Freudig Singers

Missing your share of the All-American Pie?

2011-12-03T10:31:00.009-05:00

It's a common problem in hard times: we fret that we are losing our share of the All-American Pie. We rail against fat cats and loud congressmen but as Raven says, "We may have lost the plot!" We expect the prez to make jobs happen while the grumpy old poopers shrink the guv they own and the chief execs, a la soviet, say, "Not yet!" or "Nyet!" What's the poor man to do?

We tell ourselves that life is not fair. That part is true, at least, but to think that lucre will answer our problems is the biggest problem of all and we know this. How to send your hopes down the tank? Ask someone else to put money in your bank.

We need spirit: the spirit of All - American Christmas Pie! Think like a patriot! Roll up your sleeves! Make your own work and let people see it! Remember the christ-mess and share the sound (not to mention the tart taste) of good-ness.

Join the meaty railroaders, the chirpy blacksmiths, the high-falutin' hawkers and the dusky virgins (um... question mark) this Sunday. Tomorrow!

Listen to Western New York's busiest musician describe the show by clicking here. Call 837-4552 for tickets.

Freudig Singers announce The All-American Christmas Pie Concerts of 2011

2011-11-14T16:00:00.012-05:00

Freudig Singers' upcoming concerts celebrate seasonal music of American composers of all ages, including two gorgeous debut pieces by Western New York's Martin J. Wimmer and by Sidney King of Kentucky.

Indefatigable director Roland E. Martin has compiled a selection of music, written entirely by American composers, to stir the patriot in you and color your cherished memories of Christmas.

Most exciting (like a new present!) is "Christmas Long Ago" by our ever-popular guest performer, Sidney King. This new piece is an indulgent reminiscence of childhood memories with Sidney's signature harmonies. Sidney will be visiting Buffalo for our concerts for the third Christmas Pie concert in a row with his magic double-bass and we are so grateful to him.

Equally, exquisitely, child-like is Martin J. Wimmer's brand new piece "All Is Quiet, All Are Sleeping." Marty's lush music is so simple and so direct that only the child in you (and the children around you!) will connect the rhythms that describe Christmas. Be sure to bring all the children in your life along. The patriotic theme of this Christmas Pie concert is augmented by a classic spiritual arranged by Gwyn Arch, "What Month Was Jesus Born In."

Also featured will be a beautiful piece, "Night of Dreams" by Valerie Showers Crescenz, an "Honorable Mention" composer in our 2nd Freudig Singers' Choral Composition Competition this year.

"A Virgin Unspotted" by the father of American choral music, William Billings, and "We Nations All, On You I Call" by William 'Singing Billy' Walker, South Carolina's 19th-century Baptist shaped-note music compiler, lend an Appalachian, "frontier" character to this concert. The patriotic theme of this Christmas Pie concert is augmented by a classic spiritual arranged by Gwyn Arch, "What Month Was Jesus Born In."

Other popular seasonal choices include favorites by Leo Nestor, James Pierpont, George Wyle and Eddie Pola, Felix Bernard, Vernon Hoyle and our favorite, ever-modest, music director Roland E. Martin.

As always, the Freudig Christmas Pie experience features singers' favorite pies for auction and a generous post-concert helping of all-american pie!

The All-American Christmas Pie Concerts will be held at St John's Grace Episcopal Church at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, 2nd December and at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. on Sunday, 4th December. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors/students at the door. Pre-sale tickets at $12/$10 are available by calling 667 - 7088.

Vesper Responsory

2011-11-14T10:38:00.001-05:00

Judah and Jerusalem, fear not, nor be dismayed;

Tomorrow go ye forth, and the Lord, He will be with you.

Stand ye still, and ye shall see the salvation of the Lord.

Tomorrow go ye forth, and the Lord, He will be with you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

Tomorrow go ye forth, and the Lord, He will be with you.

Words: II Chronicles 20:17

A Carol

2011-11-14T10:35:00.001-05:00

Sung by the Freudig Singers at The American Christmas Pie 2011

arranged Roland E Martin

Once for a shining hour, heav’n touched earth,

Hope was born anew, and peace reigned in the world.

Who Comes

2011-11-14T10:33:00.012-05:00

Written by living hymn-poet Brian Wren and composed by Leo Nestor

Sung by the Freudig Singers at The American Christmas Pie Concerts 2011

Who comes? A child, delivered on a stable floor.

His mewing, newborn cry is all that God can say

of hunger, thirst and aching need

where Jesus lives today.

Come, singing fire of truth, compassion, right,

and scorch our hardened apathy

till love is new and bright.

Who comes? A Jew declaiming from a prophet’s scroll.

His messianic cry is all that God can say

of freedom, health and saving hope

where Jesus lives today.

Come, singing breeze from worlds already, new.

Blow in and out of weary minds

till faith is singing too.

Who comes? A man, in dying moments on a cross.

his God-forsaken cry is all that God can say

of searching, scarred, redeeming love

where Jesus lives today.

Come, singing light from new creation’s dawn,

where trees of healing deck the streets

and joy is newly born.

A Virgin Unspotted

2011-11-14T10:33:00.011-05:00

Sung by the Freudig Singers in The American Christmas Pie 2011 Concerts

this traditional song is by William Billings, the father of American choral music

A virgin unspotted, the prophet foretold,

Should bring forth a Saviour, which now we behold,

To be our Redeemer from death, hell and sin,

Which Adam’s transgression involved us in.

Refrain:
Then let us be merry, put sorrow away;

Our Saviour, Christ Jesus, was born on this day.

Through Bethlehem city, in Jewry it was

That Joseph and Mary together did pass,

And for to be taxed when thither they came,

Since Caesar Augustus commanded the same.

But Mary’s full time being come, as we find,

She brought forth her first-born to save all mankind;

The inn being full, for this heavenly guest

No place there was found where to lay him to rest.

But Mary, blest Mary, so meek and so mild,

Soon wrapped up in swaddlings this heavenly Child;

Contented, she laid him where oxen do feed;

The great God of nature approved of the deed.

To teach us humility all this was done;

Then learn we from hence haughty pride for to shun;

A manger’s his cradle who came from above,

The great God of mercy, of peace and of love.

Then presently after, the shepherds did spy

Vast numbers of angels to stand in the sky;

So merrily talking, so sweet they did sing:

“All glory and praise to our heavenly King!”

Refrain: Then let us be merry, put sorrow away;

Our Saviour, Christ Jesus, was born on this day.

Ye Nations All, On You I Call

2011-11-14T10:32:00.004-05:00

Written by William "Singing Billy" Walker, American baptist song leader and compiler of four "shaped note" tunebooks. Sung by the Freudig Singers for The American Christmas Pie Concerts 2011

Ye nations all, on you I call: come hear this declaration,

And don’t refuse this glorious news of Jesus and salvation!

To royal Jews came first the news of Christ the great Messiah,

As was foretold by prophets old: Isaiah, Jeremiah.

To Abraham the promise came, and to his seed for ever,

A light to shine in Isaac’s line, by Scripture we discover.

Hail, promised morn! The Saviour’s born, the glorious Mediator -

God’s blessed Word, made flesh and blood, assumed the human nature.

His parents, poor in earthly store to entertain the stranger,

They found no bed to lay his head but in the ox’s manger;

No royal things, as used by kings, were seen by those that found him,

But in the hay the stranger lay, with swaddling bands around him.

On the same night a glorious light to shepherds there appeared;

Bright angels came in shining flame: they saw and greatly feared.

The angels said: “Be not afraid! Although we much alarm you,

We do appear good news to bear, as now we will inform you.

“The city’s name is Bethlehem, the which God hath appointed;

This glorious morn a Saviour’s born, for him God hath anointed.

By this you’ll know, if you will go to see this little stranger:

His lovely charms in Mary’s arms, both lying in a manger.”

When this was said, straightway was made a glorious sound from heaven;

Each flaming tongue an anthem sung: “To men a Saviour’s given!

In Jesus’ name, the glorious theme, we elevate our voices;

At Jesus’ birth be peace on earth; meanwhile all heav’n rejoices.”

Sing We the Virgin Mary

2011-11-14T02:05:00.000-05:00

Traditional arranged by John Jacob Niles. Sung by Freudig Singers for The American Christmas Pie Concerts 2011

Sing we the Virgin Mary,

Sing we that matchless one;

See how the angels attended her

When she birthed God’s own Son.

So silently came our Jesus

Unto his sweet Mary,

As dew of April falleth

On flower so tenderly.

When Jesus was a-borning,

To earth came heaven down,

To lie upon a manger,

Away in Bethlem’s town.

Ah, blessed Maiden Mother,

Be-known to prophecy:

Now Jesus is a-borned,

And all men knoweth thee.

Promise

2011-11-14T01:20:00.000-05:00

Words by ever-Freudig Peter Siedlecki. Music by Roland E. Martin. Sung by Freudig Singers for The American Pie Concerts 2011

No curtain had been drawn as yet

upon the whiteness of her youth

when that voice pierced the black night

to announce its ponderous and frightening truth:

that life would soon grow in her womb

like promised fruit to feed a waiting world.

She shook with dread, clutched at her breast and cried.

Then something like an early spring leaf, curled

in the expectation of its own wonder,

settled in her heart and she saw a light surround.

It entered her, showed in her eyes and fingertips.

She smiled softly and the earth made no sound.

What Month Was Jesus Born In

2011-11-14T01:05:00.000-05:00

American traditional spiritual, arranged by Gwyn Arch, sung by the Freudig Singers at The American Christmas Pie Concerts 2011

What month was Jesus born in? Last month of the year.

Refrain:

Oh, Lord, you got January, February, March,

Oh Lord, you got April, May and June.

You got July, August, September,

October and a November,

The twenty-fifth day of December.

You got last month of the year.

He was born of a virgin mother. Last month of the year.

He was laid in an oxen manger. Last month of the year.

His mother’s name was Mary. Last month of the year.

She wrapped Him in the swaddlin’. Last month of the year.

Night of Dreams

2011-11-14T01:00:00.000-05:00

Words adapted and music composed by living composer Valerie Showers Crescenz. Sung by Freudig Singers for The American Chrismas Pie Concerts 2011

That night when in the Judean skies

the mystic star dispensed its light,

a blind man moved in his sleep

and dreamed that he had sight.

That night when shepherds heard the song

of choirs of angels singing near,

a deaf man stirred in slumber’s spell

and dreamed that he could hear!

That night, a man in sickness lay,

and suff’ring more than words could tell

found refuge from his pain in sleep,

and dreamed that he was well.

That night, a man who was all alone

and friendless in this world of men

reached out and smiled in his sleep

and dreamed he had a friend.

That night while to His mother’s heart

the little King was held secure,

a sinner slept a happy sleep

and dreamed that he was pure!

That night when in the manger lay

the Son of God who came to save,

a man moved in the sleep of death

and dreamed there was no grave.

Chanticleer's Carol

2011-11-14T00:55:00.000-05:00

Words by William Austin. Music by Vernon Hoyle. Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009 and again for The American Christmas Pie Concerts 2011

All this night shrill chanticleer
Day's proclaiming trumpeteer
Claps his wings and loudly cries
Mortals, mortals, wake and rise!
See a wonder Heav'n is under
From the earth is ris'n a Sun
Shines all night though day be done

Wake O earth, wake ev'rything!
Wake and hear the joy I bring
Wake and joy for all this night
Heav'n and ev'ry twinkling light
All amazing
Still stand gazing
Angels, pow'rs and all that be
Wake, and joy this Sun to see

Hail O Sun O blessed light
Sent into the world aright
Let thy rays and heav'nly pow'rs
Shine in these dark souls of ours
For most duly
Thou art truly
God and man we do confess
Hail O Sun of Righteousness!

O Magnum Mysterium

2011-11-14T00:50:00.000-05:00

Traditional words set to music by Peter Mathews, sung by the Freudig Singers for The American Christmas Pie Concerts 2011

O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum,

Ut animalia Dominum natum, jacentem in praesepio!

Beata Virgo cujus viscera meruerunt portare

Dominum Christum. Alleluia!

Translation:
O great mystery and wondrous sacrament

that the animals should see our Lord born in a manger!

Blessed be the virgin whose womb was worthy to bear

our Lord Christ. Alleluia!

