward Elgar, 1857
Dishevelled and in tears, go, song of mine, To break the hardness of the heart of man:
Say how his life began
From dust, and in that dust doth sink supine: Yet, say, the unerring spirit of grief shall guide
His soul, being purified, To seek its Maker at the heavenly shrine.
PART II
4. Hosannah......F. Melius Christiansen
Hosannah! Hosannah to the living Lord! Hosannah! Hosannah to the incarnate Word! Hosannah! Hosannah in the highest. To Christ, Creator, King, let earth and heaven sing!
O Savior with protecting care, Return to this Thy house of prayer; O Savior assembled in Thy sacred name, Where we Thy parting promise claim. Hosannah! Hosannah!
5. May Our Mouths Be Filled With Thy Praise
Rachmaninoff, 1873
May our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, so that we may glorify Thy name. For Thou hast opened to us the wonders of Thy holy, heavenly, immortal and life-giving mysteries.
Remember us in Thy great holiness that we may meditate on Thy righteousness all through the day. Hallelujah!
St. Olaf Lutheran Choir
6. Salvation Is Created......Tschesnokoff
Salvation is created in midst of the earth, O God! Hallelujah!
7. From Heaven Above ... Georg Schumann, 1866
From heaven above to earth I come To bear good news to every home; Glad tidings of great joy I bring, Whereof I now will say and sing. Hosianna, Hosianna in excelsis!
To you this night is born a child Of Mary, chosen mother mild; This little child, of lowly birth, Shall be the joy of all the earth. Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis!
Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes! Who is it in yon manger lies Who is this child so young and fair The blessed Christ-child lieth there.
'Tis Christ, our God, who far on high Hath heard your sad and bitter cry;
Himself will your salvation be, Himself from sin will make you free. Hosianna, Hosianna in excelsis!
Ah, dearest Jesus, Holy Child, Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled, Within my heart, that it may be A quiet chamber kept for Thee.
My heart for very joy doth leap, My lips no more can silence keep; I, too, must raise with joyous tongue That sweetest ancient cradle song:
Glory to God in highest heav'n, Who unto man His Son hath giv'n. While angels sing with pious mirth A glad new year to all the earth. Hosianna, Hosianna in excelsis!
PART III The Morning Star .... Georg Schumann, 1866
The Morning Star upon us gleams; How full of grace and truth His beams,
How passing fair His splendor! Good Shepherd, David's proper heir, My King in heaven, Thou dost me bear Upon Thy bosom tender. Nearest, Dearest,
Highest, brightest, Thou delightest Still to love me, Thou, so high enthroned above me.
Thou, mighty Father, in Thy Son Didst love me, ere Thou hadst begun
This ancient world's foundation. Thy Son hath made a friend of me, And when in spirit Him I see
I've done with tribulation.
What bliss
Is this!
Where He liveth Me He giveth Life for ever; Nothing me from Him can sever.
Lift up the voice and strike the string, Let all glad sounds of music ring
In God's high praises blended. Christ will be with me all the way, Today, tomorrow, every day, Till traveling days be ended. Sing out, Ring out
Triumph glorious, O victorious, Chosen nation; Praise the God of your salvation.
St. Olaf Lutheran Choir 9. So Soberly.....Norwegian Folk Melody
So soberly and softly
The seasons tread their round,
So surely seeds of autumn
In spring-time clothe the ground,
Amid their measured music
What watchful ear can hear
God's voice amidst the garden
Yet hush! For He is here.
No mere machine is nature,
Wound up and left to play,
No wind-harp swept at random
By airs that idly stray;
A spirit sways the music,
A hand is on the chords,
O, bow thy head and listen,-That hand, it is the Lord's.
10. "Marienlied." Sacred Lullaby From the Spanish of Vega
Come ye who wander. See how He slumbers so lovely. Hold the branches! Calm ye the wind!
11. Wake, Awake for Night Is Flying Philip Nicolai, 1599
Wake, awake, for night is flying: The watchmen on the heights are crying,
Awake, Jerusalem, arise! Midnight's solemn hour is tolling, His chariot wheels are nearer rolling;
He comes; prepare, ye virgins wise. Rise up; with willing feet Go forth, the Bridegroom meet;
Hallelujah!
Bear through the night your welltrimmed light, Speed forth to join the marriage rite.
Hear Thy praise, O Lord, ascending From tongues of men and angels, blending
With harp and lute and psaltery. By Thy pearly gates in wonder We stand, and swell the voice of thunder,
In bursts of choral melody: No vision ever brought, No ear hath ever caught,
Such bliss and joy:
We raise the song, we swell the throng, To praise Thee ages all along.
Numbers 2, 4, 9 and 11 are by Dr. Christiansen and are published by
The Augsburg Publishing House
WRITE for Complete List of the St. Olaf Choir Series and other works by Prof. Christiansen. Our 36-page New Music Catalog and special 16-page List of Anthems for every Sunday in the Church Year, will also interest you.
Minneapolis,
425-429 South Fourth Street
Minnesota