Gentle Stranger

Music for the Christmas Season

Program Notes

by Roger Stratton

The inspiration for this recording was a candlelight Christmas concert that Monica and I gave in 2007. At the time there were many requests for a CD, so the idea grew from that seed. When we decided to pursue the recording we knew immediately that we wanted to include our friend, violinist Sarah Bertsch. Though not a member of Guardian Angels, she has been a regular performer on our summer concerts, and is a wonderful collaborator. The repertoire consists of “Stratton favorites” – traditional carols and choral pieces that we love, and that adapted themselves well to this trio of musicians.

The First Noel

Our rendition is based on a piano arrangement by jazz composer Chuck Marohnic. Marohnic’s Christmas settings are brilliant, and are highly recommended to any pianists in the audience.

Angelus ad virginem (The Angel spoke to the Virgin)

We were introduced to this catchy Medieval tune by the Athenaeum Chorale in Cincinnati. It’s our go-to song whenever we happen to wander into a place with live acoustics, especially in tunnels and under bridges. The arrangement plays up the “You must pay the rent!”/”I can’t pay the rent!” aspect of the dialogue between Gabriel and Mary.

When the angel came secretly to the Virgin in her room, soothing the maiden's fear, he said: "Hail!” “Hail, Queen of virgins. While yet untouched by man you shall conceive and bear the Lord of heaven and earth, salvation for mankind. You have become the gate of heaven, a remedy for sins."

"How can I conceive, since I have not known a man? How can I break the vow I made with firm intent?" "The grace of the Holy Spirit shall bring all this to pass. Fear not, but rejoice, secure in the knowledge that pure chastity shall remain yours through God's mighty power."

To this the noble Virgin replied, saying: "I am the lowly handmaiden of Almighty God. I bend my will to you, O celestial messenger, who share so great a mystery, and I long to see performed
what I now hear. I am ready to yield myself to God's design."

A minuit fut fait un reveil (At Midnight an Alarm Was Sounded)

This simple retelling of the Christmas story was a recent find. The melody is quoted in the last movement of Charpentier’s famous Messe de Minuit.

At midnight a great alarm was sounded, such as never before was heard, in the country of Judea.

The shepherds had fallen asleep while watching their sheep and lambs along the green meadows.

They were greatly astonished when in less than a second they heard what seemed an army.

“Do not fear, my good friends; I have come to you to proclaim peace everlasting.

Mariä Wiegenlied (Mary’s Lullaby)

A classic that never gets old. The piano part is loosely based on the German carol “Joseph lieber, Joseph mein”.

Mary sits in the rose bower, rocking her Jesus Child,

softly through the foliage the warm wind of summer blows.

At her feet there sings a brightly-plumaged bird:

Go, sweet child, to sleep, go now to sleep!

Lovely is your smile, lovelier your slumber’s joy,

lay your weary little head close to your mother’s breast.

Go, sweet child, to sleep, go now to sleep!

Shepherds, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep

Composer Nancy Grundahl has written many masterful arrangements of carols and hymns for solo voice and piano. This old French tune is a real charmer, especially with the anonymous English text.

Polish Lullaby (Lulajże Jezuniu)

Another Nancy Grundahl arrangement, this one of a song that has a special place in the hearts of many Polish-Americans. Special thanks to Iwona Srienc for help with pronunciation.

Lullaby, Jesus, my Dear one, be sleeping. Lullaby, Jesus, while watch I am keeping.
Lullaby, baby, my darling, I love you. Your mother will sing and so gently will rock you.

When you awaken, Sweet Jesus, I'll give you raisins and almonds and sweet berries too.
Lullaby, baby, my darling, I love you. Your mother will sing and so gently will rock you.

Hush, he is sleeping while stars shine above us; Like the bright sun is the sweet baby Jesus.
Lullaby, baby, my darling, I love you. Your mother will sing and so gently will rock you.

Shcho to za predïvo (Oh, What a Wonder!)

An incredibly haunting melody from Ukraine.

Oh what a wonder! The news has gone forth that the Virgin Mary has borne a Son.
And when she bore him, she exclaimed: “Jesus, my Son!”

Old man Joseph stands in the cavern and prepares swaddling clothes for Jesus, the Christ;
then Mary wraps him and presses him close to her heart. Virgin most pure!

Huron Carol (´Twas in the Moon of Wintertime)

Fr. Jean Brébeuf was a missionary to the Huron people in present-day Canada. He wrote a Christmas song in the Huron language using native imagery and ideas, which he set to an old French tune. The text recorded here was written by J.E. Middleton in the early 20^th century; it reflects a sentimental (some would say patronizing) attitude toward native culture, but has such elegant poetic clarity that it is worth singing. Read more about this carol’s translation controversy here. Note that “Gitchi Manitou” (mentioned in verse one) is an Anishinaabe name for “Great Spirit”.

