SPECIAL THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT P.D.Q. BACH & OF THIS .

Each in its fancy seemsA nobler than the last.And every eve I say,Noting my step in bliss,That I have known no dayIn all my life like this.Robert Bridges (1844-1930)Ah, You’ve Come At LastAh, you’ve come at last, Spring!AnonymousOn This Plain of MistPeter SchickelePrologue — Interlude — Weeping Willows Kneel Here – EpilogueOhOn this plain of mist nothing but flat endlessness and red risingsunOhWeeping willows kneel here by the waterside mingling long greenhairOoJapanese HaikuAmazing Gracearr. Peter SchickeleAmazing grace, how sweet the sound,That saved a wretch like me.I once was lost but now am found,Was blind, but now I see.’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.And grace, my fears relieved.How precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believed.Through many dangers, toils and snaresI have already come;’Tis grace that brought me safe thus farAnd grace will lead me home.John Newton (1725-1807)Two Madrigals fromThe Triumphs of ThusneldaP.D.Q. Bach/Peter SchickeleThe Queen to Me a Royal Pain Doth GiveThe Queen to me a royal pain doth give,Yet were I so to say, I scarce would liveTo see the fair Thusnelda once again.A queen who reigns, yet keeps her powder dry,Must power use where love would best applyTo keep me from Thusnelda once again.Page 62014-2015 SeasonShe fancies me her lad, and so, alasShe bids me bide a while, her time to pass;But once her royal cup the Queen doth drain,The ruler by her servant, Sleep, is slain,And I to my Thusnelda fly again.My Bonnie Lass She SmellethMy bonnie lass she smelleth,Making the flowers jealouth.My bonnie lass dismayethMe; all that she doth sayith:My bonnie lass she looketh like a jewelAnd soundeth like a mule.My bonnie lass she walketh like a doeAnd talketh like a crow.My bonnie lass liketh to dance a-lot;She’s Guinevere and I’m Sir Lancelot.My bonnie lass I need not flatter;What she doth not have doth not matter.My bonnie lass is so fine;Oh, if she only were mine.Three Liebeslieder PolkasP.D.Q. Bach/Peter SchickeleThe Passionate Shepherd to His LoveCome live with me and be my love,And we will all the pleasures proveThat valleys, groves, hills, and fields,Woods, or steepy mountain yields.And we will sit upon the rocks,Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks,By shallow rivers to whose fallsMelodious birds sing madrigals.And I will make thee beds of rosesAnd a thousand fragrant posies,A cap of flowers, and a kirtleEmbroidered all with leaves of myrtle;A gown made of the finest woolWhich from our pretty lambs we pull;Fair lined slippers for the cold,With buckles of the purest gold;A belt of straw and ivy buds,With coral clasps and amber studs;And if these pleasures may thee move,Come live with me, and be my love.Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593)To the Virgins, to Make Much of TimeGather ye rosebuds while ye may,Old time is still a-flying;And this same flower that smiles todayTomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,The higher he’s a-getting,The sooner will his race be run,And nearer he’s to setting.Helen is a beauty, the fairest in the land;Maid Marian’s a groupie with the Robin Hood band;Godiva is a lady, as everyone can see,But who is Sylvia, what is she?That age is best which is the first,When youth and blood are warmer;But being spent, the worse, and worstTimes still succeed the former.Joanie is a martyr, and Lizzie is a queen;And Jezebel’s a no-no, if you know what I mean;Priscilla is a pilgrim, and Daphne is a tree,But who is Sylvia, what is she?Then be not coy, but use your time,And, while ye may, go marry;For, having lost but once your prime,You may forever tarry.Robert Herrick (1591-1674)Who is Sylvia? Who, me?Who is Sylvia,What is she gonna say when she sees me?Mi mi mi. Hey!P.D.Q. Bach/Peter SchickeleWho Is Sylvia?Birthday Ode to “Big Daddy” BachWho is Sylvia? what is she,That all our swains commend her?Holy, fair and wise is she;The heaven such grace did lend her,That she might admiréd be.Is she kind as she is fair?For beauty lives with kindness.Love doth to her eyes repair,To help him of his blindness,And being helped, inhabits there.Then to Sylvia let us sing,That Sylvia is excelling;She excels each mortal thingUpon the dull earth dwelling;To her let us garlands bring.William Shakespeare (1564-1616)P.D.Q. Bach/Peter SchickeleHoch soll er leben dreimal hoch! High may he flourish, three times high!If Daddy were alive today, this here is what we all would say:Though thirty-five years have come and gone since Daddy died, hisname lives on:When times are tough and things get bad, it’s nice to have a famous dad.His virtues were so plain to see, but still and all, no saint was he.Though he was good, I must confess to feelings of resentfulness.He taught us music, note by note, so we could copy what he wrote.His praise for me was always faint, now my stuff’s played, and hisstuff ain’t!Happy birthday, Dad!2014-2015 SeasonPage 7

