Program Notes

In 1766, Haydn was promoted to Cappelmeister to the court of Prince Esterhazy and remained in that position until his death.  His duties included the composition and production of music.  Up to that time, Haydn had composed very little church music and it is thus explainable, on historical grounds, why church music begins to figure so prominently after 1766 in Haydn's oeuvre.

Joseph Haydn wrote the Salve Regina in 1771 for four soloists, solo organ, and strings.  We do not know for which occasion the work was written.  Suffice it to say that the beauty of the melody and the intricacy of the harmony make it a joy to perform.

Translation of the Salve Regina to English:

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy; hail, our life, our
sweetness and our hope.  To thee do we cry, poor
banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our
 sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of
mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto
us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.  O clement, O
loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

 

Antonio Vivaldi, one of the most celebrated composers and violin virtuosos of his age, was much admired and imitated by his contemporaries, Johann Sebastian Bach included.  And yet, immediately after his death, the man and his music were forgotten.  It was at the Vivaldi festival in Siena, Italy, in 1939 that the Gloria received its first modern performance.

Part of the Ordinary of the Mass, which included:  Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei, the text of this angelic hymn has been divided up into a large number of separate movements.  Each is given a distinctive vocal treatment, standing in sharp contrast to its neighbours through changes in key, mode, tempo, meter, and expressive content, and yet the whole held together and unified to become one of the most often performed works of the choral repertoire.

I Glory to God in the highest,
II And peace to His people on earth
III We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we adore Thee,
IV We give Thee thanks
V For Thy great glory.
VI O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty.
VII O Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten son.
VIII O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
IX Who takes away the sins of the world, receive our prayer
X Who is seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us
XI For Thou only art holy.  Thou only are the Lord.
Thou only art the most high, O Jesus Christ.
XII Together with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father.
Amen

The Kampana Handbell Choir performs regularly in concert, and they are often invited to play weddings, receptions, and in churches in the Sudbury area and beyond!

The ensemble consists of 11 women who have a varied musical experience.  They perform a varied repertoire on a 3-octave set of Schulmerich handbells.  Recently they have added three octaves of handchimes that bring new interest and variety to their programs.  The Kampana Bells is a charter member of the Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers and participates in the Guild's biennial Festival with choirs from Ontario, Quebec, and the Northern United States.

The Kampana Handbell Choir is directed by Sylvia Carscadden and members are:

Judith Aavisto
Janey Hall
Leslie King
Christine Lucciantonio
Sue Leblanc
Barbara Maki
Mardi Mumford
Anne Pile
Janet Villeneuve
Tricia Wright

You will notice that the Bel Canto Chorus has included a couple of selections from the second half of the program where bells figure rather prominently ..... and some lovely arrangements of a Christmas piece you probably don't know, Sleep Now My Little Child, and Gesu Bambino, which is very familiar

 

Biographies

Pamela Sabourin is in her first year at Laurentian University, majoring in Voice Performance and is presently studying with Marion Harvey.  She has been studying voice since she was eight and has since placed first in several Kiwanis festivals, won three scholarships from MusiCanada, as well as a scholarship from the Northern Ontario Music Festival.  She has been a member of several choirs, ensembles, and even music theatre productions, including her most recent performance as Eva Peron in Theatre Cambrian's concert version of Evita this past February.

Irmgard Hechler is currently completing her second year of music at Cambrian College, where she is a student of Marion Harvey.  She has sung in choirs since she was very young, and last Christmas, she was a member of the chorus in Amahl and the Night Visitors.  This past year in the Kiwanis Music Festival, Irmgard was the recipient of scholarships from the Bel Canto Chorus and The Sudbury Chamber Singers.  She is excited to be performing as soloist with the Bel Canto Chorus.

 

Program

Salve Regina Joseph Haydn
Gloria

Antonio Vivaldi

 

Pamela Sabourin, Soprano
Irmgard Hechler, Mezzo Soprano

 

I Gloria in excelsis Deo
II Et in terra pax
III Laudamus te
Duet
IV Gratias agimus tibi
V Propter magnam gloriam
VI Domine Deus
Soprano solo
VII Domine Fili unigenite
VIII Domine Deus, Aguns Dei
Alto solo with Chorus
IX Qui tollis peccata mundi
X Qui sedes
Alto solo
XI Quonium tu solus sanctus
XII Cum Sancto Spiritu

Intermission

Kampana Handbell Choir:

A Christmas Carillon Margaret Tucker
Do You Hear What I Hear? Regney/Shane arr. Hal Hopson
Sing We Now of Christmas arr. Kevin McChesney
Calypso Christmas arr. Kevin McChesney

Bel Canto Choir:

Sleep Now, My Little Child

Berta and Sonja Poorman

(incorporating The Virgin's Slumber Song by Max Reger)
Kling, Glöckchen, Kling Stephen Mager
Baby, It's Cold Outside Frank Loesser arr. Kirby Shaw
Jingle Bell Rock Joe Beal and Jim Booth arr. Teena Chinn
Gesu Bambino F. Martins and Pietro Yon arr. Roy Ringwald
 
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