Santa Baby

2011-11-14T00:45:00.001-05:00

Music by Joan Javits, Phil Springer, Tony Springer. Sung by Freudig Singers at The American Christmas Pie 2011.

Mister “Claus”, I feel as tho’ I know ya,

So you won’t mind if I should get familya, will ya?

Santa Baby, just slip a sable under the tree for me.

Been an awful good girl Santa Baby,

So hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa Baby, a fifty-four convertible, too, light blue.

I’ll wait up for you dear Santa Baby,

So hurry down the chimney tonight.

Think of all the fun I’ve missed.

Think of all the fellas that I haven’t kissed.

Next year I could be just as good

if you check off my Christmas list.

Santa Baby, I want a yacht and really that’s not a lot.

Been an angel all year Santa Baby,

So hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa Baby, one little thing I really do need; the deed

to a platinum mine Santa honey,

So hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex and cheques.

Sign your X on the line Santa cutie,

and hurry down the chimney tonight.

Come and trim my Christmas tree

with some decorations bought at Tiffany.

I really do believe in you.

Let’s see if you believe in me.

Santa Baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring!

I don’t mean on a phone, Santa Baby,

So hurry down the chimney tonight.

The One Horse Open Sleigh

2011-11-14T00:40:00.000-05:00

A parlor song by James Pierpont, this original was sung by the Freudig Singers for The American Christmas Pie Concerts 2011 (and several times before that!)

Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh,

O’er the hills we go, laughing all the way;

Bells on bobtail ring, making spirits bright;

Oh, what sport to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.

Refrain: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way;

Oh! What joy it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh!

A day or two ago I thought I’d take a ride,

And soon Miss Fannie Bright was seated by my side,

The horse was lean and lank; misfortune seemed his lot.

He got into a drifted bank and we, we got upsot.

A day or two ago (the story I must tell),

I went out on the snow and on my back I fell.

A gent was riding by in a one horse open sleigh;

He laughed as there I sprawling lie, but quickly drove away.

Now the ground is white, go it while you’re young;

Take the girls tonight and sing this sleighing song.

Just get a bobtail bay, two forty as his speed:

Hitch him to an open sleigh and crack! You’ll take the lead.

I Wonder as I Wander

2011-11-14T00:35:00.001-05:00

Sung by the Freudig Singers at The American Christmas Pie 2011 concerts
with special thanks to Sidney King

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
For poor ordinary people like you and like I

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all
But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall
And the promise of ages it then did recall

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
A star in the heaven or a bird on the wing
Or all of God's angels in heaven to sing
He surely could have it , ' cause he was the King
I wonder as I wander
I wonder, I wander out under the sky

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
For poor ordinary people like you and like I

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

origin Appalachian folk song documented by John Jacob Niles
arranged Sidney King 2009

Coventry Carol

2011-11-14T00:30:00.000-05:00

Traditional arranged by Sidney King. Sung by Freudig Singers for Christmas Pie 2009 and for The American Christmas Pie 2011 Concerts

Lully lullay
thou little tiny child
by by lully lullay

Oh sister too
how may we do
for to preserve this day
this poor youngling
for whom we sing
by by lully lullay

Herod the king
in his raging
charged he hath this day
his men of might
in his own sight
all young children to slay
lully lullay
thou little tiny child
by by lully lullay

That woe is me
poor child for thee
and ever morn and day
for thy parting
neither say nor sing
by by lully lullay

Christmas Long Ago

2011-11-14T00:25:00.000-05:00

Words, with nostalgia, and music by Sidney King. This brand new piece was sung by Freudig Singers for The American Christmas Pie Concerts 2011.

Frosty days and ice still nights,

Fir trees trimmed with tiny lights,

Sound of sleigh bells in the snow,

That was Christmas long ago.

Footsteps stealthy on the stair,

Sweet-voiced carols in the air,

Stockings hanging in a row,

Tell of Christmas long ago.

Refrain: Each Christmas finds me longing

For Christmases past,

And I am back in childhood

As long as memories last.

Tykes on sleds and shouts of glee,

Icy window filigree,

Sugarplums and candle glow,

Part of Christmas long ago.

Each Christmas finds me dreaming

Of days that used to be

When we hid presents here and there

For all the family.

These days can oft leave me wanting

To see as children do;

A time of hope and wonder,

A wonder I share with you!

Starry nights so still and blue,

Good friends calling out to you,

Life, so fast, will always slow

for dreams of Christmas long ago.

Star in the East

2011-11-14T00:20:00.000-05:00

Words by Reginald Heber. Music by Sidney King, Sung by Freudig Singers for The American Christmas Pie Concerts 2011

Hail the blest morn, see the great Mediator,

Down from the regions of glory descend!

Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger,

Lo, for his guard the bright angels attend.

Refrain:
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,

Shine/dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;

Star in the east, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining;

Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall;

Angels adore Him, in slumbers reclining,

Wise men and shepherds before Him do fall.

Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,

Odours of Edom and off’rings divine?

Gems from the mountains, and pearls from the ocean,

Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation;

Vainly with gold we His favor secure;

Richer by far is the heart’s adoration;

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Winter Wonderland

2011-11-14T00:15:00.000-05:00

Words: Richard Smith. Music: Felix Bernard arranged by Roland E. Martin. Sung by Freudig Singers for The American Pie Concerts 2011

Over the ground lies a mantle of white,

A heaven of diamonds shine down thru the night,

Two hearts are thrillin’ in spite of the chill in the weather.

Love knows no season, love knows no clime,

Romance can blossom any old time,

Here in the open, we’re walkin’ and hopin’ together!

Sleighbells ring, are you list’nin’?

In the lane, snow is glist’nin’,

A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight,

Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland!

Gone away is the bluebird,

Here to stay is a new bird,

He sings a love song, as we go along,

Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland!

In the meadow we can build a snowman,

Then pretend that he is Parson Brown;

He’ll say, “Are you married?” We’ll say, “No, man!

But you can do the job when you’re in town!”

Later on, we’ll conspire, as we dream by the fire,

To face unafraid, the plans that we made,

Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland!

All Is Quiet, All Are Sleeping

2011-11-14T00:10:00.001-05:00

Words and music by living, Western New York composer Martin J. Wimmer. This brand new piece was sung for the first time by Freudig Singers at The American Chistmas Pie Concerts 2011.

Refrain:

All is quiet, all are sleeping.

No one worried, no one weeping.

Goodness, kindness, in the air,

Caring, sharing, hear my prayer.

All is quiet, all are sleeping.

No one worried, no one weeping.

Free us Lord, from our cares

on this Christmas Eve.

Lift us up from on High.

Lead us to your Light.

Baby boy brings us joy

on this Christmas Eve.

Lift us up from on High.

Lead us to your Light.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-11-14T00:05:00.000-05:00

Music by George Wyle & Eddie Pola, arranged by Bob Krogstad. Sung by Freudig Singers for The American Christmas Pie 2011

Christmas! Merry, merry Christmas!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

With the kids jingle-belling

and ev’ryone telling you, “Be of good cheer!”

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

It’s the hap-, happiest season of all!

With those holiday greetings

and gay, happy meetings

when friends come to call.

It’s the hap-, happiest season of all!

There’ll be parties for hosting,

marshmallows for toasting

and caroling out in the snow;

There’ll be scary ghost stories

and tales of the glories

of Christmases long, long ago.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

There’ll be much mistletoeing

and hearts will be glowing

when loved ones are near,

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Will your Christmas Pie be All - American?

2011-11-14T00:01:00.002-05:00

Are you ready for Christmas, patriot? I'm not talking about giving thanks for black retail therapy. Nope, I mean neither twinkly lights on dead trees nor deals on electric tchotchkies from far away. I'm referring to your spirit! Your mood! It's a rough world out there... how will you regenerate your soul in time to cope?

Let's get ready for All-American Christmas Pie!

The answer stands ahead of the routine on your calendar: An All-American Christmas Pie by the Freudig Singers! Imagine hawkers, blacksmiths and railroaders, sleeves rolled up, hoisting, "Ye Nations All, On You I Call" above the fray of your life. Listen carefully and you may hear Virgins Unspotted too, for the antidote to ill wind is no mystery, "Then let us be merry, put sorrow away; our Saviour Christ Jesus was born on this day!" These songs date back to early 19th century America. Probably earlier is the fun spiritual, "What month was Jesus born in?" arranged by veteran English choral musician Gwyn Arch.

But the Freudig Singers are a relentlessly modern force in choral music. Treat your spirit to lullabies, teary sighs and custom pies. Buffalo broadcasting star Marty Wimmer has written us with a fresh soothing lullaby chant, so we debut "All is Quiet, All are Sleeping" to awake the child in you. Ever effervescent Ron Martin, in addition to assembling this festive program, contributes, "A Carol" to get your attention for heaven has touched earth."Night of Dreams is a gorgeous, gorgeous reverie by Valerie Crescenz of Philadelphia, PA. Not least hear four lush, n.a.d.e.i.t.h.* melodies of Kentucky composer Sidney King, including the debut of "Christmas Long Ago" completed this November 2011. To be Freudig is to just love Sidney and his magic double-bass and, this year, we plan to welcome his new bride, Evelyn Loehrlein and her handmade, wooden flute.

Why do we print all the lyrics of our songs and post them on our website? Long after the sounds of our singing fade in your memory the lyricism of our poetry will remind you that heaven is, after all, just around the corner. If heaven is more than you bargained for, will you settle for some patriotic, All-American Christmas Pie?

Visit Freudig Singers dot org or facebook "Freudig" to learn more. Call 716-837-4552 to book seats in advance and save $$$.

* not a dry eye in the house

p.s. waddayamean you have no $$$. Don't let that stop you getting into the spirit.

Here's to the Music (that Makes You Tingle)

2011-10-28T08:49:00.007-04:00

Did you ever fill with emotion so that your whole body shudders in one uncontrolled jerk and your skin tingles? It's a delicious feeling, isn't it? Do you remember it? Indescribable. Unforgettable. Rare. Peculiar. Pleasurable. Special.

It could be yours! Freudig Singers sing extraordinary music tomorrow evening, 29 October 2011, for our 2nd “Composition Competition” show in two years called, “Here's to the Music!”

Our famous director, Roland E. Martin has combined fresh music, written by living, fleshy composers, that will so move you that you'll wish you'd brought your mom! Of these, my favorite is by Steve Danyew, “An Hour of Hallowed Peace” based on the writing of William Bingham Tappan, a Massachusetts clock-maker and evangelist. It's a simple, lush, Southern harmony that builds and swells to fill the idyllic theme of Tappan's poetry then recedes just as smoothly to a restful conclusion.

How does music paint a picture? In “Adirondack Day,” Valerie Crescenz has painted three diurnal songs set to Nadine McLaughlin's poetry. This composition will answer the question for you... “Think Copeland!” was the injunction of our music director. Yes, the fanfare works for the beginning of the day but what else is to come?

Peace and harmony not quite the fit for your crusading style? Perhaps the Gospel romp “Samson” by Jeffrey Cobb will fire you up! Jeffrey has crafted a seductive, spiritual, biblical epic, with several musical chapters, that will make you tap your feet and transport you to a Hollywood movie set in a moment! Victor Mature, where are you! You must be in the room somewhere!

Finally, our 2011 Composition Competition winner, "Here's to the Music" by Massachusetts composer Steve Murray. Melody! Harmony! Rhythm! Music, yeah! This is a toast hatched in a pub after a music practice, Steve Murray writes. Be sure of this: whatever darkness and despair lurk in the depths of your soul, they will be dispelled by this song! If you must celebrate music, or if you like music, or if you have ever heard music, or if you are a man or a woman, you probably should head to Buff Sem on Saturday, October 29.

Of course, our show will also feature gorgeous, evocative and thoroughly patriotic songs by Western New York composers Marty Wimmer, Persis Parshall Vehar and own director, the indefatiguable, ever creative Roland E. Martin.

Reserve your ticket at $12 ($10 for seniors and students) by calling Elizabeth at 716-667-7088 to book your tingle or pay $15 on the night ($13 for seniors and students) at Buffalo Seminary on Bidwell Parkway from 6:30 p.m. onwards. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Of course there will be cider and cookies afterwards and we think you may get to meet several stellar, creative composers. Here's to the Music! Yeah!

