For the Joy of the Singing

Stream

Accord Ensemble

Emma Kartes
Caleigh Seitz
Kait Jackson
Rebecca Ritz
Rebecca Alley
Alliah Krahn
Ev Adnams
Neal Neigel

Artistic Director: Erin Craig
Accompanist: Talesa Mandin

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Program

Up-Hill

Kathryn Rose, 2014
Words by Christina Rossetti

Does the road wind up-hill all the way?
Yes, to the very end.
Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?
From morn to night, my friend.

But is there for the night a resting-place?
A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.
May not the darkness hide it from my face?
You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
Those who have gone before.
Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?
They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
Of labour you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
Yea, beds for all who come.

Madre, la de los Primores

Juana Ines de la Cruz, 1686

Madre, la de los primores,
la que es virgen siendo madre,
la madre de tantas hijas,
y madre de tantos padres.

Goza hoy en tu templo felicidades,
pues de tu esposo eres divino Atlante.

The Journey

Heather Soderling, 2016

The road is long, the journey winding,
The night is cold, and you’re so weary,
You can’t stop now, there is no going back,
Press on, press on, it’s not hope you lack.

The stones are rough, the stars are dying,
Your steps grow short, your burden heavy,
You can’t stop now, one way must you go,
Press on, press on, this truth you must know.

For though your muscles tremble, and tear run down your face,
Still a fire flickers, and keeps apace,
You are not alone, I am here for you,
Let me share your burden, and journey with you too.

The night is dark, but dawn is coming,
Wrap yourself warm, and keep on breathing,
You can’t stop now, you wouldn’t want to,
Press on, press on, I am close to you.

For though your muscles tremble, and tear run down your face,
Still a fire flickers, and keeps apace,
You are not alone, I am here for you,
Let me share your burden, and journey with you too.

Rabbits All Around

Maggie Furtak, 2013

Every summer long ears grow
In between the garden rows;
Gobbled up by dandy lions:
Tabby cats with regal lines.

Bitter, bitter and sweet,
Red sky in the morning,
Bitter, bitter and sweet,
All small souls take warning!

But dandelions the bunnies eat,
And bitter greens make bunnies sweet,
So when you tremble the long grass,
Little rabbit, you may pass.

So bitter, bitter and sweet,
Oh, what is the matter?
Bitter, bitter and sweet,
All the rabbits scatter.

Every summer long ears grow
In between the garden rows.
Let no harm fall upon the head
Of she who weeds my radish bed.

Wau Bulan

Traditional Malaysian song, arr, Tracy Wong, 2017

Ewah buleh teraju tigo.
Wow, the three-cornered moon.

Alah ewah teraju tigo
Wow, the three-cornered moon.

Joy Will Lead You

Stuart Beatch, 2022

i love to put my heart on things
see, love is a resonance that rings
it’s a bell so delightful
so delightful as it sings
how i adore all the joy it brings

so i’m devoted
in supporting all your wonder
as you draw out your radiant colour
your heart, eyes, focused like a hunter
following your bliss, through your inner splendour

and in choosing the “practical” you hate
all your being, you doing, a heavy weight
this elicits all your worst,
now you’re irate loathing self,
and your elation, you negate

and this spirals down and down until you’re lost
wand’ring sadly to and fro, this is the cost
be practical, be realistic
what we’ve been taught is it clear yet,
the anguish this has brought?

so now take action,
what is your highest thrill?
ask your heart now, what’s it yearning to fulfil?
with fiery fervour,
you develop your true gift
soon you’ll see your whole life begins to shift

and thus is your love so magnified
it grows bigger stronger brighter,
let’s recognize how by practising delight
you’ve clarified you’re now your greatest highest you,
you’re so alive
you’re so alive
you’re alive

so cultivate delight,
for this is Life’s great clue
Joy will lead you
to your true authentic you

Everyone Sang

Isaac Lovdahl, 2021
Words by Seigfried Sassoon

Everyone suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom,
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark-green fields; on – on – and out of sight.

Everyone’s voice was suddenly lifted;
And beauty came like the setting sun:
My heart was shaken with tears; and horror
Drifted away … O, but Everyone
Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done.

Song for the Searching

Katerina Gimon, 2017

Welcome to the song we have built;
The song we have lived in, the song that lives in us.
The searching, the lost and found,
We all have passed through: leaving our marks on these walls
And climbing our staircase, it does not end.
In harmony’s name our every voice ascends.

There is dark, but we never needed a light.
There is cold, but we never needed a fire.
There is hope, still burning wild and bright;
This song our light, our fire, our light, ourselves.

They too are searching, have been lost and found:
Our sounds that travel outward in all weather.
Steeped in moon or sun, winds weak or strong,
They will return to us who keep raising this song.

There is dark, but we never needed a light.
There is cold, but we never needed a fire.
There is hope, still burning wild and bright;
This song our light, our fire, our light, ourselves.

Accord Ensemble will be welcoming new members for the second half of our season starting in January 2023. If you are interested in auditioning or would like to learn more, contact accordensemble1@gmail.com.

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A note from the Board

Accord Ensemble is a community for young adults to make music together. The pandemic has created challenges for everyone, including arts organizations, to do things differently. We have strived to maintain our connections with members and the community throughout the pandemic and have pivoted many times to be able to continue making music together, one way or another. We want to thank the members of Accord Ensemble for their patience and agility and our Accord community who have supported us along the way. We are excited to be able to share this music with you tonight, both online and in person!

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Thank You

Accord Ensemble would like to thank the Staff and Communities of St. Paul’s Anglican for use of their facilities, Matthew McGuigan and Ev Adnams for producing the stream, our front of house crew for volunteering their time, Talesa Mandin for accompaniment, and our Board of Directors for their work to make this evening’s production possible. Thank you to Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Edmonton Arts Council for grant funding to support Accord Ensemble.