Concert Program – Arizona Cantilena Chorale

Rejoice, O virgin mother of God, Mary full of grace,
the Lord is with thee: blessed are thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of the womb,
for thou hast borne the savior of our souls.

Sleep
Charles Anthony Silvestri (b. 1965)

The evening hangs beneath the moon,
A silver thread on darkened dune.
With closing eyes and resting head
I know that sleep is coming soon.

Upon my pillow, safe it bed,
A thousand pictures fill my head;
I cannot sleep, my mind’s aflight;
And yet my limbs seem made of lead.

If there are noises in the night,
A frightening shadow, flickering light;
Then I surrender unto sleep,
Where clouds of dream give second sight.

What dreams may come, both dark and deep,
Of flying wings and soaring leap
As I surrender unto sleep,
As I surrender unto sleep.

Little Birds
Octavio Paz (1914-1998)

Noon
Light unblinking,
time empty of minutes,
a bird stopped short in air.

Later
Light flung down,
the pillars awake
and, without moving, dance.

Full Sun
The time is transparent:
even if the bird is invisible,
let us see the color of his song.

Dark Night of the Soul
St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)

One dark night,
fired with love’s urgent longings
– ah, the sheer grace! –
I went out unseen,
my house being now all stilled.

In darkness, and secure,
by the secret ladder, disguised,
– ah, the sheer grace! –
in darkness and concealment,
my house being now all stilled.

On the glad night,
in secret, for no one saw me,
nor did I look at anything,
with no other light or guide
than the one that burned in my heart.

The Road Not Taken
Robert Forst (1873-1963)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

The took the other as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Has worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Knowing way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Choose Something Like a Star
Robert Forst (1873-1963)

O Star (the fairest one is sight),
We grant you loftiness the right
To some obscurity of cloud –
It will not do to say of night,
Since dark is what brings out your light.

Some mystery becomes the proud.
But to be wholly taciturn
In you reserve is not allowed.
Say something to us we can learn
By heart and when alone repeat.
Say something! And is says, ‘I burn.’
But say with what degree of heat.
Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade.
Use language we can comprehend.
Tell us what elements you blend.
It gives us strangely little aid,
But it does tell something in the end.

And steadfast as Keats’ Eremite,
Not even stooping from its sphere,
It asks a little of us here.
It asks of us a certain height,
So when at times the mob is swayed
To carry praise or blame to far,
We may choose something like a start
To stay our minds on and be staid.

Dame la mano (Give me your hand)
Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957)

Give me your hand and we will dance;
give me your hand and you will love me.
We will be like a single flower,
A flower and nothing more.

We will sing the same verse,
You will dance the same step
We will undulate like an ear of wheat,
Like an ear of wheat, and nothing more.

You are called Rosa and I am called Esperanza;
But you will forget your name,
‘Cause we will be a dance,
On the hill and nothing more.

Promesa a las estrellas (Promise to the Starts)
Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957)

Little eyes of the stars
Open in dark velvet:
From on high
Do you see me pure?

Little eyes of the stars
With restless eyelashes
Why are you blue, red
And violet?

Little eyes of the stars
Fixed on the serene sky
Say: from above,
Do you see me good?

Little eyes of the stars
Fixed on one and then the other, I swear
That you will always look at me,
And always see purity.

La Huella (The Footprint)
Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957)

From the Fugitive Man
I have only the footprint
The weight of his body
The wind that carries him.
Neither signs nor name,
Neither country nor village:

Only the wet shell,
Of his footprint
Only this syllable
That the sand picked up
And the Earth – Veronica
That murmurs to me

(Middle Section)
Only the wet shell,
Of his footprint
Only this syllable
That the sand picked up
And the Earth – Veronica
That murmurs to me
And his daughter, the blood,
Who shouts after him:
The footprint, my God,
The painted footprint:
The mouthless scream,
The footprint, the footprint!

i thank You God fo most this amazing day
e.e. cummings (1897-1962)

i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of all nothing—human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

Feller from Fortune
Canadian folk song

Oh, there’s lots of fish in Bonavist’ harbour,
Lots of fish right in around here’
Boys and girls are fishin’ together’
Forty-five from Carbonear.