Here's to the Music: Freudig Singers announce first concert of 2011-2012 season

2011-09-15T05:56:00.005-04:00

Freudig Singers of Western New York, having concluded a 2nd Composition Competition within two years, announce a concert filled with fabulous, recently composed choral pieces to be held at Buffalo Seminary at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 29th, 2011.

Headlining the show is "Here's to the Music" by Massachusetts composer, Steve Murray, the winning entry in our competition this year. It's a celebratory toast to the beauty of music and those who sing it, bring it and shape it.

Also featured will be honorable mentions from the competition: "An Adirondack Day" by Valerie Showers Crescenz of Pennsylvania, "The Everlasting Voices" by Ivan Bozicevic of Croatia and "Samson", by Jeffrey Cobb of Michigan, a rousing, Gospel instant classic based on the Biblical account and much mythical folklore besides.

These pieces, together with three pieces by local composers Roland E. Martin, Persis Parshall Vehar and Marty Wimmer, give testament to the Freudig Singers leadership by continued innovation and creativity in the broad choral arts community of Western New York.

"Here's to the Music" promises a sampling of extraordinary lyricism combined with authentic Americanism in a suite that will have you put your hand on your heart and your handkerchief to your eye. Who else but the Freudig Singers could bring you to such fervor?

Tickets are $15 for adults/$13 for students or seniors and are available at the door. Obtain Presale tickets at $12/$10 and Group Discounts by calling 667-7088. (More details about our repertoire are available by visiting the www.freudigsingers.org.) Seating is limited and presale reservations are highly recommended.

Freudig Singers of Western New York to Hold Auditions

2011-08-09T15:22:00.001-04:00

The Freudig Singers of Western New York will hold auditions for all voice parts on Monday, August 15 in the sanctuary of St. James United Church of Christ, 76 Main Street in Hamburg, New York, and again Monday, August 29 in the choir room of St. Joseph’s University Church, 3269 Main Street in Buffalo. For both dates auditions will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Singers will be auditioned on a first-come, first heard basis and should bring a prepared piece of vocal music with them.

The Freudig Singers is an auditioned professional caliber chamber ensemble presenting both standard repertoire and contemporary choral literature. Call 667-7088 for questions regarding auditions.

Winners of Second Choral Composition Competition

2011-06-12T17:42:00.001-04:00

The Freudig Singers of Western New York Announce Winners of Second Choral Composition Competition

Buffalo, New York, June 12, 2011: The Freudig Singers of Western New York, directed by Roland E. Martin, recently launched the Second Freudig Singers Choral Composition Competition. Composers were invited to submit original compositions arranged for four-part choir. A total of sixty-three works were submitted from around the world - three continents, eight countries and 21 states in the US.

The three-member jury consisted of published composers Roland E. Martin, Director of the Freudig Singers, Persis Vehar, Canisius College Composer-in-Residence, and Martin J. Wimmer, Depew Public Schools Music Teacher, Radio Host Classical 94.5/WNED, and Competition Coordinator. Wimmer states, “We’re thrilled that we can offer this amazing opportunity to composers, performers and our beloved audience members, and we hope that our competition will grow with each passing year.”

The first prize winner will receive $1,000 and the work will be performed and recorded during the 2011-12 concert season. Three additional works were named “Honorable Mention” and will also be performed and recorded during the season.

###

FIRST PRIZE WINNER

Here’s to the Music - Steve Murray (Massachusetts)

###

HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order)

The Everlasting Voices - Ivan Bozicevic (Croatia)

Sunrise - Valerie Showers Crescenz (Pennsylvania)

Samson - Jeffrey Cobb (Michigan)

###

Freudig Singers announce the last concerts of the 27th Season: Music of the Ages

2011-04-19T09:22:00.003-04:00

Freudig Singers revive the will to live with Favorites from Stage and Screen, the final concert of their 27th year to be held on Friday, May 6th at Blessed Trinity Church and May 8th at MusicalFare Theatre.

Directed by Roland E. Martin, Favorites from Stage and Screen will include songs penned by Charles Strouse, Richard Rodgers, John Kander, Stephen Schwartz, Sir Elton John and Irving Berlin, among others. Discover how nothing will bring on a glow like our new arrangements of Applause, I Love Lucy, and All That Jazz.

Freudig Singers receive requests to perform popular hits all of the time. The Freudigs will get under your skin in the still of the night and do something to your heart with audience-requested songs of love by Cole Porter. By popular demand, included for the first time are various offerings by Disney's Alan Menken, lushly arranged for four-part choir by Freudig's own Roland E. Martin, from Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The freudig ladies will wow you with a rendition of a 1963 classic popularized by the Chiffons, and what all-request show would be complete without our signature tune, How Did I Find You? by Buffalo composer John Burke Armesto.

Join the Freudig Singers for the Favorites from Stage and Screen concert at Blessed Trinity on Leroy Avenue in Buffalo, NY at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 6th and at MusicalFare Theatre on Daemen Campus at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 8th.

Tickets cost $12 on pre-sale ($10 for seniors and students) and $15 on the night ($13 for seniors and students.) Group discounts are available. Call Elizabeth at 716-667-7088 to book your antidote to the winter doldrums and be prepared to tell her your favorites to guide next year's repertoire.

###

Elizabeth Sands
Chairwoman, Board of Directors
Freudig Singers of Western New York
P.O.Box #1103
Orchard Park, NY 14127-8103

Check out Music for the Ages
www.freudigsingers.org

Freudig Singers announce 2nd Choral Composition Competition

2011-04-18T07:42:00.000-04:00

Opportunity Detail:
The Freudig Singers of Western New York $$$

Application Deadline: 4/30/2011
Seeks unpublished works for mixed chorus. Cash prize, performances and possible professional recording.

Details
The Freudig Singers of Western New York is an auditioned, professional caliber chamber ensemble dedicated to broadening the musical experience of the people of Western New York by providing quality choral performances. We present the standard choral literature as well as music of contemporary composers. From our inception in 1984 under founder Dr. Kathleen Keenan-Takagi and continuing under the leadership of Roland E. Martin, we have focused on the education and enrichment of our audience and concert partners, offering concerts in a variety of venues around Western New York incorporating area children's choirs, exceptional high school choristers and the area's finest instrumentalists. "Freudig" means “joyful” in German.

Eligibility
No age restrictions.

Awards
The winner will receive $1000 and will have his/her work performed and possibly recorded professionally. Works should be for mixed chorus (mostly SATB) with piano or organ accompaniment, or a cappella. Please note that any work with a protected text must be accompanied by a letter of permission from the publisher, poet or author. Also note that the jury reserves the right to make no award and to change the number of award winners depending on the quality of the music submitted. The winner retains all rights to his/her work.

Submissions
Three hard copies of each piece with composer’s name and identifying information removed.
Limit: three pieces per composer.
A letter including contact information (name, address, phone number, email), performance history of each work and program notes by the composer.
A brief composer biography.
Recordings of music, if available (MIDI realizations are acceptable.)
Send only copies of all materials. Do not send originals as no materials will be returned.
Administrative Fee: $20 per piece.
Checks to “The Freudig Singers of Western New York”
Materials must be postmarked by April 30, 2011.
Send all materials to:
Martin J. Wimmer, Freudig Singers Competition Coordinator
482 Linwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209

Questions?
Contact: MJWimmer@aol.com (Martin J. Wimmer is a member of the American Composers Forum)

Comments?
Comments on the Competition or the Freudig Singers? Click the Comments link below.

MARCH MAD-rigal-NESS

2011-03-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

Freudig Singers announce a jolly, innovative programme for their March Mad-rigal-ness Concert to be held on Saturday, March 5th at St John's Grace Episcopal Church.

Inspired by the medievally-motivated Roland E. Martin, March Mad-rigal-ness includes songs of love, lust and loss opening, naturally, with "Pastyme with Good Company" by Henry VIII. The theme continues with songs by Morley, Farmer, Dowland, Bennet and Josquin Des Pres.

March Mad-rigal-ness digs in an earthy humour with onomatopoetic songs of barnyard animals and crickets and odes to beer and ale to which Ben Franklin would have, surely, replied,"Hale!" There are songs of royal turpitude by PDQ Bach, "The Queen to Me a Royal Pain Doth Give," and what medieval show would be complete without the colourful graphic, "Long Live the King!" (Not!)

It's true: the winter can only so much darkness bring so we finish this show with songs of spring by Thomas Morley and our Annual Freudig Singers' Choral Composition Competition winners Brian Holmes and Mark Dal Porto.

March-madrigal-ness is a potent concoction to fill your heart with gratitude and cheer at the lowest time of year. This choir, in its 27th year and recording CDs three times a year, continues to boost the rich heritage of choral music in Western New York with music of extra-ordinary value and unmatched breadth and depth of creativity.

Join the Freudig Singers' March Mad-rigal-ness Concert at St John's Grace Episcopal Church on Colonial Circle in Buffalo, NY at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 5th.

Tickets cost $12 on pre-sale ($10 for seniors and students) and $15 on the night ($13 for seniors and students.) Call Elizabeth at 716-667-7088 to book your antidote to the winter doldrums.

Pastyme with good company

2011-03-02T08:10:00.002-05:00

Pastyme with good company,
I love and shall until I die.
Grudge who lust but none denye,
so God be pleased thus live will I.
For my pastance, hunt, sing and dance,
My heart is set
All goodly sport, for my comfort,
who shall me let.

Youthe must have sum daliance,
off good or ill some pastance.
Company me thinks then best
all thoughts and fancies to digest.
For idelnes, is chief mistress of vices all
Then who can say
but mirth and play
is best of all.

Company with honesty,
is virtu, vices to flee.
Company is good and ill,
but every man hath his free will.
The best ensue,
the worst eschew,
my mind shall be.
Vertu to use,
vice to refuse,
thus shall I use me.

Henry VIII

Sing We and Chant It

2011-03-02T08:09:00.001-05:00

Sing we and chant it
while love doth grant it.
Fa la la...

All things invite us
now to delight us.
Fa la la...

Not long youth lasteth,
and old age hasteth.
Now is best leisure
to take our pleasure.
Fa la la...

Hence, care be packing!
No mirth be lacking!
Let spare no treasure
to live in pleasure.
Fa la la...

music by Thomas Morley

Fair Phyllis I Saw

2011-03-02T08:08:00.001-05:00

Fair Phyllis I saw sitting all alone,
feeding her flock near to the mountainside.

The shepherds knew not,
they knew not wither she was gone,
but after all her lover Amyntus hied.

Up and down he wandered,
Up and down he wandered...
Whilst she was missing;

When he found her,
O, then they fell a-kissing, a-kissing,
O, then they fell a-kissing...

music by John Farmer

Come Again

2011-03-02T08:06:00.001-05:00

Come again, sweet love doth now invite
thy graces that refrain
to do me due delight,
To see, to hear, to touch, to kiss,
to die with thee again
in sweetest sympathy.

Come again, that I may cease to mourn
through thy unkind disdain;
For now left and forlorn,
I sit, I sigh, I weep, I faint,
I die in deadly pain
and endless misery.

Gentle love, draw forth thy wounding dart:
Thou canst not pierce her heart;
For I that do approve
by sighs and tears more hot than are thy shafts
did tempt while she for scanty triumphs laughs.

music by John Dowland

Flow My Tears

2011-03-02T08:05:00.001-05:00

Flow my tears
fall from your springs,
exil’d forever let me mourn:
Where night’s black bird
her sad infamy sings,
there let me live forlorn.

Down vain lights
shine you no more,
No nights are dark enough for those
that in despair their last fortunes deplore,
light doth but shame disclose.

Never may my woes be relieved,
since pity is fled,
And tears, and sighs, and groans
my weary days
of all joys have deprived.

From the highest spire of contentment,
my fortune is thrown,
And fear, and grief, and pain
for my deserts,
are my hopes since hope is gone.

Hark you shadows that in darkness dwell,
learn to contemn light,
Happy, happy they that in hell
feel not the world’s despite.

music by John Dowland

Weep, O mine eyes

2011-03-02T08:04:00.001-05:00

Weep, O mine eyes,
and cease not,
Alas, these your spring tides
methinks increase not.
O when begin you to swell so high
that I may drown me in you?

music by John Bennet

Mille Regretz

2011-03-02T08:03:00.001-05:00

Mille regetz de vous habandonner
et d’eslonger vostre fache amoureuse.
J’ay si grand dueil et paine douloreuse
Qu’on me verra brief mes jours deffiner.

