Music Box
November 27, 2022
Katherine Edison, soprano
Jubal Joslyn, tenor
Cathryn Wilkinson, piano
Prelude
“From the heart of Mary”
Katherine Edison, soprano
Cathryn Wilkinson, piano
My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord (Magnificat)……Randall Thompson
Tota Pulchra Es, Maria……Ernst Chausson
The Sun Shall Be No More Thy Light……Maurice Greene
Virgin’s Slumber Song……Max Reger
“Alleluia” from Exsultate, Jubilate, K. 165……W.A. Mozart
Offertory
“For the Beauty of the Earth” John Rutter
Katherine Edison, soprano Jubal Joslyn, tenor
Communion
O Magnum Mysterium (O great mystery)……Morten Lauridsen
Postlude
People, Look East, the Time is Near……arr. Wayne Wold
About the Music
Music “From the Heart of Mary” centers on the willingness of the young Mary to do God’s will. In Luke, chapter 1:46, Mary begins the preparation for the Christmas story with her song, “Magnificat.” She sings, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” Words from the Song of Solomon, “How beautiful you are, my love,” are ascribed to Mary as the beautiful girl, chosen to become the mother of Christ. Isaiah 60:19 foretells the glory that Mary was to witness at the birth of Christ, “The LORD will be your everlasting light.” Mary lived firsthand through the experience of this great mystery (O magnum mysterium). And at the birth of Christ, the poet imagines Mary singing this sonnet:
Mary’s Lullaby
Mary sits by the rose bower
And rocks her little Jesus,
Softly through the leaves
The warm wind of summer blows.
A brightly coloured bird
Sings at her feet:
Go to sleep, sweet child,
It’s time to go to sleep!
Your smile is lovely,
Your happy sleep lovelier still,
Lay your tired little head
Against your mother’s breast!
Go to sleep, sweet child,
It’s time to go to sleep!
By Martin Boelitz
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of: The Book of Lieder (Faber); The Complete Songs of Hugo Wolf (Faber); A French Song Companion (Oxford University Press); The Spanish Song Companion (Scarecrow Press); The Penguin Book of English Song (Penguin Classics); and J.S. Bach: The Complete Cantatas (Scarecrow Press). Provided via Oxford Lieder (www.oxfordlieder.co.uk)
Welcome to Today’s Guest Performer
Katherine Edison, soprano, holds an MFA in Performance from the Art Institute in Chicago and is a member of the voice faculty at Monterey Peninsula College. Katherine’s career shows her passion for the arts: “In a world with so little harmony, I believe that it is my duty to teach and express the blessings of music.”
