| ANGELS
The title of this cantata comes from the Greek angelos: messengers.
Angels as messengers  and
spiritual beings are an integral part of nearly every faith
and culture. This music contemplates the universal nature
of angels.
Angels
“I saw an angel in the stone, and carved to set it free.”
- Michelangelo
Robert Spittal, conductor
The Candlelight Singers
prepared by Darnelle Preston
Members of the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus
Kristina Ploeger, artistic director
Clarion Brass Choir
William Berry, music director
Janet Satre Ahrend, organ
Angels
A Cantata by William Berry
© Copyright 2002 William Berry All Rights
Reserved
I
Heralds
The message, lost in language, can be heard in music.
II
Unexpected Angels
Ancient souls, returned to earth,
Walk among us. Countless ages’
Wisdom, lost upon rebirth,
Flares again when brilliance rages.
Souls, who sing and live a psalm
Sung for generations past,
Bear the gifts of deeper calm,
Understanding, holding fast.
Such are the unexpected angels.
III
Bright Angel
Bright angel, where will you lead me?
Are you my muse? Are you my music, bright angel?
Can you draw this world of discord into harmony?
May I breathe in your spirit, bright angel,
And gather some comfort for the torment of my creation?
Might you teach me the grace of art, bright angel,
To help me see each thing’s own beauty?
Would you allow me to hear an eternal melody, bright angel,
And sing the peace in all of life?
Will you let me touch heaven, bright angel?
The nearest I can be on earth.
IIII
Guardians
A trumpet calls forth the host;
Their duty to watch.
Assembled by the muted echoes of past life,
A regiment of ghosts fords the river,
Recalled to unfinished kindnesses.
The house is warmed with an unseen caring;
The silence of night is undisturbed,
The array of stars untouched by fear,
And the rain is only kind.
A trumpet calls forth the host;
Their duty to watch.
The watchers keep special affinity
With those for whom the unknown ranks
Cannot be marching;
These guardians charged with deeds of affection.
The house is warmed with an unseen caring;
The fire of sunset portends nothing,
The golden moon is unchanged by legend,
And the rain is only kind.
A trumpet calls forth the host;
Their duty to watch.
V
This Night
This night, my child, you will sleep and the angels will come.
When the angels come,
You will know the peace you can know only now,
Now, before you know the world.
After this night, my child, you will sleep and the angels
will come.
When the angels come,
You will not know peace,
Only the comfort the angels can give
While you know the world.
One night, my child, you will sleep, and the angels will come.
When the angels come,
You will go with them.
You will know the peace you can know only then,
Then, when you no longer know the world,
When you will sing with the angels.
VI
Carol of the Angels
Whatever you have,
Whatever you have been given,
Give away.
All you have,
All you have been given,
Give away.
Whatever you have,
Whatever you have given away,
Will be returned.
All you have,
All you have given away,
Will be returned seven fold,
Seven thousand fold.
All you have,
All you have been given,
Give away.
VII
Heralds
The message, lost in language, can be heard in music.
William Berry is a composer who has written a variety of original
works and arrangements for brass, strings, full orchestra,
voice, and an assortment of odd combinations. About his music
in general, and Angels in particular, he says, “My overall
goal in writing music is simply to reach and communicate with
as many people as possible. My objective is to welcome and
sustain the interest of a wide range of listeners by writing
music that can be heard at once on multiple levels by the
casual listener or the connoisseur. I am attempting to achieve
this in Angels by centering the work around a nearly universal
subject matter which is also open for unlimited speculation
and digression.”
Berry is the founder and music director of Clarion as well
as other groups, including String Jam, an all-electric string
ensemble. Robert Spittal has been the conductor of Clarion
since 1995. Dr. Spittal is an Associate Professor of Music
and Chair of the Music Department at Gonzaga University where
he is Director of Bands and lectures on jazz history, conducting,
and music theory. Also a composer, his compositions have been
performed by professional and collegiate ensembles throughout
the United States.
Clarion, formed in 1992, is a brass choir which seeks to perform
new and challenging music and expand the repertoire for brass.
Clarion has recently performed the music of living American
composers Eric Ewazen, John Harbison, Alfred Reed, and Karen
Thomas and of course has also presented music by its conductor,
Robert Spittal, and music director, William Berry. In 2000,
Clarion released its first CD, Nutcracker Suite Dreams - Holiday
Music with the Clarion Brass Choir.
The Aeolian-Skinner Organ of 5,000+ pipes was installed in
St. John’s Cathedral in 1960. It is an organ capable of playing
all periods of repertoire and lends itself to the great symphonic
organ compositions. The four divisions of the organ are played
from one console which consists of three manuals and one pedal
board.
Robert Spittal, conductor
The Clarion Brass Choir:
Trumpets
William Berry
Larry Jess
Christopher Cook
Andrew Plamondon
Tenor Trombones
David Matern
Richard Strauch
Bass Trombone
Cameron Dunlop
Horns
Margaret Wilds
Charles Karschney
Roger Logan
Reid Smith
Tuba
Leonard Byrne
Percussion
Paul Raymond
Mark Tietjen
Organ
Janet Satre Ahrend
The Candlelight Singers,
professional singers brought together for this recording and
prepared by Darnelle Preston, include:
Soprano
Millie Brumbaugh
Andrea Lutchendorf
Darnelle Preston
Alto
Ann Brueggemeier
Angela Hunt
Angelika Wilson-Wipp
Tenor
Thom Barthelmess
Kelly Osterberg
Russell Seaton
Nick Strasser
Bass
Bob Farner
Max Mendez
Randel Wagner
Select
members of the Spokane Area Children's Chorus,
prepared by artistic director Kristina Ploeger:
Soprano
Kate Cubberley
Jessica Cummings
Brandon Dietrich
Ryan Hallett
Breanna Johnson
Lauren Randolph
Shanleigh Sullivan
Alto
Anna Dahl
Britta Dahlstrom
Meghan Goodner
Megan McLain
Katherine Meyers
Matthew Palfenier
Caitlin Wolfe
Soprano II
Deanna Davis
Jennifer Davis
Stephanie Hare
Kristen Nauditt
Nicholas Wittman
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