(A thousand regrets at deseting you,
And leaving behind your loving face.
I feel so much sadness and such painful distress,
That it seems to me my days will soon dwindle away.)

music by Josquin Des Pres

The Silver Swan

2011-03-02T08:02:00.001-05:00

The silver swan who living had no note,
when death approached
unlocked her silent throat;
Leaning her breast against the reedy shore
thus sung her first and last,
and sung no more.

Farewell, all joys;
Oh death, come close my eyes;
More geese than swans now live,
more fools than wise.

music by Orlando Gibbons

El Grillo

2011-03-02T08:01:00.001-05:00

El grillo, el grillo `e buon cantore
che tiene longo verso.
Dalle beve, grillo, canta...

Ma non fa come gli altri uccelli:
Come le han cantato un poco,
Van’ de fatto in altro loco,
Sempre el grillo sta pulsando.

Quando la maggior el caldo
Allor canta dol per amore.

El grillo, el grillo `e buon cantore
che tiene longo verso.

words and music by Josquin des Pres

Contraponto bestiale alle mento

2011-03-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

Fa la la...

Nulla fides gobbis similiter est zoppis, (Cu-cu cu-cu....chiu chiu...
si squerzus bonus, bonus ist, miau miau...Babau babau...)
super annalia scribe.

Fa la la...

words and music by Adriano Banchieri

The Queen to Me a Royal Pain Doth Give

2011-03-02T07:58:00.001-05:00

The Queen to me a royal pain doth give.
Yet were I so to say, I scarce would live
to see the fair Thusnelda once again,
Oy vey, oy vey...

A Queen who reigns,
yet keeps her powder dry,
Must power use
where love would best apply
to keep me from Thusnelda once again.
Oy vey, oy vey...

She fancies me her lad
and so, alas, she bids me bide awhile
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.
Oy vey, oy vey...

words and music by PDQ Bach

My Bonnie Lass She Smelleth

2011-03-02T07:57:00.001-05:00

My bonnie lass she smelleth,
making the flowers jealouth.
Fa la la...

My bonnie lass dismayeth
Me, all that she doth sayith.
Fa la la...

My bonnie lass she looketh like a jewel,
and soundeth like a mule.

My bonnie lass she walketh like a doe,
and talketh like a crow.
Fa la la...la dee da.

My bonnie lass liketh to dance alot;
She’s Guinevere and I’m Sir Lancelot.
Fa la la...

My bonnie lass I need not flatter;
what she doth not have doth not matter.
Oo la la la...

My bonnie lass would be nice
yea even at twice the price.
Fa la la...

words and music by PDQ Bach

Long Live the King

2011-03-02T07:55:00.002-05:00

Long live the King,
at least until he’s dead;
Long live the King
‘til we chop off his head;
Long live the King
‘til the guillotine is through;
Long live the King
as he bids his head adieu.
Here’s to the King
The ill begotten, thoroughly rotten,
cottonpickin’ King.

Mourn for the King
with sniffles and a sob;
Pity the King,
for he has lost his job;
Poor little King,
this is his final day;
He’ll get the ax,
but he’ll get no severance pay.
Here’s to the King;
Now the time has come
to let old gravity do her thing.

He is the one
who took our daily bread;
He is the one
who’s paying with his head;
He is the one
who now receives his due;
He is the one,
but soon he’ll the the two.
Here’s to the King!
Louis, Louie...

Here’s to the King!
Simon says to Louie Seize:
“Phooey on the King!”
Long live the King! Not.

Words and music by PDQ Bach

Bacco, Bacco

2011-03-02T07:53:00.000-05:00

Bacco, Bacco, e u o e
Bacco, Bacco, e u o e
Bacco, Bacco, e u o e o e
Bacco, Bacco, e u o e
e u, e u o e, e u o e, e u o e

Bacco, Bacco, e u o e
Bacco, Bacco, e u o e
Bacco, Bacco, e u o e o e
Bacco, Bacco, e u e u

words and music by Francesco Corteccia (1502-1571) ed. by R. E. Martin

Good Ale

2011-03-02T07:51:00.000-05:00

I cannot eat but little meat, my stomach is not good;
But sure I think that I can drink with him that wears a hood.
Though I go bare, take ye no care, I nothing am a cold,
I stuff my skin so full within of jolly good ale and old.

Back and side go bare, go bare: both foot and hand go cold;
But belly, God send thee good ale enough (enough), whether it be new or old!

I love no roast, but a nut-brown toast, and a crab laid in the fire;
A little bread shall do me stead, much bread I not desire.
No frost nor snow, nor wind I trow, can hurt me if I wold,
I am so wrapt and thoroughly apt of jolly good ale and old.

Back and side go bare, go bare: both foot and hand go cold;
But belly, God send thee good ale enough (enough), whether it be new or old!

Now let them drink till they nod and wink, even as good fellow should do;
They shall not miss to have the bliss good ale doth bring men to;
And all poor souls that have scoured bowls, or have them lust'ly trowled,
God save the lives of them and their wives, whether they be young and old!

Back and side go bare, go bare: both foot and hand go cold;
But belly, God send thee good ale enough (enough), whether it be new or old!

words by John Still 1543 arr. by Arnold Cornelissen

Of Beer

2011-03-02T07:49:00.000-05:00

Trudge away quickly and fill the black bowl devoutly as long as we bide.
Now welcome good fellows, both strangers and all; let madness and mirth set sadness aside.

Of all reck'nings I love good cheer, with honest folks in company;
And when drink comes, my part for to bear, for still me thinks one tooth is dry,
for still me thinks one tooth is dry.

Love is a pastyme for a king if one be seen in physnomy;
But I love well this pot to wring, for still me thinks one tooth is dry,
for still me thinks one tooth is dry.

Masters this is all my desire; I would no drink should pass me by;
Let us now sing and mend the fire, for still me thinks one tooth is dry,
for still me thinks one tooth is dry.

Master Butler, give us a taste of your best drink so gently:
A jug or twain, and make no waste, for still me thinks one tooth is dry,
for still me thinks one tooth is dry.

Master Butler, of this take part: ye love good drink as well as I:
And drink to me with all your heart, for still me thinks one tooth is dry,
for still me thinks one tooth is dry.

words and music by Thomas Ravenscroft c.1582-1635 ed. by R. E. Martin

Of Ale

2011-03-02T07:47:00.000-05:00

Toss the pot, toss the pot; let us be merry; And drink till our cheeks be as red as a cherry.

We take no thought, we have no care, For still we spend and never spare;
Till of all money our purse is bare, we ever toss the pot.

We drink, carouse with heart most free; A hearty draught I drink to thee;
Then fill the pot again to me, and ever toss the pot.

And when our money is all spent, Then sell our goods and spent our rent,
Or drink it up with one consent, and ever toss the pot.

When all is gone, we have no more; Then let us set it on the score,
Or chalk it up behind the door, and ever toss the pot.

And when our credit is all lost, Then we may go and kiss the post,
And eat brown bread instead of roast, and ever toss the pot.

Let us conclude as we began, And toss the pot from man to man,
And drink as much now as we can, and ever toss the pot.

Springtime Mantleth Every Bough

2011-03-02T07:45:00.000-05:00

Springtime mantleth ev'ry bough, and bowers make for shepherds' sport;
Birds and beasts are of consort, Fa la la la...

Our hearts in true love we do vow unto that fairy shepherd's maid;
We with true love are repaid, Fa la la la la...

words and music by Thomas Morley (1557-1602)

Now is the Month of Maying

2011-03-02T07:43:00.000-05:00

Now is the month maying, When merry lads are playing, Fa la la...
Each with his bonny lass upon the greeny grass. Fa la la...

The Spring, clad all in gladness, Doth laugh at winter's sadness, Fa la la...
And to the bagpipe's sound the nymphs tread out their ground. Fa la la...

Fie then! Why sit we musing, Youth's sweet delight refusing? Fa la la...
Say, dainty nymphs, and speak, Shall we play barley-break? Fa la la...

words and music by Thomas Morley

in Just-

2011-03-02T07:39:00.000-05:00

in Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame baloonman

whistles far and wee

and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's
spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer
old baloonman whistles
far and wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it's
spring
and
the

goat-footed

baloonMan whistles
far
and
wee

words by e e cummings Music by Brian Holmes

Spring, the Sweet Spring by Mark Dal Porto

2011-03-02T07:35:00.000-05:00

Introduction by Joan Schade
The First Freudig Composition Competition’s 2nd place winner is “Spring, the Sweet Spring” by Mark Dal Porto. This composer is Coordinator of Music Theory and Composition at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales NM. He has won awards for his compositions which have been played, sung, and recorded by orchestras and choruses in the US and Europe.

In this piece his inspiration was a poem (about spring) by Elizabethan poet Thomas Nashe. You should be able to visualize many spring activities and sounds. If there are any Birders (or birdwatchers) in the audience, please feel free to give us your opinion as to what kind of birds sing “jug, jug, puwe, towitta woo.”
“Spring, the Sweet Spring”

Spring, the sweet spring, is the year's pleasant king,
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

The palm and may make country houses gay,
Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day,
And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet,
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit,
In every street these tunes our ears do greet:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!

Words by Thomas Nashe (1567-1601)
Music by Mark Dal Porto

Delicious!

2010-11-27T15:56:00.008-05:00

Freudig Singers announce a classic and inspiring programme for their Christmas Pie Concert to be held on December 3rd and 5th.

Under the direction of perennially busy Roland E Martin, Christmas Pie will include time-honored favorites guaranteed to please mother and all the rest of the family. In addition, Christmas Pie 2010 will debut three delightful new pieces by visiting double-bass player and composer Sidney King of Louisville, KY. The show will also include No la debemos dormir... a Freudig Singers' 2010 Choral Competition honorable-mention composition entry by Christine Whitten Thomas, sung in Spanish.

As always, the Freudig Singers will bake scrumptious pies for auction and host a pie-filled reception immediately following the concert, proving you can have your pie and eat it, too.

Freudig Singers fabulous Christmas Pie Concerts will be held at St John's Grace Episcopal Church on Colonial Circle in Buffalo, NY at 7:30 p.m. on December 3rd and at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church on Buffalo St., Orchard Park at 4:00 pm on December 5th.

Tickets (including pie) cost $12 on pre-sale ($10 for seniors and students) and $15 on the night ($13 for seniors and students.) Call Elizabeth at 667-7088 to make sure you get your piece of the Pie!

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when the world is puddle-wonderful

2010-10-19T09:14:00.000-04:00

Good Morning, Friends and Singers,

It has been three days since our Living Legends concert and the e e cummings pieces are still ringing in my head. What an absolutely glorious experience! I have never participated in a more satisfying concert, from beginning to end.

And what a beginning it was! Marty Wimmer came up with this idea back in January of 2010 and your Board of Directors immediately organized themselves behind him to make this possible. I think every Board Member would have liked to have been on the jury, but having three published composers select the winners made this endeavor a success right from the start. The number of man-hours put in by Marty was astounding - can you imagine how long it took him to organize seventy-three entries and make sure each and every composer knew every step of the process? A staggering task, which was handled joyfully every step of the way. Kudos to you, Marty Wimmer, for a job well-done. Sincere thanks also to Persis Vehar and Roland E. Martin, who collectively selected the joyful music that brought a smile to so many faces on Saturday night. What a privilege it is to know you!

Speaking of Roland Martin, the repertoire he assembled for this concert was fabulous. The texts alone made me weep, and I can't remember a time when an entire concert touched my heart and soul the way this one did. Ron, there are no words to describe the gratitude we freudigs feel for your leadership and vision. You continue to drive this organization to new artistic heights and have turned us into the "cutting-edge choral organization" in Western New York. I cannot wait to hear what you come up with next!

Jonathan Scarozza was a wonderful accompanist for this concert and also did a great job conducting for the Roland Martin Set. I hope this will be the first of many collaborations with this talented gentleman.