BIOGRAPHIESPeter Schickele, composer,musician, author and satirist, isinternationally recognized as oneof the most versatile artists in thefield of music. His commissionsrange from works for the NationalSymphony and Minnesota Operato compositions for distinguished instrumentalistsand singers. Peter’s Symphony No. 1 “Songlines” waspremiered by the National Symphony under LeonardSlatkin, and has since been played by the New YorkPhilharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the SaintLouis Symphony Orchestra and others.UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAWIND ENSEMBLEThe University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble, led by Craig Kirchhoff, is madeup of 60 of the University’s finest graduate and undergraduate wind andpercussion musicians. This ensemble prepares a wide repertoire extendingfrom the music of Gabrieli through the hamoniemusik of Mozart, Krommer,and Beethoven, to the music of our time. The Wind Ensemble has enjoyed along association with composers Warren Benson, Michael Colgrass, LibbyLarsen, Stephen Paulus, Kevin Puts, Joseph Schwantner, Gunther Schuller,Eric Stokes, and conductors Frank Battisti, Keith Brion, and H. RobertReynolds. The University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble has been an activeparticipant in many commissioning consortiums that have resulted insignificant additions to the repertoire of the wind band.He arranged one of the musical segments for theDisney feature film Fantasia 2000 and created themusical score for the film version of Maurice Sendak’schildren’s classic “Where the Wild Things Are,” alongwith another Sendak classic “In the Night Kitchen”(Weston Woods), which he narrates.FluteHaley CramerEmily DoerderChia-Lin KoAnthony LaBatLauren McNeeJenifer MinorIn his well-known role as perpetrator of the oeuvre ofthe now classic P.D.Q. Bach, Peter is acknowledged asone of the great satirists of the 20th century. Vanguardhas released 11 albums of his works, and six have beenreleased by Telarc. Random House has publishedeleven editions of The Definitive Biography of P.D.Q.Bach, Theodore Presser has printed innumerablescores, and VideoArts International has produceda DVD of P.D.Q. Bach’s only full-length opera, TheAbduction of Figaro.OboeBrendon BushmanBryanne PresleyKelley TraczPreston WeberCraig Kirchhoff is professorof conducting and directorof university bands at theUniversity of Minnesota wherehe conducts the University WindEnsemble and guest conducts inthe University Opera Program.He coordinates the graduate program in windensemble/band conducting and guides all aspectsof the University of Minnesota wind band program.Born and educated in Wisconsin, Craig brings to hisposition a wide knowledge of both traditional andcontemporary literature. He has won critical acclaimfrom composers Warren Benson, Henry Brant, ElliottCarter, Michael Colgrass, John Corigliano, MichaelDaugherty, Karel Husa, Libby Larsen, George Perle,Vincent Persichetti, Carter Pann, Stephen Paulus,Kevin Puts, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Gunther Schuller,Joseph Schwantner, Steven Stucky, Elliott Schwartz,Frank Ticheli, Chen Yi and others.ClarinetEsther BaumgartnerJinyuer JiaoAnastasiya NyzkodubCarley OlsonLisa PerryAriel PryJennifer RunckLydia SadoffEric SchultzCraig has appeared as guest conductor, clinician, andlecturer throughout the United States, Australia,Canada, China, Japan, Taiwan, Europe, andScandinavia. He has guest conducted the Tokyo KoseiWind Orchestra and has recorded with them on theKosei Publishing label.BassoonAlexandra BerndtIan McMeekingEmma PlehalBrisa Sallum de PaulaSaxophoneTyler CessorBenjamin ColdDavid FranzelKurt HattenbergerDavid KahnCameron LongabaughJustin SalesKendra WheelerHornKyra ClappJessica CribbsAnn KezarSandor MikoTrumpetSpencer BrandMatt CarterDennis HawkinsNathan SeversonRyan StranskyDerek ThorsteinssonTromboneChris AllenIan GregoryDan HinmanEuphoniumSarah KeeneMarcus LockeTubaHenry DudleyRob MargolisCharles RenkPercussionEmily CurranMark EngelmannJeremy JohnstonAnthony PimentelErik ScheeDallas TuckerPianoSarah GallaherString BassMatthew McIntyreHarpAnn Fienupphoto Greg Helgeson2014-2015 SeasonPage 9

