Fall Chorus and Guitar Concert

Program Notes:

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) – "Ode to Joy"

Ode to Joy is one of the most famous melodies in classical music, written by the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven. It comes from the final movement of his Ninth Symphony, which was completed in 1824.

In this arrangement for three guitars, each player has an important role—sometimes carrying the main melody, and other times supporting with harmony and bass lines.  

Traditional – "Scarborough Fair"

Scarborough Fair is a beautiful English folk song that dates back to at least the 17th century. The lyrics tell the story of a speaker who asks the listener to pass along a series of impossible tasks to a former love. The song is named after the historic Scarborough Fair, a popular trading event held in the town of Scarborough, England.

Its modal (often minor-sounding) harmonies between the chords and the classical fingerstyle patterns give it a mysterious sound and work together to create layers of texture.

Julie Flanders & Emil Adler – "Rain"

Written by Julie Flanders and Emil Adler of the composing duo, October Project, "Rain" is a vocal round. Simple in structure but rich in atmosphere, this performance invites the audience into a shared experience of harmony, timing, and connection.

Rain is falling on the windowsill
Clouds are covering the night
I will hold you
Till the storm is over
Till you waken to the light

Amy F. Bernon – Oceans and Stars

Oceans and Stars by Amy F. Bernon is a lyrical choral work about adventuring into the unknown, and feeling both small and infinite all at once.

For our singers, this piece offers a meaningful opportunity to explore expressive phrasing, blending vowels, and storytelling.

Friend, what will you see on your long journey? What will you see?
River, what adventures do you seek on your swift travels to the ocean deep?
What do you expect to find, so faraway from home?
Friend, I’ll miss you. Promise you won’t be gone long.

River, on your way, sing out your greatest song!
I’ll be here up on the shore, waiting for your safe return.
Live, you will live, grow you will grow, sing, you will sing, you’ll sing you will flow.

Friends and rivers go where they must go, leaving you waiting.
And when they return, they tell us stories, stories of oceans and stars. 

Traditional / Rollo Dilworth – The Water Is Wide with Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie

Arranged by Rollo Dilworth

In this moving arrangement, composer and conductor Rollo Dilworth brings together two beloved folk songs—The Water Is Wide, a traditional English ballad, and Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie, an African American work song attributed to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter. Though they come from different traditions, both songs share the deep emotional power of water as a symbol for life and love.

The water is wide, I cannot cross o’er. Neither have I wings to fly.
Build me a boat that can carry two, and both shall row my love and I.

A ship there is and she sails the sea. She’s loaded deep as deep can be.
But not so deep as the love I'm in. I know not if I sink or swim.

Bring me little water, Sylvie. Bring me little water now.
Bring me little water, Sylvie. Every little once in a while.

Oh Love is handsome and love is kind. Bright as a jew’l when first it’s new.
But love grows old and wxes cold, and fades away like morning dew. 

tUnE-yArDs – Water Fountain

Arranged by Kristopher Fulton

Originally written and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs, Water Fountain is a socially conscious song that blends pop and folk music. Inspired by Garbus’s observations of communities struggling with access to clean water, the piece mixes playful rhythms with an urgent message about scarcity, sustainability, and hope. 

No water in the water fountain
No side on the sidewalk
If you say Old Molly Hare, whatcha doin' there?
Nothing much to do when you're going nowhere
Woohaw!
Woohaw!
Gotcha
We're gonna get the water from your house

No water in the water fountain
No wood in the woodstock
If you say old Molly Hare, whatcha doin' there?
Nothing much to do when you're going nowhere,
Woohaw! Woohaw!
Gotcha
We're gonna get the water from your house 

Nothing feels like dying like the drying of my skin and lawn
Why do we just sit here while they watch us wither til we're gone?
I can't seem to feel it
I can't seem to feel it
I can't seem to feel I'll kneel, the cold steel

You will ride the whip
You'll ride the crack
No use in fighting back
You'll sledge the hammer if there's no one else to take the flak
I can't seem to feel it
I can't seem to find it
Your fist clenched my neck
We're neck and neck and neck

No water in the water fountain
No phone in the phone booth
If you say old Molly Hare
Whatcha doin' there
Jump back, jump back Daddy shot a bear
Woohaw! Woohaw!
Gotcha
We're gonna get the water from your house 

I saved up all my pennies and I gave them to this special guy
When he had enough of them he bought himself a cherry pie
He gave me a dollar
A blood-soaked dollar
I cannot get the spot out but
It's okay it still works in the store

Greasy man come and dig my well
Life without your water is a burning hell
Stuff me up with your home-grown rice
Anything make me look nice

**Se pou zanmi mwen, se pou zanmi mwen
And a two-pound chicken tastes better with friends
A two-pound chicken tastes better with two
And I know where to find you so

Listen to the words I said
Let it sink into your head
A vertigo round-and-round-and-round
Now warmin’ the bed
How did I get ahead?
Whoop!
Thread your fingers through my hair
Fingers through my hair
Give me a dress
Give me a dress
A give a caress
Would-ja, would-ja, would-ja

Listen to the words I say!
Sound like a floral bouquet
A lyrical round-and-round-and-round
Okay
Take a picture it'll last all day, hey
Your fingers through my hair
Do it 'til you disappear
Gimme your head
Gimme your head
Hey hey hey hey hey

No water in the water fountain
Floral bouquet
A lyrical round-and-round-and-round
No side on the sidewalk
Take a picture it'll last all day, hey
And you say old Molly Hare, Hare
Nothing much to do when you're going nowhere

Woohaw!
Woohaw!

We're gonna get the water from your house, your house
We're gonna get the water from your house, your house
We're gonna get the water from your house, your house
We're gonna get the water from your house, your house

**Hatian Creole for: “It is for my friends, it is for my friends”