Oh, catch-a-hold this one, catch-a-hold that one
Swing around this one, swing around she;
Dance around this one, dance around that one
Diddle-dum this one, diddle-dum dee.

Oh, Sally is the pride of Cat Harbour,
Ain’t been swung since last year,
Drinkin’ rum and wine and cassis
What the boys brought home from St Pierre.

Oh, Sally goes to church every Sunday
Not for to sing nor for to hear,
But to see the feller from Fortune
What was down here fishin’ the year .

Oh, Sally’s got a bouncin’ new baby,
Father said that he didn’t care,
‘Cause she got that from the feller from Fortune
What was down here fishin’ the year.

Oh, Uncle George got up in the mornin’,
He got up in an ‘ell of a tear
And he ripped the arse right out of his britches
Now he’s got ne’er pair to wear.

Oh, there’s lots of fish in Bonavist’ Harbour,
Lots of fishermen in around here;
Swing your partner, Jimmy Joe Jacobs,
I’II be home in the spring of the year.

Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron
English folk song

‘Twas on a Monday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, oh
A-washing of her linen, oh
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
She stole my heart away

‘Twas on a Tuesday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, oh
A-startching of her linen, oh
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
She stole my heart away

‘Twas on a Wednesday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, oh
A-hanging out her linen, oh
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
She stole my heart away

‘Twas on a Thursday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, oh
A-ironing of her linen, oh
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
She stole my heart away

‘Twas on a Friday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, oh
A-folding of her linen, oh
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
She stole my heart away

‘Twas on a Saturday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, oh
A-airing of her linen, oh
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
She stole my heart away

‘Twas on a Sunday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, oh
A-wearing of her linen, oh
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
She stole my heart away

Hamilton Highlights
Lin-Manuel Miranda (b. 1980)

I am not throwing away my shot!
Who lives? Who dies? Who tells you story?

Alexander Hamilton we are
waiting in the wings for you.
You could never back down,
you never learned to take you time.
Alexander Hamilton, when America sings for you,
will they know what you overcame?
Will they know you rewrote the game?
The world will never be the same!

You’ll be back. Soon you’ll see.
You’ll remember you belong to me.
You’ll be back. Time will tell.
You’ll remember that I served you will.
Oceans rise, empires fall.
We have seen each other through it all,
and when push comes to shove,
I will send a fully armed battalion
to remind you of my love.

Everybody! Work, work!
Angelica! Work, work!
Eliza! And Peggy! Work, work!
The Schuyler sisters! Work!

Daddy said to be home by sundown.
Daddy doesn’t need to know.
Daddy said not to go downtown.
Like I said you’re free to go,
but, Look around, the revolution’s
happening in New York.

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal.
Look around, at how lucky we are
to be alive right now.

History is happening in Manhattan
and we just happen to be in the
greatest city in the world.

Wait for it. Life doesn’t discriminate
between the sinners and the saints,
it takes and we keep living anyway.
We rise and we fall and we break
and we make our mistakes.
And if there’s a reason I’m still alive
when so many have died.
Then I’m willing to wait for it.

Wait for it.
I am the one thing in life I can control.
Wait for it.
I am inimitable, I am an original.
Wait for it.
Hamilton’s pace is relentless. He wastes no time.
Wait for it.
What is it like in his shoes?

No one else was in the room where it happened.
No one really knows how the parties get to yes.
The pieces that are sacrificed in every game of chess.
We just assume that it happens.
But no one else is in the room where it happens.
I’ve got to be in the room where it happens.