ABOUT VOCALESSENCEThe Mission of VocalEssenceAs a leading Minnesota arts organization,VocalEssence uses the power of choralmusic to enhance our community byproducing innovative vocal music eventsthat stir people’s souls.Minneapolis-based VocalEssence hasdecades of history as one of the world’spremier choral music organizations.Despite its global influence, VocalEssencehas kept its focus local—consistentlypioneering ways to strengthen Minnesota’scommunity through thrilling musicalexperiences. We engage people of all agesand cultures through innovative, enticingchoral music programming, such asperforming ensembles, school curricula,elder learning initiatives and advocacyprojects.Called “one of the irreplaceable musicensembles of our time” by Dana Gioia, pastchairman of the National Endowment forthe Arts, our two performing groups—theEnsemble Singers (32 professionals)and the VocalEssence Chorus (100volunteers)—are made up entirely of localresidents.VocalEssence is renowned for itsinnovative exploration of music for voicesand instruments under the enthusiasticdirection of Artistic Director andFounder Philip Brunelle. Each season,VocalEssence presents an eclectic seriesof concerts featuring the VocalEssenceChorus & Ensemble Singers and an arrayof guest soloists and instrumentalists.VocalEssence was founded in 1969 as thePlymouth Music Series, an arts outreachprogram of Plymouth CongregationalChurch in Minneapolis and incorporatedas a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit in 1979.In 2002, the Plymouth Music Serieschanged its name to VocalEssence,capturing the essence of its mission toexplore music for the human voice.In addition to championing lesser-knownworks of the past, VocalEssence hasan unwavering commitment to today’scomposers, which has resulted in morethan 160 world premieres to date. Theorganization has received the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for AdventurousProgramming of Contemporary Music sixtimes and has been honored with moreChorus America awards than any otherensemble nationwide, including the once-Page 102014-2015 Seasonin-an-organizational-lifetime MargaretHillis Achievement Award for ChoralExcellence.VocalEssence reaches into the communitywith programs that impact thousandsof students, singers and composersevery year. WITNESS celebrates thecontributions of African Americans and¡Cantaré! brings the talents of composersfrom Mexico into Minnesota classrooms.VocalEssence partners with AmericanComposers Forum to offer the annualWelcome Christmas Carol Contest.At VocalEssence, we believe when we singtogether, we succeed together. We inviteyou to be a part of it.Philip BrunelleArtistic Director andFounderPhilip Brunelle,artistic directorand founder ofVocalEssence, isan internationallyrenowned conductor, choral scholar andperformer. Believing that listeners andmusicians alike must experience musicof many genres and styles, he has workedenthusiastically—and tirelessly—toexpand audiences for rarely heard worksof the past and worthwhile new music.In addition, to date VocalEssence hascommissioned more than 160 works.Philip has conducted symphonies (NewYork Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony,and Minnesota Orchestra among others)as well as choral festivals and operason six continents. In the fall of 2014, heconducted Dominick Argento’s Postcardfrom Morocco at the Cape Town Opera inSouth Africa.Over the past decade Philip has beendeeply involved with the InternationalFederation for Choral Music (IFCM). Heserved as president of the Sixth WorldSymposium on Choral Music held inMinneapolis (2002), was on the ArtisticCommittee for the Eighth Symposiumheld in Denmark (2008), and the NinthSymposium held in Argentina (2011).For the 2017 Symposium he is servingas Executive Advisor to the ArtisticCommittee. Philip is a Vice President ofthe IFCM Board and served as ExecutiveDirector for the 2014 World Symposiumon Choral Music held in Seoul, SouthKorea. He is also Organist-Choirmasterat Plymouth Congregational Churchin Minneapolis.Philip holds five honorary doctorates(most recently from the University ofMinnesota School of Music), was investedas an Honorary Member of the Order(MBE) from the British Empire in 2005for his services to music, and Commanderof the Royal Norwegian Order of Meritin 2007. The governments of Sweden,Hungary, and Mexico have also honored him.Sigrid JohnsonAssociate ConductorAs the associateconductor ofVocalEssence,Sigrid Johnsonis affectionatelyknown as “Ears” forher unique skill in helping develop thechoral blend and balance that give theVocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singerstheir signature sound. She provides expertinput in the selection of repertoire andassists throughout the audition process.Her ability to achieve excellence in choralblend and intonation is a priceless asset toVocalEssence.Sigrid is a member of the voice and choralfaculty of St. Olaf College in Northfield,Minnesota, and the conductor of theManitou Singers, St. Olaf’s 100-voice firstyear women’s chorus. She maintains anactive schedule as a guest conductor andclinician at choral festivals, workshopsand all-state music festivals across thecountry. She is known internationallyfor her work with musicians at alllevels, having conducted workshops inAustralia, the Netherlands, Sweden andFinland. In August 2008, Sigrid was oneof the featured lecturers for the EighthWorld Symposium on Choral Music inCopenhagen; in 2011, she was featured atthe Ninth World Symposium in Argentina.Sigrid is active in the American ChoralDirector’s Association, the MusicEducator’s National Conference, theInternational Federation for ChoralMusic, and Chorus America.