Singers, you took on the difficult task of taking ownership of this music and this organization and we have grown as a group because of it. I thank each and every one of you for stepping up and working hard. Special thanks to our sopranos, who were decimated as a section the day before the concert because of illness. You would never have known, ladies, by your performance. Thank you for your flexibility and your preparation which allowed some of you to switch voice parts a few hours before the concert. Unbelievable!

Dr. Bradley Almquist worked his magic once again, and I swear I could feel the resonance in the hall with so many singers making full use of the "Brad Space" simultaneously. Thank you, Bradley, for another magnificent choral workshop, and thank you, Freudig Board Members, for giving us the opportunity to work with this choral genius year after year.

As always, some freudiggers lend more than their beautiful voices to our organization. Alison Dings, your Singer Liaison, makes Ron's job so much easier by organizing and communicating singer issues to him directly. In addition, she put together a fabulous program book honoring the composers featured in this concert. This is not a simple task, but Alison makes it look easy and helps us to look as professional as we sound. Luis Clay wrote stunning press releases and was dreaming about how good we would be when we were still struggling with the notes and rhythms. It is so important to have a great writer supporting an organization like this one. His press releases are eye-catching and thought-provoking, and make media personnel stand up and take notice. He also manages our website and keeps us looking polished and fresh, and throws one heck of a reception. Thank you, Alison and Luis, for all of the work you do behind the scenes for all of us. You are irreplaceable!

We couldn't make music without our volunteers. Anne Wasmund led a pool of friends who welcomed our audience members and waded through a pool of new ticketing procedures with grace and poise. Many thanks to Anne, Jason Bek, Jean Marie Stackpoole, Nan Craig, Pete Fenn, Gabriel Wittmer, Adrian Wittmer and all the others who pitched in and help to take care of our appreciative audience and to turn pages for our pianists.

Finally, I would like to thank the composers from three continents, seven countries and nineteen states in the U.S. who took a chance on a new Choral Composition Competition and sent their works to be judged. I encourage them to keep an eye on our website and watch for information about how to enter our 2011 Choral Composition Competition - I believe we have just created another freudig tradition!

With joy,

Elizabeth

COME AND MEET SOME LIVING LEGENDS

2010-10-04T07:07:00.001-04:00

Freudig Singers of Western New York are excited to announce a unique and extraordinary first concert for the 2010-2011 season of MUSIC OF THE AGES.

Our LIVING LEGENDS concert on 16th October 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at The Buffalo Seminary will include stunning contemporary music written entirely by living composers of Western New York and far, far beyond. For the first time, we will sing fresh choral music submitted in the first ever Freudig Singers’ Choral Composition Competition.

And what music it is: Competition Winner Brian Holmes' collection of 4 songs based on the poems of e e cummings (unpunctuated) is a light-hearted, whimsical adventure requiring acute musical precision and vocal unity. The Freudig Singers have pledged their allegiance to "vowelicular independence" (thanks to Dr Bradley Almquist from Murray State University) and this will be the first exposure of a completely different sound for us. Runner-up Mark Dal Porto's adaptation of English satirist Thomas Nashe's "Spring, the Sweet Spring" is a polyphonic workout celebrating life and reminding us of springtime at the obverse season of the year. Third-place Christine Donkin offers us an homage in soothing, swirling celebration of music quoting Shakespeare's play Henry VIII: Orpheus and his Lute (made trees, and the mountain tops that freeze, bow themselves.)

At least four of our LIVING LEGENDS’ composers will attend this show which promises to be one of the richest celebrations of Western New York creative community in years.

In addition to our prizewinners' music, Freudig Singers continues its rich tradition of supporting Western New York's renowned composers. Roland E Martin's selections from two different song cycles bind together the words of Walt Whitman, Sidney Royce Lysaght, Ursula Vaughan Williams, A E Housman and Henry David Thoreau in an astonishingly delicate and vibrant exposition of the nature of love. Persis Parshall Vehar's masterpiece "If Music be the Food of Love," quoting Shakespeare, and Martin J Wimmer's "Passing Stranger," quoting Whitman, round out the theme.

Other pieces will include Unto the Hills by Byron Adams, Velvet Shoes by Dennis Rosenbaum, Banquet Fugue by John Rutter and the emotional, biblical Deep River arranged by Mack Wilberg.

LIVING LEGENDS is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime concert by a choral fixture of Western New York at the very top of its game in its 27th year. LIVING LEGENDS takes place October 16, 7:30 p.m. at The Buffalo Seminary, 205 Bidwell Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14222. Tickets and discounted season passes and interviews of composers are now available. For more information, please contact Elizabeth@freudigsingers.org or 716.667.7088.

Music, the Food of Love by Persis Parshall Vehar

2010-10-03T10:15:00.004-04:00

If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall:
O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound,(5)
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odour!

Words by William Shakespeare
Music by Persis Parshal Vehar

Introduction by Sandra Cookson
Persis Vehar, the composer of the vibrant setting we just heard of Shakespeare’s opening lines to his play Twelfth Night, served as a judge for the Freudig Singers Composers’ Contest, which this concert celebrates with performances of the prize-winning pieces. Our next selection is also based on a text from a Shakespeare play, Henry the Eighth, by third-place winner Christine Donkin. “Orpheus with His Lute” occurs as a song sung to Queen Katherine (Henry’s wife) by one of her ladies-in-waiting, perhaps to comfort her in advance of the news that her marriage to the king will likely be annulled, so that he can marry Anne Boleyn. Ms. Donkin’s piece gives a lovely, flowing, and slightly wistful setting of the text, which focuses on the amazing power of Orpheus’s music to soothe the hearer, “killing care and grief.”

Orpheus with his Lute by Christine Donkin

2010-10-03T10:14:00.001-04:00

Introduction by Sandra Cookson
Persis Vehar, the composer of the vibrant setting we just heard of Shakespeare’s opening lines to his play Twelfth Night, served as a judge for the Freudig Singers Composers’ Contest, which this concert celebrates with performances of the prize-winning pieces. Our next selection is also based on a text from a Shakespeare play, Henry the Eighth, by third-place winner Christine Donkin. “Orpheus with His Lute” occurs as a song sung to Queen Katherine (Henry’s wife) by one of her ladies-in-waiting, perhaps to comfort her in advance of the news that her marriage to the king will likely be annulled, so that he can marry Anne Boleyn. Ms. Donkin’s piece gives a lovely, flowing, and slightly wistful setting of the text, which focuses on the amazing power of Orpheus’s music to soothe the hearer, “killing care and grief.”

Orpheus with his lute, with his lute made trees
And the mountain tops that freeze
Bow themselves when he did sing. Ah

To his music plants and flow'rs
Ever sprung as sun and show'rs
There had made a lasting spring.

Ev'ry thing that heard him play
Ev'n the billows of the sea,
Hung their heads and then lay by,

In sweet music is such art,
Killing care and grief of heart,
Fall asleep, or hearing die.

Words by William Shakespeare Henry viii
Music by Christine Donkin

Unto the Hills by Byron Adams

2010-10-03T10:13:00.000-04:00

Unto the hills will I lift up my eyes
from whence cometh my help;
My help cometh from the Lord
which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot be moved.
He that keeps thee will not sleep.
He that keepeth Israel will not slumber nor sleep.
The sun shall not smite thee by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall keep thee from evil;
He shall keep thy soul. Amen

Music by Byron Adams

Set by Roland E Martin

2010-10-03T10:12:00.009-04:00

Introduction by Luis Clay
Now follows a collection of songs by our Director Ron Martin from two unfinished song cycles written in the late 80's and early 90's. The lyrics include poems by Walt Whitman, Ursula Vaughan Williams, A E Housman and Henry David Thoreau. The compilation is a bold and comprehensive reflection on the nature of love and the emotions arising. I particularly enjoyed the lines of Sydney Lysaght, "He wakes desires you never may forget, He shows you stars you never saw before." It's all here: elation, despair, intimacy and after all is done perhaps little remains yet, to quote Walt Whitman, "out of that, I have written these songs."

Epigram by Walt Whitman

O you whom I often and silently
come where you are
or sit near or remain
in the same room with you.
Little you know the subtle electric fire
that is playing within me.

The Penalty of Love by Sidney Royse Lysaght

If love should count you worthy
and deign one day to seek your door,
and be your guest. Pause...
ere you draw the bolt
and bid him rest.

If in your old content you would remain.
For not alone he enters but in his train
are angels of the mists
the lonely quest,
the unfulfilled and unpossessed,
and sorrow, and life's immemorial pain.

He wakes desires you never may forget,
He shows you stars you never saw before,
He makes you share with him for evermore
the burden of the world's divine regret,

How wise you were to open not and yet, how poor
if you should turn him from your door.

Hand, Eyes, and Heart by Ursula Vaughan Williams

Hands,
give him all the measure of my love,
surer than any word.

Eyes,
be deep pools of truth,
where he may see a thought more whole
than constancy.

Heart,
in his keeping be at rest
and live as music and silence meet
and both are heard.

Tired by Ursula Vaughan Williams

Sleep, and I'll be still as another sleeper
holding you in my arms
glad that you lie so near at last.
This sheltering midnight is our meeting place
no passion or despair or hope divide me from your side.
I shall remember firelight on your sleeping face,
I shall remember shadows growing deeper
as the fire fell to ashes, and the minutes passed.

Oh, When I was In Love by A E Houseman

Oh, when I was in love with you,
Then I was clean and brave,
And miles around the wonder grew
How well I did behave.
And now the fancy passes by,
And nothing will remain,
And miles around they'll say that I
am quite myself again.

Sometimes with one I love by Walt Whitman

Sometimes with one I love
I fill myself with rage
For fear I effuse unreturned love
but now I think there is no unreturned love.
The pay is certain one way or the other.
I loved a certain person ardently
and my love was not returned.
Yet out of that
I have written these songs.

On the Sun Coming Out in the Afternoon by Henry David Thoreau

Methinks all things have travelled since you shined,
But only time and clouds, time's team, have moved.
Again foul weather shall not change my mind
But in the shade I will believe
what in the sun I loved.

Velvet Shoes by Dennis W. Rosenbaum

2010-10-03T10:12:00.004-04:00

Introduction by Kathy Boone
Born to a prominent New Jersey family in 1885, Elinor Wylie rebelled against her expected role as debutante and society wife, choosing instead to write poems and novels, marry three husbands, and have a few affairs besides. She was well-known in her own day not only for her "scandalous" personal life but the evocative and elegant imagery of her poems in the Romantic tradition. She felt a special kinship with Shelley, to the point of obsession, some said. "Positively dotty about Shelley," as a friend of hers put it. Highly respected in literary circles, Elinor Wylie was only 43 years old when she succumbed to a stroke.

Let us walk in the white snow
In a soundless space;
With footsteps quiet and slow,
At a tranquil pace,
Under veils of white lace.

I shall go shod in silk,
And you in wool,
White as white cow's milk,
More beautiful
Than the breast of a gull.

We shall walk through the still town
In a windless peace;
We shall step upon white down,
Upon silver fleece,
Upon softer than these.

We shall walk in velvet shoes:
Wherever we go
Silence will fall like dews
On white silence below.
We shall walk in the snow.

Poem by Elinor Wylie
Music by Dennis W Rosenbaum

Banquet Fugue by John Rutter

2010-10-03T10:11:00.001-04:00

Introduction by Leslie Bahler
Banquet and Fugue are two words not often used in the same sentence. A fugue is an advanced music writing technique; a composition for a defined number of parts or voices in which a brief theme is introduced in one voice, imitated in succession by each of the other voices, and musically developed. John Rutter wrote this fugue as part of a children's operetta called The Reluctant Dragon, in which the dragon is a sympathetic character. A fugue at a banquet may mean unusual dinner conversation.

Guzzle, guzzle, guzzle,
munch, munch, gobble, gobble, chomp.
Pass the salt and the pepper and the mustard
and vinegar and the bread.

There´s a fly in my soup!
Well - it won´t drink much, Sir!
Slurp! Slurp! Slurp! Slurp!
Fetch the doctor,
I´m feeling rather strange.

Guzzle, guzzle, guzzle,
munch, munch, gobble, gobble, chomp.
Burp!

