The Gotham City Music Collective presents

Spring Choral Showcase

MEZZO & THE GOTHAM CITY ChOIR

ST PAUL’S GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
31 MAY 2024

Please join us post-concert for a short reception followed by an afterparty at American Whiskey.

Thank you to Spinor Photos for photography. Instagram @spinorphotos

Learn more about Mezzo, a New York City–based all-female a cappella group.

Program Leaflet

Additional Notes on Repertoire
by Performance Order

Jericho
Mad World
New York State of Mind
Done for Me
Niska Banja
Cantique de Jean Racine
Sanctuary
The Pasture
Loch Lomond
Dreamboat Annie
Deh Vieni, Non Tardar
Journey to the Past
Say Something
Baba Yetu
Bridge Over Troubled Water

Jericho

by Iniko.

The Biblical Book of Joshua tells of the siege of Jericho, an ancient city in modern Palestine. God commanded Joshua to circle the city and blow a trumpet, causing the miraculously destruction of the fortress walls.

When I move, it’s an earthquake rumble
I will never, ever fall, never stumble
And I don’t need to be humble
Break down walls, like Jericho, crumble

Mad World

by Tears for Fears.

A 1982 song by Roland Orzabal, the lyrics reference the work of psychologist Arthur Janov.

And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles, it’s a very, very
Mad world, mad world

New York State of Mind

by Billy Joel.

From the 1976 album Turnstiles, Joel wrote the song on returning home to New York after a three year stint in Los Angeles.

Some folks like to get away
Take a holiday from the neighborhood
Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood
But I’m taking a Greyhound
On the Hudson River line
I’m in a New York state of mind

Done for Me

by Charlie Puth.

Featuring Kehlani and released as a single in 2018.

I won’t beg for your love
Won’t say, “Please”
I won’t fall to the ground on my knees
You know I’ve given this everything
Baby, honestly
Baby, honestly

I lie for you, baby
Die for you, baby
Cry for you, baby
But tell me what you’ve done for me
For you, baby
And only you, baby
The things I do, baby
But tell me what you’ve done for me

Niska Banja

by Dusan Cvetković. Arranged by Nick Page.

The 1927 bawdy Serbian Romani ballad The Baths of Nis Serbian Romani song about the party town of Niš, famed for its mineral baths. The lyrics are a mix of Serbo-Croatian and Rom, a flirtatious dance that basically means “Let’s go to the baths of Niš, where we shall kiss, kiss, kiss.”

Niška Banja, topla voda
Za Nišlije živa zgoda

Em karavla, em kameravla
Ando Niši na mekavla

Nišlike su fine dame
Nešeta ju nikad same

Jekduj duj duj, de šuj duj
Cu mi davte čaje sado muj

Cantique de Jean Racine

by Gabriel Fauré. Arranged by Phillip Legge.

First performed on 4 August 1866, the piece is named for Jean Racine, the author of the French lyrics Verbe égal au Très-Haut. Originally performed with strings and organ, the piece is now most known, with great acclaim, for John Rutter’s arrangement for strings and harp.

Verbe égal au Très-Haut, notre unique espérance
Jour éternel de la terre et des cieux
De la paisible nuit nous rompons le silence:
Divin sauveur, jette sur nous les yeux
Répands sur nous le feu de ta grâce puissante;
Que tout l’enfer fuie au son de ta voix;
Dissipe ce sommeil d’une âme languissante
Qui la conduit à l’oubli de tes lois!
O Christ! Sois favorable à ce peuple fidèle
Pour te bénir maintenant assemblé;
Reçois les chants qu’il offre à ta gloire immortelle
Et de tes dons qu’il retourne comblé

Word of the Highest, our only hope,
Eternal day of earth and the heavens,
We break the silence of the peaceful night;
Saviour Divine, cast your eyes upon us!

Pour on us the fire of your powerful grace,
That all hell may flee at the sound of your voice;
Banish the slumber of a weary soul,
That brings forgetfulness of your laws!

O Christ, look with favour upon your faithful people
Now gathered here to praise you;
Receive their hymns offered to your immortal glory;
May they go forth filled with your gifts.

Sanctuary

by Jason Robert Brown. Arranged by Mac Huff.

Jason Robert Brown is best known for his compositions in musical theater, winning multiple Tony awards for productions like Parade and The Bridges of Madison County. The piece was released in 2020 and contains the longing for connection ubiquitously felt during the Covid pandemic.

That’s a siren
There’s an ambulance down in the street
Shut the window
Close the curtain, the lights are blinding

I can’t hear with the children crying
I can’t think with the anger flying
I can’t breathe with my mentors dying
And I, I am searching for sanctuary, will you shelter me?
I am writing your name in the air, can you see me?
I am searching for sanctuary, will you shelter me?

You’ve been waiting
I can tell from your steps in the hall
You’ve been silent
Keeping watch as the world’s unwinding

You are standing in isolation
You have shut down communication
You are leading your own migration
And I, I am searching for sanctuary, will you shelter me?
I am stretching my arms to the sky, can you reach me?
I am searching for sanctuary, will you shelter me?