This beautiful arrangement, originally for oboe and choir, was written by Dale Warland, Monica’s conductor for many years.

Bereden väg för Herren (Prepare the Way, O Zion)

Monica was introduced to this Swedish Advent hymn in the Dale Warland Singers. The melody comes from the Dalarna region, an area steeped in folk tradition which I visited as a child. The harmonization was written by Margareta Jalkeus for a vocal jazz ensemble called the Real Group.

Prepare the way, O Zion! Ye awful deeps, rise high; Sink low, ye towering mountains, The Lord is drawing nigh;
The righteous King of glory, Foretold in sacred story. O blest is He that came In God the Father’s Name.

O Zion, He approacheth, Thy Lord and King for aye! Strew palms where He advanceth, Spread garments in His way.
God’s promise faileth never, Hosanna sound forever! O blest is He that came In God the Father’s Name.

Fling wide thy portals, Zion, And hail thy glorious King; His tidings of salvation To every people bring,
Who, waiting yet in sadness, Would sing His praise in gladness. O blest is He that came In God the Father’s Name.

Judah's Land

We can thank iTunes for this one; last year I was researching Appalachian carols for one of our evensong liturgies and stumbled across a recording of this carol. The refrain gives us our album title; Christmas is all about welcoming strangers. Maybe strange songs, too.

What Child Is This?

The Elizabethan song Greensleeves was adapted into a Christmas hymn by the Victorian hymn-writer William Chatterton Dix. The melody can be performed in a variety of modes (kinds of scales). As music historians have changed their understanding of Renaissance musical notation, the piece has been published in different modes. After years of trying to figure out the “correct” mode, I’ve finally decided to use whatever mode fits the mood of the occasion. For what it’s worth, this arrangement is in melodic-minor-with-Picardy-third.

Christmas Lullaby

John Rutter has written oodles of Christmas tunes. Sentimental as can be, but we love him for it. This is one of our favorites.

Carol (Flocks Feed by Darkness)

Thomas Merton wrote this poem at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, transferring the Nativity story to an Appalachian barn.

Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Zion (from Messiah)

The version recorded here is Handel’s second version, in 12/8 instead of the more commonly heard 4/4. The lilt makes it very satisfying.

Nos Galan (Deck the Hall)

A Welsh carol for New Year. In addition to the familiar English-language text, Monica sings one verse in Welsh:

Cold is the snow on Mt. Snowden
Even though she is snuggled in her woolen blanket.
Cold are the people who do not make the effort
To gather together on New Year’s Eve!

Traditionally, verses would have been improvised, with harp interludes in between. Those harp interludes turned into the “fa la la” phrases that we sing today.

A New Year Carol

Benjamin Britten found this anonymous text in a children’s poetry anthology. The symbolism of the text appears to be related to traditional celebrations of the Spring Equinox. The “Fair Maid” is presumably a Goddess figure, who at some point would have been popularly understood as representing the Virgin Mary. The East and West doors evoke the passage of the year, as does the journey from the fair maid’s chin to her toe. “Levy dew” is possibly a corruption of “Levez à Dieu” (“Raise to God”), referring to the elevation of the host at mass. No one has any explanation for the bugles and wires!

 Here we bring new water from the well so clear For to worship God with, this happy New Year
 Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine; The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.
 
 Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her toe, Open you the West Door, and turn the Old Year go.
 Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine; The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.
 
 Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her chin, Open you the East Door, and let the New Year in.
 Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine; The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.

A Child Is Born (on a Silent Night)

“A Child Is Born” was originally a jazz instrumental piece; words were added later. The song is not overtly Christmas-related but it has become a holiday classic anyway. Arranger Tom Anderson combines it here with “Silent Night”.

Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day

This lively old English carol was probably written to accompany Medieval mystery plays.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Written for the movie Meet Me in St. Louis, this is a simple song with a fascinating history. Listen here to an interview with the composer, Hugh Martin.

Performers

Monica Stratton is a children’s librarian with Ramsey County Library. She studied at St. Olaf College, New England Conservatory and the University of Illinois, and has sung with a variety of professional choirs in Boston, Cincinnati and the Twin Cities. She sang for eight years with the Dale Warland Singers.

Roger Stratton is music director of Guardian Angels Church. He studied at Oberlin College and New England Conservatory, and has worked in a variety of churches. His compositions are published by Alliance Music Publications, World Library Publications, and Earlham College Press.

Sarah Bertsch is a freelance violinist who studied at St. Olaf College and St. John’s School of Theology. She has toured nationally with pianist Don Irwin and Christian artist Fernando Ortega, and internationally with a number of music outreach teams through Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, MN.  Sarah currently teaches private violin lessons at The Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, WI, and contracts various string ensembles through her music business, Strings By Sarah. 

All proceeds from the sale of Gentle Stranger will support Guardian Angels Music Ministry.