Lyrics by David Grant
Music by John Rutter

To a Stranger by Martin J. Wimmer

2010-10-03T10:10:00.002-04:00

Introduction by Elizabeth Sands
To A Stranger was written by Living Legend Martin J. Wimmer because of the encouragement of Living Legend Roland E. Martin. Ron told Marty that if he would sit down and compose something the Freudig Singers would sing it. The text Marty chose, by Walt Whitman, describes lusciously the instantaneous, heart-stopping desire one can experience when setting eyes on that seemingly perfect stranger for the first time. Wimmer, an accomplished pianist as well as composer, has underpinned this gorgeous text with rich, evocative yearning that absolutely sends chills down my spine. The Freudig Singers premiered this piece in 2006, and included it on our inaugural CD - Archives Volume I. It thrills us to bring to you an encore performance of what is my favorite Wimmer, To A Stranger.

Passing stranger! you do not know how longingly I look upon you,
You must be he I was seeking, or she I was seeking, (it comes to me as of a dream,)
I have somewhere surely lived a life of joy with you,
All is recall'd as we flit by each other, fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured,
You grew up with me, were a boy with me or a girl with me,
I ate with you and slept with you, your body has become not yours only nor left my body mine only,
You give me the pleasure of your eyes, face, flesh, as we pass, you take of my beard, breast, hands, in return,
I am not to speak to you, I am to think of you when I sit alone or wake at night alone,
I am to wait, I do not doubt I am to meet you again,
I am to see to it that I do not lose you.

Poem by Walt Whitman
Music by Martin J. Wimmer

4 e e cummings songs by Brian Holmes

2010-10-03T10:09:00.001-04:00

in Just- by e e cummings

in Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame baloonman

whistles far and wee

and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's
spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer
old baloonman whistles
far and wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it's
spring
and
the

goat-footed

baloonMan whistles
far
and
wee

hist whist by e e cummings

hist whist
little ghostthings
tip-toe
twinkle-toe

little twitchy
witches and tingling
goblins
hob-a-nob hob-a-nob

little hoppy happy
toad in tweeds
tweeds
little itchy mousies

with scuttling
eyes rustle and run and
hidehidehide
whisk

whisk look out for the old woman
with the wart on her nose
what she’ll do to yer
nobody knows

for she knows the devil ooch
the devil ouch
the devil
ach the great

green
dancing
devil
devil

devil
devil

wheeeeee

when god lets my body be by e e cummings

when god lets my body be
From each brave eye shall sprout a tree
fruit that dangles therefrom
the purpled world will dance upon
Between my lips which did sing
a rose shall beget the spring
that maidens whom passion wastes
will lay between their little breasts
My strong fingers beneath the snow
Into strenuous birds shall go
my love walking in the grass
their wings will touch with her face
and all the while shall my heart be
With the bulge and nuzzle of the sea

Buffalo Bill by e e cummings

Buffalo Bill's

defunct

who used to

ride a watersmooth-silver

stallion

and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat

Jesus

he was a handsome man

and what i want to know is

how do you like your blueeyed boy

Mister Death

Lyrics by e e cummings
Music by Brian Holmes

Deep River by Mack Wilberg

2010-10-03T10:08:00.001-04:00

Introduction by Jim Wasmund
Deep River is one of the best known of African American spirituals. A song of hope and longing, it represented a desire for peace and freedom both present and in the afterlife. The river referenced as Jordan is the Ohio River – a natural divide between slave and free states. Campground represents a land of freedom in this and several other spirituals, as the camp meetings were the one place where slaves could meet and share their joys, hopes, and pains in word and song.

Deep River has endured because of its beauty and its message. The Fisk Jubilee Singers, touring in the 1870’s to raise money for Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, included it in their repertoire. Harry Burleigh, assistant to Anton Dvorak, wrote choral and solo arrangements after WWI. With Dvorak influence in the music, these versions brought the song to a wider range of choral performances. Today’s arrangement is by American choral conductor, composer, and teacher Mack Wilberg. In 2008 he was appointed music director the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, after serving as Associate Music Director for 9 years. His arrangements and compositions inspire performers and audiences alike.

Deep river, my home is over Jordan,
Deep river, Lord, I want to cross over into camp ground.

Oh don't you want to go
to that gospel feast
that promised land
where all is peace

Deep river, my home is over Jordan,
Deep river, Lord, I'm gonna cross over into campground.

Amen

African American Spiritual
arr. Mack Wilberg

FREUDIG SINGERS ANNOUNCE 2010-11 SEASON

2010-09-27T10:18:00.001-04:00

Freudig Singers of Western New York announce a season of MUSIC OF THE AGES divined to revive young and old and all souls in-between.

Modern, actual, fleshy composers will be represented in our LIVING LEGENDS concert on 16th October 2010 including winning entries from the first ever Freudig Singers Choral Composition Competition. These will include Christine Donkin, Mark Dal Porto and first-place winner Brian Holmes. Also featured will be Western New York composers and competition judges Roland E. Martin, Persis Parshall Vehar and Martin J. Wimmer. The Freudig Singers are freshly motivated from an intensive choral workshop led by Murray State University's Choral Legend Dr. Bradley Almquist. Attend this concert to hear how the sublime submission of "vowelicular independence" will change your existence for ever.

As for the last 27 years, our A CHRISTMAS PIE carol concerts, scheduled for 3rd and 5th December 2010, will serve delicious seasonal sounds and crumbly pie treats coupled with the fabled auction of real freudig singers' humble but utterly scrumptious pies.

Early and medieval choral music will be presented in MARCH MAD-rigal-NESS on 5 March 2011. Beery favorites as well as seriously ancient treatments will lend a delirious, drunken edge to a very special, madrigal time of year and a special time in our audiences lives.

Following an increasingly popular tradition, our response to audience favorite selections from 20th century STAGE AND SCREEN will be performed on 6 and 8 May 2011. We promise to be dramatic, over the top and utterly devoted to you in this springfest, freudig tradition. This is your opportunity to plan the freudig concert repertoire. Contact us now and let us know your favorite rare gems and we will be sure to sing them for you.

Tickets and discounted season passes are now available. For more information, please contact Elizabeth@freudigsingers.org or 716.667.7088.

Help the Freudig Singers be Joyful this Labor Day!

2010-08-24T14:29:00.001-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Freudig Singers of Western New York will hold a book sale fund-raiser on Monday, 6 September 2010.

Bring books, browse books, buy books, gift books... find that unique once-in-a-lifetime purchase - a special friend for a song.

The Freudig Singers Labor Day Book Sale was a fabulous community event in 2008 and will be again, but only if you join us. Come enjoy books and song at 309 Indian Church Road in South Buffalo, right across the street from Tim Russert Park, between 9:00 a.m and 3:00 p.m. this Labor Day.

To donate books, or to answer any other questions, call Elizabeth at 716.667.7088.

NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO BECOME FREUDIG!

2010-08-11T11:01:00.001-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Freudig Singers of Western New York are calling local semi-professional singers or better for auditions. The choir has been active for 26 continuous years and boasts the broadest and most amusing repertoires of all choirs in Western New York. With four shows a year primarily we specialize in early music but we also indulge Western New York with Christmas Carols of all descriptions and for the first time will be premiering new works from composers all over the world. Come experience direction under one of the most exciting American musician / composers, Mr. Roland E. Martin.

Auditions are Monday, 16 August at 6 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Orchard Park and Wednesday, 18 August at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph University Church in North Buffalo.

Singers should prepare a short piece and be prepared to vocalize and sight-sing. Accompaniment will be provided.

For details or answers to questions call Elizabeth at (716) 667-7088.

Winners of First Annual Choral Composition Competition

2010-06-11T07:45:00.010-04:00

PRESS RELEASE
June 10, 2010 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Freudig Singers of Western New York
Announce Winners of First Annual Choral Composition Competition

Buffalo, New York, June 10, 2010: The Freudig Singers of Western New York, directed by Roland E. Martin, recently launched the First Annual Freudig Singers Choral Composition Competition. Composers were invited to submit original compositions arranged for four-part choir. A total of seventy-three works were submitted from around the world - three continents, seven countries and 19 states in the US.

The three-member jury consisted of published composers Roland E. Martin, Director of the Freudig Singers, Persis Vehar, Canisius College Composer-in-Residence, and Martin J. Wimmer, Depew Public Schools Music Teacher, Radio Host Classical 94.5/WNED, and Competition Coordinator. Wimmer states, “We’re thrilled that we can offer this amazing opportunity to composers, performers and our beloved audience members, and we hope that our competition will grow with each passing year.”

The first prize winner will receive $300 and will have the work performed and recorded during the 2010-11 concert season. The second and third prize winners will receive $200 and $100 respectively, and will also have the works performed and recorded. Three works are named “Honorable Mention” and will be performed as well.

THE WINNING COMPOSITIONS ARE:

FIRST PRIZE
4 e.e cummings songs
by
Brian Holmes (California)

*

SECOND PRIZE
Spring, the Sweet Spring
by
Mark Dal Porto (New Mexico)

*

THIRD PRIZE
Orpheus with his Lute
by
Christine Donkin (Ontario, Canada)

*

HONORABLE MENTION
No la debemos dormir…
by
Christina Whitten Thomas (California)

Ego flos campi
by
Steven Serpa (Rhode Island)

Done
by
C.G. Walden (Georgia)

*

###

Freudig Singers of Western New York
P O Box 1033, Orchard Park, NY 14127 - 8103
Telephone (716)667-7088
e-mail Elizabeth@FreudigSingers.org

Competition Update: The Jury Is Out

2010-05-15T07:42:00.003-04:00

The judging phase has begun of the First Annual Freudig Singers Choral Composition Competition. As of the April 30th deadline, 73 compositions were submitted for consideration by composers from coast to coast and around the world.

Due to the large number of submissions, the judges have asked for additional evaluation time. Therefore, the First, Second & Third Prize Winners - as well as several Honorable Mentions - will be announced by mid-June.

The Freudig Singers plan to perform all three winning works and the honorable mentions during the 2010-11 concert season. Please check this website often for competition updates.

"The Freudig Singers: Western New York's Cutting-Edge Choral Ensemble."

Freudig Singers prepare indelible memories of Stage and Screen

2010-04-25T13:25:00.015-04:00

The Freudig Singers have been preparing requested favorites from Stage and Screen. Imagine, somewhere over your rainbow is the sound of 25 stars in alignment! Your family will love love love Our Favorite Things from Stage and Screen. So will you, at Blessed Trinity Church this Friday, April 30, or at MusicalFare Theater this Sunday May 2.

It's all arranged. On parade will be choral arrangements of Aladdin, Carousel, The King and I, Les Mis, HMS Pinafore, Porgy and Bess, The Sound of Music, South Pacific and, why, The Wizard of Oz! To add to this we have soloists who simply could not hold back any longer. From Verdi to Disney, with all the sounds of Stage and Screen that matter, who else connects like the Freudig Singers?

Debi Overton, Choirmaster of Calvary Episcopal Church in Williamsville and Accompanist for the Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus, will be the Guest Conductor for this program. Bring mom, bring your love, bring you to Our Favorite Things, performed Friday April 30 at 7:00 p.m. at Blessed Trinity Church, 317 Leroy Avenue in Buffalo, and repeated on Sunday May 2 at 7:00 p.m. at MusicalFare Theatre on the Daemen College campus in Amherst.

As for the last 9 years, tickets are $12/$10 for students or seniors and are available at the door. Obtain Presale and Group Discounts by calling 716.667.7088 or visiting the Freudig Singers online at www.freudigsingers.org. Seating is limited and presale reservations are highly recommended.

FREUDIG SINGERS TO PERFORM A FEW OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS

2010-04-16T10:47:00.001-04:00

You spoke, we listened and now we will sing! Music Director Roland E. Martin and the fabulous Freudig Singers of Western New York spent the entire season polling music enthusiasts in order to assemble this most comprehensive program of audience favorites from the Broadway Stage and the Silver Screen. Our Favorite Things from Stage and Screen will be performed at Blessed Trinity Church on Friday April 30 and will be repeated on Sunday May 2 at MusicalFare Theatre.