Charles KemperAccompanistCharles Kemper,pianist, has taughtat St. Olaf College,NorthwesternCollege and BethelUniversity, and iscurrently organist for Calvary BaptistChurch in Roseville, Minnesota. A nativeof Houston, Texas, Charles made his debutwith the Houston Symphony at the age of17, playing Rachmaninoff’s Second PianoConcerto. He has earned several degrees inpiano performance, including a doctor ofmusical arts degree from Yale University.He has appeared as a soloist with the NewHaven Symphony, University of HoustonOrchestra, Yale Philharmonia, and theJacksonville Symphony. Charles has been theVocalEssence staff accompanist since 1993.VOCALESSENCE ENSEMBLE SINGERSMinnesota is home to one of the truly international gems in choral music—theVocalEssence Ensemble Singers. This 32-voice professional chorus is a beloved nationaltreasure that has been enjoyed by millions in Minnesota, around the country, and indeed,around the world. On their recent Asia Pacific Tour in August, the VocalEssence EnsembleSingers traveled to Seoul, South Korea, to perform at the 10th World Symposium on ChoralMusic, then continued on to Shanghai and Nanjing, China, for more concerts.The Ensemble Singers serve as the core of the larger VocalEssence Chorus, andreturning members of the Ensemble Singers audition every year. The Ensemble Singersare renowned internationally, nationally and locally. They were featured at the 50thAnniversary Celebration of the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesotaand at the National Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in Dallas,Texas, where they received standing ovations for their performances of music by Mexicancomposers. In December they were featured on A Prairie Home Companion and lastmonth they performed the Midwest premiere of Jake Heggie’s choral opera, The RadioHour, and were the headliner for the Organization of American Kodály EducatorsNational Conference.SOPRANOJennifer BevingtonAngela GrundstadAmanda InhoferMargaret SabinAnn L. SchrootenMari ScottCarolyn M. SteeleJoAnna SwantekALTORobin Joy HelgenMarita J. LinkJudith McClain MelanderAnna George MeekAnna MooyClara OsowskiErin PetersSandra SchoeneckerTENORKevin L. BaileyChase Daniel BurkhartAnders EckmanMichael FairbairnRobert J. GrahamCurtis KettlerJohn H. NotermannWilliam PedersonBASSEric BartlettSteven BurgerJoseph EllicksonRyan FrenchSeth KeetonRobert C. SmithJosiah TelschowVOCALESSENCE CHORUSVOCALESSENCE ENSEMBLE SINGERSVOCALESSENCE CHORUSThe VocalEssence Chorus is an exceptional group of talented, committed singers frommany walks of life: doctors, lawyers, nurses, educators, homemakers, business people,and others. Most have college level or higher training in classical music and voice. Chorusauditions are held every spring, and returning members of the Chorus re-audition everytwo years.SOPRANOAmanda AllenAnnaLisa AndersonBarbara AndersonStacey AthornHannah B. BoltMaria Therese DeutschJanelle DisrudJudy DrobeckKristina M. GuiffreKatie HenrichsenMeghan KaneAnika KildegaardJan KiltonKartra KohlHeidi LarsonJoy MacArthurAnna MaherJessica McMahanLaura OlsonChristina PedersonNadine SandersVickie Sanders DunnAnn M. SatherCheryl E. RobertsSaundersLeAnn SteinNaomi TaylorJennifer VickermanJennifer E. WallisSharon WilliamsALTOAkosua Obuo AddoAlanna Bach KuceraJo Michelle BeldRebecca BellmanJunette DaleSarah FinchamYvonne GroverAutumn GurgelDee HeinKatherine SchollHoliskyKristin HowlettSally JaffrayKirkja Anna JansonJeanne KavanaughJennifer KisnerJeenee LeeBenta LeMunyonSheri LieffringRebecca ModertKathryn MosimanKristi MuellerSamantha PhillippeBrandee PolsonMarty RaymondSigne ReistadCoral SampsonLaura TannerRuth TorkelsonCassandra WarnAndrea YoungCynthia L. YoutzLinda ZeligTENORSteve AggergaardMax AthornScott BergerRichard J. A.CedergrenLloyd ClausenNicholas MattssonNicholas MroczekJordan RaySpencer RudolfLuke SlivinskiBryan Oliver SmithRabindra TambyrajaBASSJohn R. HenrichThomas M. HollenhorstStephen KempRobert KomanieckiBenjamin KuceraJoshua LaGravePhilip LowryRobert MetzgerPaul L. NevinSheridan O’KeefeMilo Oien-RochatDavid OlsonJonathan PinkertonBrian D. RuhlWilliam B. SmaleTrent StenoienDwight S. WilliamsMichael Reid

Farewell, sweet heart, farewell, Sweet heart of mine, farewell. For I do love thee so, sweet May, That if my heart thou wert to see, In sooth, I know, of courtesy, Thou wouldst have pity on me this day, Thou wouldst have pity on me this day. Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.