Click-boom! I am not throwing away my shot!
Hey yo! I’m just like my country
I’m young scrappy and hungry.
I am not throwing away my shot.
We’re gonna rise up!
Time to take a shot! Time to take a shot!
I am not throwing away my shot!

Lift Every Voice and Sing
James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938)

Lift every voice and sing,
‘Til earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on ’til victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which your fathers sighed.
We have come, over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from our gloomy past,
‘Til now we stand at last
Where the bright gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.

NOTES ON THE PROGRAM

by Keith Lawson

20 years is a long time. Throughout those years, Cantilena has been defined as a group united in the joy of bringing music to life. From 2005 to 2025, Cantilena has been fortunate to be led by three outstanding directors.

Dr. Glenn Bennett founded what would become Cantilena in the summer of 2005. Glenn had a great passion for music and music performance. Glenn led the group for thirteen years and, during his time, Cantilena transitioned from being “Glenn’s group” to being a group that could stand on its own.

In 2018, Dr. Dave Thye joined Cantilena as principal conductor and artistic director. During his five years as director of Cantilena, Dave demonstrated his big heart at each rehearsal and at each performance. Whether it was at a local church, a cathedral in Portugal, or singing God Bless America at a NASCAR event, Dave’s love of music inspired and carried Cantilena forward.

In 2023, Dr. David Schildkret was selected to be Cantilena’s director. David brings a wealth of musical knowledge and a commitment to equality and diversity. Although we’ve only had a short time with David, we’ve already seen the benefits of his leadership.

Any discussion of Cantilena’s leadership must include our wonderful accompanists. Dr. Dian Baker was Cantilena’s original accompanist. Dian is an internationally acclaimed pianist. Her incredible skill was invaluable in the early Cantilena days. She and her husband, Eckart Sellheim, were generous in sharing their talent and expertise.

Dr. Robert Mills became Cantilena’s principal accompanist in 2013. His talents and musicianship are vital to Cantelina’s success; however, Robert is much more than our accompanist. When needed, he has assumed the role of rehearsal conductor, and his broad experience in vocal coaching has been a great benefit to Cantilena.

As president of the Arizona Cantilena Chorale, I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to Glenn, Dave, David, Dian, and Robert. You’ve enriched countless lives through your caring, skill, and dedication.

We are forever grateful,
Keith Lawson
President, Arizona Cantilena Chorale

Donor Recognition

We humbly recognize all the individuals, businesses, foundations and government agencies that have played a large role in allowing Arizona Cantilena Chorale to look toward an exciting future of engaging, enriching and inspiring our audiences with beautiful music.

The list below includes supporters who have contributed financially to date since January 1, 2023. Please consider joining this honored list and donate online at www.AZCanti.org

BENEFACTOR ($10,000+)
Otto & Edna Neely Foundation
Lorraine Tschaeche

SPONSOR ($5,000-$9,999)

PATRON ($2,500-$4,999)
Tom & Louise Oliver

SUSTAINER ($1,000-$2,499)
Jack & Elisa Bartlett
Robert & Paula Beck
Richard & Joyce Fox
Virg & Donna Heusinkveld
Keith & Nan Lawson
Claudio & Marlynn Rey
Robert & Pauline Smith
Michael & Julia Vlach
David & Pamela Watson

FRIEND ($100-$999)
Jonathan & Harriet Askew
Les & Pat Bartlett
Kay Block
Ken & Hildie Brooks
Ken & Nancy Bucy
Jerry & Margaret Buza
Paul & Maureen Buza
Eugene & Paula Dahl
Ann Marie Foley
Kathleen Foley
Giselle Fox
James & Diane Gardiner
Betty Hiett
Sam & Jenny Kao
Monica Lesperance
Claudia McNiff
Richard & Susan Oliver
Kenneth & Gay Rhoades
Helen Robles
David Seaman
Gene Barnes & Karen Spencer-Barnes
Brad & Melanee Tiffany
Joel & Cheryl Wallace
Robert & Linda West
Tammy White