Featured will be diverse selections from South Pacific, Porgy and Bess, The Wizard of Oz, Carousel, HMS Pinafore, The King and I, Les Mis, Aladdin, and, of course, The Sound of Music. As always, there also may be a few Freudig surprises along the way. From Giuseppe Verdi to Andrew Lloyd Webber to Walt Disney - where else can you go in Western New York to hear several hundred years of favorites in a couple of hours? Debi Overton, Choirmaster of Calvary Episcopal Church in Williamsville and Accompanist for the Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus, will be the Guest Conductor for this program.

Don't miss out on Our Favorite Things, performed Friday April 30 at 7:00 p.m. at Blessed Trinity Church, 317 Leroy Avenue in Buffalo, and repeated on Sunday May 2 at 7:00 p.m. at MusicalFare Theatre on the Daemen College campus in Amherst.

As for the last 9 years, tickets are $12/$10 for students or seniors and are available at the door. Presale and group discounts are available by calling 716.667.7088 or visiting the Freudig Singers online at www.freudigsingers.org. Seating is limited and presale reservations are highly recommended.

Music Director Roland E. Martin and Conductor Debi Overton are available for interviews regarding this program. Please call 716.667.7088 to arrange.

Freudig Singers Composition Competition attracting entries

2010-03-27T07:10:00.008-04:00

The Freudig Singers First Annual Choral Composition Competition is attracting entries from coast to coast and around the world. If you are a composer and would like to enter the competition, please see the information below.

Application Deadline: 4/30/2010

The Freudig Singers of Western New York seeks original choral works for mixed chorus (mostly SATB) with piano or organ accompaniment, or a cappella for their First Annual Choral Composition Competition.

Details
The Freudig Singers of Western New York seeks unpublished works for mixed chorus. Cash prizes, performances and possible professional recordings.

Eligibility
No age restrictions. 3-7 minutes in length (or thereabouts)

Awards
Up to three winners will be selected by a jury of three published composers. The first prize winner will receive $300 and will have his/her work performed and possibly recorded in live concert. Second and third prize winners will each receive $200 and $100 respectively and will have their works performed and possibly recorded in live concert. Works should be for mixed chorus (mostly SATB) with piano or organ accompaniment, or a cappella. Please note that any work with a protected text must be accompanied by a letter of permission from the publisher, poet or author. Also note that the jury reserves the right to make no award and to change the number of award winners depending on the quality of the music submitted. Winners retain all rights to their works.

Submissions:
Three hard copies of each piece (limit two pieces per composer).
A letter including contact information (name, address, phone number, email), performance history of each work and program notes by the composer.
A brief composer biography
Recordings of music, if available (MIDI realizations are acceptable.)
Send only copies of all materials. Do not send originals as no materials will be returned.

Administrative Fee: $10 per piece. Checks to "The Freudig Singers of Western New York"

Materials must be postmarked by April 30, 2010.

Send all materials to:

Martin J. Wimmer, Competition Coordinator
c/o Freudig Singers
P. O. Box 1103
Orchard Park, NY 14127-8103

Questions? Send e-mail to: MJWimmer@aol.com

FREUDIG SINGERS REDISCOVER THEIR FAVORITE BURIED TREASURES

2010-02-19T03:39:00.003-05:00

The Freudig Singers will be unearthing, that is they will be singing, their "Buried Treasures" concert at Salem Lutheran Church on 13 March 2010. Each song has been fondly un-buried by a fabulous Freudig Singer and the singer will introduce the song before it is sung.

Under the watchful eye of Music Director Roland E. Martin, the treasures are pieces rescued from the archives of twenty-six years of joyful music-making and include offerings from J S Bach, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Randall Thompson, Paul Hindemith, Aaron Copland, Gwyneth Walker and local choral superstar Martin J Wimmer. Debi Overton, Choirmaster of Calvary Episcopal Church in Williamsville and Accompanist for the Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus, will be the Guest Conductor for this program.

Buried Treasures will be unearthed on 13 March at 7:30 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church, 10 McClellan Circle near McKinley Parkway in South Buffalo.

As for the last 9 years, tickets are $12/$10 for students or seniors and are available at the door. Presale and group discounts are available by calling 716.667.7088 or visiting the Freudig Singers online at www.freudigsingers.org. Presale reservations are highly recommended because at these prices the tickets will not last long.

Music Director Roland E. Martin and Conductor Debi Overton are available for interviews regarding this program. Please call 716.667.7088 to arrange.

Freudig Singers Announce Joyful Competition

2010-02-16T04:56:00.009-05:00

The Freudig Singers Launch First Annual Choral Composition Competition

Application Deadline: 4/30/2010

The Freudig Singers of Western New York seeks original choral works for mixed chorus (mostly SATB) with piano or organ accompaniment, or a cappella for their First Annual Choral Composition Competition.

Details
The Freudig Singers of Western New York seeks unpublished works for mixed chorus. Cash prizes, performances and possible professional recordings.

Eligibility
No age restrictions. 3-7 minutes in length (or thereabouts)

Awards
Three winners will be selected by jury. The composition of the jury is underway and will be announced by the end of February. The first prize winner will receive $300 and will have his/her work performed and possibly recorded in live concert. Second and third prize winners will each receive $100 and will have their works performed and possibly recorded in live concert. Works should be for mixed chorus (mostly SATB) with piano or organ accompaniment, or a cappella. Please note that any work with a protected text must be accompanied by a letter of permission from the publisher, poet or author. Also note that the jury reserves the right to make no award and to change the number of award winners depending on the quality of the music submitted. Winners retain all rights to their works.

Submissions:
Three hard copies of each piece (limit two pieces per composer).
A letter including contact information (name, address, phone number, email), performance history of each work and program notes by the composer.
A brief composer biography
Recordings of music, if available (MIDI realizations are acceptable.)
Send only copies of all materials. Do not send originals as no materials will be returned.

Administrative Fee: $10 per piece. Checks to "The Freudig Singers of Western New York"

Materials must be postmarked by April 30, 2010.

Send all materials to:

Martin J. Wimmer, Competition Coordinator
c/o Freudig Singers
P. O. Box 1103
Orchard Park, NY 14127-8103

Questions? Send e-mail to: MJWimmer@aol.com

Freudig Singers at Carnegie Hall

2010-01-28T05:09:00.001-05:00

The Freudig Singers were invited to collaborate with the internationally known choral conductor, Dr. Bradley L. Almquist, the President of the Southern Division of the American Choral Directors’ Association, as he made his Carnegie Hall debut on Monday, January 18, 2010. Performing Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna with Dr. Almquist and his Murray State University Concert Choir, and five other select choruses, were Deborah Fenn, June Foster, Donna Kiersz, Cathe Corbett Spin, Jean Stackpoole, Gracelyn Tuoti, and Wendy Zimmerman.

How do you pull over 200 singers together for a concert worthy of Carnegie Hall in only three days? If you are Dr. Almquist, you do it with panache, entertaining story-telling, funny vocal examples and exercises, cajoling, and a great attention to the details of the piece. On Saturday when we arrived at the rehearsal hall, we quickly learned how much we didn’t know about the piece, and realized this was going to be a lot of hard work. Sunday was filled with another intense rehearsal – hey, no sightseeing this trip????? . Dr. Almquist wove his magic with the beautiful nuances of the Lux Aeterna. By Sunday’s end, the seven ensembles were creating gorgeous music under Dr. Almquist’s expert direction.

On Monday afternoon, we walked onto the Carnegie Hall main stage for our rehearsal with the New England Symphonic ensemble, who would be accompanying us for the evening’s performance. The stage manager warned us to keep our eyes straight ahead as we walked out. “Don’t stop and look at the house when you first step onto the stage, because you will stop and gawk, and we have 200 people to get on stage behind you!” He was right!! What a gorgeous venue! Known as the premier classical music performance space in the United States since its opening in 1891, Carnegie Hall has showcased the world's greatest soloists, conductors, and ensembles. Four curved balconies seem to extend a mile high over the main floor, resplendent with white and gold gilt, and red plush velour seating. Simply awesome!

As we were walking out on stage for Monday evening’s performance, someone asked Dr. Almquist if he was nervous. He paused a moment, and then replied, “I’ve directed my chorus in a performance for Pope John Paul in the Sistine Chapel. Talk about being nervous! I think I can handle this.” We swept onstage, and the performance, which is just short of 30 minutes, flashed by in what seemed like a few seconds. The final Alleluia’s rang high into the balconies, and the ending Amen’s reverberated through the hall in a hum. The house roared. Dr. Almquist had a magical smile on his face! A wonderful moment in Freudig musical history was made.

The Freudig Singers able to participate in this program were delighted to be able to work under the direction of Dr. Almquist for his Carnegie Hall debut. The music was ethereal, the venue divine, and the experience unforgettable!

The Audience Choice is A Christmas Pie

2009-11-12T07:57:00.010-05:00

The Freudig Singers will serve stunning Christmas music when they host A Christmas Pie: Audience Choice concerts on December 5th and 6th. This will be the tenth year the Freudig Singers have wowed audiences by singing the season's most interesting musical offerings, collaborating with wonderful children's choirs and dishing out post-concert pie to hundreds in a unique Buffalo tradition.

In addition to dozens of scrumptious pies donated by Murphy's Main Street Station in Hamburg and a raffle of pies baked by the singers, the Freudigs will serve up delicious carols written by Johann Sebastian Bach, Elziarii Geneti, John Joubert, Vernon Hoyl, Orlandus Lassus, and their own Music Directer, Roland E. Martin. Roses, Diamonds, and a Boar's Head are also on the menu.

A Christmas Pie: Audience Choice featuring the Buffalo Seminary Glee Club will be served on Saturday December 5 at 7:30 p.m. at St. John's Grace Episcopal Church, 51 Colonial Circle in Buffalo. A second helping of Pie, with the Hamburg Middle School Choralistas, will be served on Sunday December 6 at 7:00 p.m. at the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, 4369 South Buffalo Street.

Tickets are $12/$10 for students or seniors (pie included) and are available at the door. Presale tickets are $10/$8 and group discounts are available by calling 716.667.7088 or visiting the Freudig Singers online at http://www.freudigsingers.org/. Presale reservations are highly recommended as the tickets are selling like...like hotcakes!

Music Director Roland E. Martin is available for interviews regarding this program. Call 716.667.7088 to arrange.

All Hayle to the Days

2009-11-12T05:22:00.001-05:00

All Hayle to the Dayes That merite more praise
Than all the rest of the yeare!
And welcome the nights That double delights
As well for the poore as the peere!
Good fortune attend Each merry man's friend
That doth but the best that he may
Forgetting old wrongs with carols and songs
To drive the cold winter away

The Court in all state now opens her gate
And bids a free welcome to most
The City likewise though somewhat precise
Doth willingly part with her cost
And yet by report both City and Court
The country gets the day
More liquor is spent and better content
To drive the cold winter away

The gentry there for cost do not spare
(The yeomanry fast in lent)
The farmers and such think nothing too much
If they keep but to pay their rent
The poorest of all do merrily call
(Want bears but a little sway)
For a song or a tale or a pot of good ale
To drive the cold winter away

Thus none will allow of solitude now
But merrily greet the time
To make it appeare of all the whole year
That this accounted the prime
December is seene apparal'd in greene
And January fresh as May.
Comes dancing along with a cup and a song
To drive the cold winter away

This time of the yeare is spent in good cheare
Kind neighbors together meete
To sit by the fire with friendly desire
Each other in love to greet
Old grudges forgot are put in the pot
All sorrowes aside they lay
The old and the yong doth caroll this song
To drive the cold winter away

English Traditional
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

From Heaven Above

2009-11-12T05:21:00.000-05:00

From heav'n above to earth I come
To earth I come from heav'n above
bring good news to everyone!

Glad tidings of great joy
I bring to all the world
And gladly sing to all the world

Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Vom Himmel hoch

2009-11-12T05:20:00.000-05:00

To you this night is born a child
of Mary, chosen virgin mild
newborn child of lowly birth
shall be the joy of all the earth

Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Ah! Dearest Jesu

2009-11-12T05:19:00.000-05:00

Three Extracts from Christmas Oratorio
1. Chorale: Ah, Dearest Jesu

Oh Dearest Jesu, holy child,
prepare a bed, soft, undefiled,
Unholy shrine within my heart
That you and I need never part

Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Jesu, make me thine forever

2009-11-12T05:18:00.000-05:00

Jesu, make me thine forever
Jesu, rule my heart and soul
Jesu, I forsake the never
Jesu, all my life control

Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Jesu, joy of man's desiring

2009-11-12T05:17:00.000-05:00

Cantata No 147 Herz und Mund und That und Leben

Jesu, joy of man's desiring
Holy wisdom, love most bright
Drawn by thee, our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light
Word of God our flesh that fashioned
With the fire life impassioned
Striving still to truth unknown
Soaring, dying round thy throne

Through the way where hope is guiding
Hark, what peaceful music rings
Where the flock in thee confiding
Drink of joy from deathless springs
Their's is beauty's fairest pleasure
Their's is wisdom's holyest treasure
Thou dost ever lead thine own,
In the love of joys unknown.

