Programme 1997 – Choral Christmas

CHORAL
CHRISTMAS

NAPIER CIVIC CHOIR

WITH WOODFORD HOUSE CHAPEL CHOIR
NAPIER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL CHOIR
AND HAWKES BAY YOUTH ORCHESTRA

PERFORM

Saint Nicolas
A magnificent cantata by Benjamin Britten

Christmas Carols
A selection of popular Christmas favourites

conducted by Gary Bowler with
Hamish Morrison (tenor soloist)

ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL, NAPIER
7:30 pm, Wednesday, 10th December 1997

ADMISSION BY PROGRAMME
$15   ($5 students)

Napier Civic Choir is proudly sponsored by Napier Building Society

PROGRAMME

SAINT NICOLAS

(Bishop of Myra, Patron Saint of children, seaman & travellers)
A cantata with words by Eric Crozier and music by Benjamin Britten.

Nicolas was born at Patara in Asia Minor and died during the first half of the fourth century, having long served as Bishop of Myra, capital of his native country Lycia. He is the hero of many legends which are referred to in this cantata but few facts of his life are certain. In the Middle Ages four hundred churches were dedicated to his honour in England alone. St Nicolas is the Patron-Saint of Russia and Greece and is universally known to children in his disguise of “Santa Claus”.

Nicolas was born of wealthy parents and when they died he gave away all his wealth to charity. He went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land before returning to Myra as Bishop. Nicolas was imprisoned during the persecution of the church (303-311) and later was numbered among the many Bishops at the first great Church Council of Nicea where he challenged some of the heresies prevailing at the time. Most legends of Nicolas are concerned with his care of the poor and oppressed, and his power of appearing from great distances to rescue those who called on him.

This cantata was written for performance at the Centenary Celebrations of Lancing College, Sussex, in 1948, where it was sung by the combined choirs of three schools and one girls’ school providing the gallery choir.  This cantata has the following sections:

1.   Introduction
2.   The Birth of Nicolas
3.   Nicolas devotes himself to God
4.   He journeys to Palestine
5.   He comes to Myra and is chosen Bishop (concluding with the hymn “All people that on earth do dwell” for choir and audience)
6.   Nicolas from Prison
7.   Nicolas and the Pickled Boys
8.   His Piety and Marvellous Works
9.   The Death of Nicolas (finishing with the hymn for choir and audience “God moves in a mysterious way”.)

NAPIER CIVIC CHOIR

Leader of the Orchestra:   Daisy Chan
Orchestra includes:   Gretchen Anderson, Geordie Anderson, Tiffany Anderson, Lily Chan, Nick Craven, Dallas Knight, Jennifer Morette, Yvonne Stratford (Violins) Ammanda Cowan, Beth Robinson, Rebecca Martin (Violas) Dylan Lardelli, Anna Ross, Sarah Taylor, Catherine Wilson (Cellos)
Percussion:   Gene Crarer
Pianists:   Glenyss Still & Nan Tait
Organist:   Lester O’Brien

Napier Civic Choir wishes to publicly acknowledge the help of present and former members of the Hawkes Bay Youth Orchestra and the support of the principals of Woodford House (Miss Alison Thomson) and Napier Intermediate School (Mr John Shadbolt). This year the Hawkes Bay Youth Orchestra celebrates 50 years of continuous tuition and orchestral activity with a concert in the Hastings Municipal Theatre on Sunday 21st December 1997 at 2:30pm.

New Members are Always Welcome
Napier Civic Choir welcomes singers to join them for rehearsal at 7:30pm on Tuesday evenings at St Johns Cathedral Hall, Napier.  If you are interested please call Moyra Cox (President) phone 835-4472.

Acknowledgements
The choir acknowledges the support of the soloists and organist, and all those people who have assisted with the production of this recital, especially the Dean and Vestry of St John’s Cathedral, front-of-house staff, Cox Partner Estate Agents and Cox World Travel Holidaymakers.

Napier Civic Choir is proudly sponsored by Napier Building Society

INTERVAL

NAPIER CIVIC CHOIR
Three Carols –
The Virgin Mary had a baby boy – Trad. Trinidadian Carol
I wonder as I wander – Trad. Appalachian Carol
Far away, what splendour comes this way ?-
– Trad. Provencal Carol

NAPIER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL CHOIR (Conductor – Dean Roberts)
A selection of carols to be advised

NAPIER CIVIC CHOIR
Carols – Shepherd shake off your drowsy sleep – Trad. French Carol
Guillo, come and Robin too – Trad. Provencal Carol
Cowboy Carol – arr. Sargeant
We wish you a Merry Christmas – arr. Warrell
plus a selection of carols for choir and audience.

Please note the words of the cantata including the hymns for the audience and the words of the carols for the audience will be available at the door.

MEMBERS OF THE CHOIR

SOPRANOS:   Gay Appleman (Secretary), Clair Barrie, Anne Broadbent, Isobal Bluck, Betty Brooker, Nyree Charles, Lillian Chittenden, Moira Cox (President), Carole Crawford, Irma de Zylva, Jennifer Harris, Margaret Hay, Eleanor Holmes, Janine Kennedy, Elizabeth Malan, Maree Mear, Phyllis Spackman, Barbara Stewart, Christine Stratford, Margaret Thomas, Alison Thomson, Valerie Williams, Joy Wyatt, Desiree Yeoman

CONTRALTOS:   Shirley Bell, Gillian Buckley, Helen Heath, Shirley Hearn, Diane Hopson, Doris Jensen, Anetta Keys, Anne Lanigan, Elizabeth Mather, Barbara Morris, Elizabeth Murphy, Isobel O’Brien, Pamela Smith, Lynn Telenius, Helen Temple, Rose Ussher, Dulcie Weaver, Elizabeth Wellwood, Barbara Whincop, Helen Williams

TENORS:   Robin Barrand, Frank Bayford, Hans Jansen, Des Lanigan, Bruce McLeod, John Shadbolt, Margaret Sim, Earl Stevens

BASSES:   Colin Broadbent, Ray de Zylva, Frank Ennor, Ian Granger, John Kennedy, Bruce McConnochie, Deryck Olsen, Neville Pearce (Vice President), Mark Robertshaw, George Rogers, Jon Williams, Russell Wyatt, Ken Yates