Words by Robert Bridges
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Arranged by H P Allen
Sung by the Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Good King Wenceslas

2009-11-12T05:16:00.000-05:00

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep, and crisp, and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gathering winter fuel

Hither page and stand by me
If thou know'st it telling
Yonder peasant who is he
Where and what his dwelling
Sire he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes fountain

Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear them thither
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude winds wild lament
And the bitter weather

Sire the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart I know not how
I can go no longer
Mark my footsteps good my page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shall find the winters rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly

In his masters steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very rod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefor Christian men be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

Words by J M Neale
Arranged by Reginald Jacques from Piae Cantiones
Harmonies in verses 1 and 3 by Sir John Stainer 1840-1901
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

2009-11-12T05:15:00.001-05:00

Lo, how a rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung
Of Jesse's lineage coming
As men of old have sung
It came a floweret bright
Amid the cold of winter
When half spent was the night

Isaiah twas foretold it
The Rose I have in mind
With Mary we behold it
The Virgin mother kind
To show God's love aright
She bore to men a Saviour
When half spend was the night

This Flower whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere
True man yet very God
From sin and death he saves us
And lightens every load

Es Ist Ein Ros, Cologne, 1599
Arranged by Alf Houkoum
Sung by the Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Sur le mont de Sion

2009-11-12T05:14:00.002-05:00

Sur le mont de Sion
J'ay su bonne nouvelle
D'un redolent Syon
qui vient de Vierge belle

Par un ange j'ay su
Une tres grande chose
Cette vierge a concu
La belle blanche rose

Anonymous (c. 1600)
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Flos Regalis

2009-11-12T05:13:00.002-05:00

Flos regalis virginalis
chori dux egregia
quam de lesse
natum esse
stirpe constat regia

Rosa fragrans
primula vernalis
servons tuos libera de malis
rex te salem ad regalem
introduxit thalamum
flos decoris et honoris
precelentis balsa mum

Tu glorie speculum
solis umbraculum
da famulis gaudium
post hoc exilium

Anonymous, 13th or 14th Century English
ed. by R.E. Martin
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Kinder-Katechismus zu Kosel's Geburtstag

2009-11-12T05:12:00.002-05:00

Tell me
Children
what blooms in springtime?

The rosebud, the rose bloom,
the rose of spring.

Children,
do you know
what blooms at Christmas?

The Christ-child
the Saviour;
a virgin mother bore the
Christmas Rose.

And though the rose of springtime fades away,
ever-blooming is the Rose we sing today;

Christ the Rose
living grows
ever-loving, ever-living
Christmas Rose!

Richard Wagner
English version by R.E.Martin
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

There is no Rose

2009-11-12T05:11:00.001-05:00

15th century anonymous

There is no rose of such virtu
As is the rose that bare Jesu,
Alleluia

For in this rose conteined was
Heav'n and earth in litel space
Res miranda,
Alleluia

By that rose we may well see
There be One God in persons three
Patres forma,
Alleluia

The angels sungen the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gaudeamus,
Alleluia

Leave we all this worldly mirth
and follow we this joyful birth
Transeamus,
Alleluia

There is no rose of such virtu
as is the rose that bare Jesu,
Alleluia

Roland E. Martin
sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Sicut rosa

2009-11-12T05:10:00.000-05:00

from Bicina, sive Cantiones 1609

Sicut rosa inter spinas
illis addit speciem
sic venustat suam
virgo Mariam progeniem
germinavit enim florem
qui vitalem dat odorem

Orlandus Lassus
ed. by R.E. Martin
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Haec est illa dulcis rosa

2009-11-12T05:09:00.000-05:00

Haec est illa dulcis rosa
Mater Christi gloriosa
Haec est illa speciosa
pulchra nimis et formosa
ipsam rogo salutatem
qui transitis inclinate

Music by Elziarii Geneti (CARPENTRAS)

When God's Time Had Ripened

2009-11-12T05:08:00.000-05:00

When God's time had ripened
Mary's womb bore fruit
scion of the God-head
sprung from Jesse's root
so the True Vine branches
from the lily's stem
the Rose without blemish
blooms in Bethlehem

More than mind can fathom
limit or untwine
this mysterious yoking
the human and divine
but what reason fetters
faith at length unlocks
and wise hearts discover
truth in paradox

As the bread of heaven
that we might be fed
chose a manger cradle
in the House of Bread
so has Life Eternal
mingled in the womb
with our mortal nature
to confound the tomb

For this swaddled infant
in a humble place
holds our hope of glory
and our means of grace
in the Love entfleshed here
dawns the world's rebirth
promise of salvation
pledge of peace on earth

Words by Carl P. Daw, Jr.
Music by Alfred V. Fedak
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

There is no rose of such virtue

2009-11-12T05:07:00.001-05:00

There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu
Alleluia

For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in little space
Resmiranda

By that rose we may well see
There be one God in Persons Three
Pares forma

Then leave we all this worldly mirth
And follow we this joyous birth
Transeamus

Music by John Joubert
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

From Darkness to Light

2009-11-12T05:06:00.000-05:00

Tell you darkness was pierced by the rose
Which vanished in a sun

Tell you it was
A sun of glory the singing rose was
Saying

From the rose to the woman
From the woman to the man
From the man
To the sun
From the sun to the earth

Beasts and all creeping things

To the waters
Divided
To the light created
And the singing
Rose sang in the lap of Mary

And the night shall be no more
they need no light of lamp or sun
for the Lord God will be their light

Darkness
Sang to the light
and the kiss of love was peace

Ruth Watson Henderson
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Boar's Head Carol

2009-11-12T04:30:00.001-05:00

The boar's head in hand bear I
Bedecked with bays and rosemary
And I pray you my masters be merry
Quot estis in convivio

Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino

The boar's head as I understand
Is the rarest dish in all this land
Which thus bedecked with a gay garland
Let us sirvere cantico

Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino

Our steward hath provided this
In honour of the King of bliss
Which on this day to be served is
In Reginensi atrio

Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino

Queen's College, Oxford, version
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Qui Creavit Celum

2009-11-12T04:28:00.000-05:00

Song of the Nuns of Chester, 13th century

Qui creavit celum
Nascitur in stabulo
Rex qui regit seculum
lully, lully, lu

Joseph emit paniculum
Mater involvit Puerum
Et ponit in presepio
lully, lully, lu

Inter animalia
Jacent mundi gaudia
Dulcis super omnia
lully, lully, lu

Lactat Mater Domini
Osculatur parvulum
Et adorat Dominum
lully, lully, lu

Roga, mater, Filium
Ut det nobis gaudium
In perenni gloria
lully, lully, lu

In sempiterna secula
In eternum et ultra
Det nobis sua gaudia
lully, lully, lu

He who created the heavens
is born in a stable,
The king who rules forever.

Joseph buys a little swaddling cloth;
The mother wraps the boy
And places him in the manger.

Among the animals
Lies the joy of the world
Sweeter than all else.

The Mother of the Lord gives milk;
She kisses her infant
And worships the Lord.

Mother, ask your Son
To grant us joy
In eternal glory.

Forever and ever
To eternity and beyond,
May he give us his joys.

Roland E. Martin
Sung by The Fruedig Singers and The Buffalo Seminary Glee Club, Christmas Pie 2009

Diamond Bright

2009-11-12T04:27:00.001-05:00

On a night long ago
diamond bright were the heavens
still the world with waiting
silent for so long

Then at last came that moment
when the world changed for ever
we see that precious baby
and know that we are touched by the angel's song

Far away in the east
on that cold winter evening
mighty kings were waiting
watching from afar

Setting out on their journey
who could ever believe it?
We see that lowly stable
and know that we are touched by that same bright star

In the voice of a child
in the smile of a stranger
in a perfect snowflake
or a grain of sand

In the cry of a baby
we remember that story
we see our world with wonder
and know that we are touched by the angel's hand

Words and Music by Lin Marsh
Sung by The Freudig Singers and The Buffalo Seminary Glee Club, Christmas Pie 2009

Let's Get Ready!

2009-11-12T04:26:00.000-05:00

Let's get ready now!

Let's get ready
Let's prepare
Christmas Day is almost here
Deck the halls
Shop the malls
'cause Christmas Day is near

Wrap a present
Say a prayer
Christmas season's in the air
Bake a pie
You know why
'cause Christmas Day is near

The waiting and anticipating is a special sign
to remind us of the Baby who was born to save mankind

Let's get ready
Let's prepare
Christmas Day is almost here
Deck the halls
Shop the malls
'cause Christmas Day is near

Wrap a present
Say a prayer
Christmas season's in the air
Bake a pie
You know why
'cause Christmas Day is near

Share the spirit of the season with everyone you meet
your family, friends and neighbors and people on the street

Let's get ready
Let's prepare
Christmas Day is almost here
Deck the halls
Shop the malls
'cause Christmas Day is near

Wrap a present
Say a prayer
Christmas season's in the air
Bake a pie
You know why
'cause Christmas Day is near

Let's get ready now!

Words and Music by Martin J. Wimmer
Sung by The Freudig Singers and The Hamburg Middle School Choralistas,
Christmas Pie 2009

One Star

2009-11-12T04:24:00.001-05:00

One star led to Bethlehem,
One star clearly showed the way,
One star brought the Saviour near,
One star brought him here.

One love came to earth that night,
One love wrapped in blankets warm,
One love brought the Saviour near,
One love brought him here.

Why so meek and lowly?
Why in a cattle stall?
Why should one so kingly
have been brought to earth this way?

One birth was the manger boy,
One birth grew into a man,
One birth brought the saviour near,
One birth brought him here.

One star led to Bethelehem
And one love brought him here.

Words and Music by Cheryl Jones Rogers
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

2009-11-12T04:23:00.000-05:00

King of kings, yet born of Mary
As of old on earth he stood
Lord of lords, in human vesture
in the body and the blood
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food

Let all mortal flesh keep silence

French Carol
Arranged by Sidney King
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Some Children See Him

2009-11-12T04:21:00.001-05:00

Some children see Him lily white
The baby Jesus born this night
Some children see Him lily white
with tresses soft and fair

Some children see Him bronzed and brown
The Lord of heaven to earth come down
Some children see Him bronzed and brown
With dark and heavy hair

Some children see Him almond-eyed
This Savior wgin we kneel beside
Some children see Him almond-eyed
With skin of yellow hue

Some children see Him dark as they
Sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray
Some children see Him dark as they
And ah! they love Him too

The children in each different place
Will see the baby Jesus' face
Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace
And filled with holy light

O lay aside each earthly thing
And with thy heart as offering
Come worship now the infant King
'Tis love that's born tonight

Alfred Burt
Arranged by Sidney King
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009

Tsaba, tsaba

2009-11-12T04:20:00.000-05:00

Come join us in celebration,
come join us in joyful song,
come join us across the nation:
Jesus is born.

Tsaba, tsaba!
amahy brakes!
Tsaba, tsaba!
Jesus is born!

We sing and the whole world sees us,
we sing, and the people hear,
we sing of the baby Jesus:
Christmas is near.

Tsab, tsaba!
amahy brakes!
Tsaba, tsaba!
Christmas is near!

Christmas is a time for giving,
Christmas is a time for prayer.
Christmas is for people living
everywhere.

O! Tsaba, tsaba!
amahy brakes!
Tsaba, tsaba
amahy brakes!

We sing of the Christmas story,
we sing and we clap our hands,
we sing now in God's great glory
all over the land.

Botswana traditional
Arranged by Peter Gritton
Words by Peter Gritton
Sung by The Freudig Singers, Christmas Pie 2009