If you’ll be my walls, if you’ll be my roof
If you’ll keep me safe, I will give you music

I am searching for sanctuary, will you shelter me?
I am lost at the end of the world, can you find me?

I am reaching for sanctuary, will you shelter me?
I am praying for sanctuary, will you shelter me?
I am here, I am here, I am here
Will you shelter me?

The Pasture

by Z. Randall Stroope. Lyrics by Robert Frost.

Number 2 from Where the Earth Meets the Sky. Composer Stroope says of the piece” This is a work about a relationships – that no matter how small or large a task, it is more meaningful when the two people share it together.”

I’m going out to clean the pasture spring (I shan’t be long)
I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away (I shan’t be long)
And wait to watch the water clear, I may
I shan’t be gone long—you come too.

I’m going out to fetch the little calf (I shan’t be long)
The calf that’s by the mother (I shan’t be long)
It is so young, it totters when she licks it with her tongue
I shan’t be gone long—you come too.

Loch Lomond

Scottish Traditional. Arranged by Jonathan Quick.

Loch Lomond (‘Lake of the Elms’) is the largest lake in Great Britain, found in Scotland near Glasgow. Evidence suggests humans settled nearby during the neolithic era, and–somewhere in the next 5000 years–developed this ballad. This song is most likely a tale about two of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s men, captured and left behind in Carlisle after the failed rising of 1745. One is to be executed, while the other is set free. According to Celtic tradition, the condemned man’s spirit would return to his homeland via the “low road.” His spirit would reach Scotland before his comrade gets home, but he will never meet his true love again.

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond

Oh ye’ll take the high road, and I’ll take the low road,
And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond

‘Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep sides of Ben Lomond
Where deep in purple hue the Highland hills we view
And the moon coming out in the gloamin’

The wee birdies sing and the wild flowers spring
And in sunshine the waters lie sleeping
But the broken heart will ken nae second spring again
And the world knows not how we are grieving

Dreamboat Annie

by Heart.

The title track of Heart’s debut album 1976.

Heading out this morning, into the sun
Riding on the diamond waves, little darlin’ one

Warm wind caress her, her lover it seems
Oh Annie, dreamboat Annie
Ship of dreams
Oh Annie, dreamboat Annie
Little ship of dreams

Going down the city sidewalk
Alone in the crowd
No one knows the lonely one
Whose head’s in the clouds

Sad faces painted over with those magazine smiles
Heading out to somewhere
Won’t be back for a while

Deh Vieni, Non Tardar

by Mozart.

1786 saw Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) Burgtheater in Vienna, widely celebrated as one of the greatest operas written. Here Susanna serenades Figaro to trust in her loyalty as they struggle to get married over the objection of the Count Almaviva. The plot is based on a play by Pierre Beaumarchais banned by Emperor Joseph II for its portrayal of class struggle.

Giunse alfin il momento
Che godro senz’affanno
In braccio all’idol mio
Timide cure uscite dal mio petto!
A turbar non venite il mio diletto.
O come par che all’amoroso foco
L’amenita del loco,
La terra e il ciel risponda.

Come la notte i furti miei risponda
Deh vieni, non tardar, o gioja bella
Vieni ove amore per goder t’appella
Finche non splende in ciel notturna face
Finche l’aria e ancor bruna,
E il mondo tace.
Qui mormora il ruscel, qui scherza l’aura
Che col dolce susurro il cor ristaura
Qui ridono i fioretti e l’erba e fresca
Ai piaceri d’amor qui tutto adesca.
Vieni, ben mio, tra queste piante ascose.
Vieni, vieni!
Ti vo’ la fronte incoronar di rose.

The moment finally arrives
When I’ll enjoy [experience joy] without haste
In the arms of my beloved…
Fearful anxieties, get out of my heart!
Do not come to disturb my delight.
Oh, how it seems that to amorous fires
The comfort of the place,
Earth and heaven respond,
[Oh, it seems that earth, heaven and this place
answerer my heart’s amorous fire.]

As the night responds to my ruses.
Oh, come, don’t be late, my beautiful joy
Come where love calls you to enjoyment
Until night’s torches no longer shine in the sky
As long as the air is still dark
And the world quiet.
Here the river murmurs and the light plays
That restores the heart with sweet ripples
Here, little flowers laugh and the grass is fresh
Here, everything entices one to love’s pleasures
Come, my dear, among these hidden plants.
Come, come!
I want to crown you with roses.

Journey to the Past

by Stephen Flaherty. Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.

Debuted by Liz Callaway as the titular Princess Anastasia in the 1997 animated musical.

Heart, don’t fail me now
Courage, don’t desert me
Don’t turn back now that we’re here
People always say
Life is full of choices
No one ever mentions fear
Or how the world can seem so vast
On a journey to the past

Somewhere down this road
I know someone’s waiting
Years of dreams just can’t be wrong
Arms will open wide
I’ll be safe and wanted
Finally home where I belong
Well, starting now, I’m learning fast
On this journey to the past

Home, love, family
There was once a time I must have had them, too
Home, love, family
I will never be complete until I find you

One step at a time
One hope, then another
Who knows where this road may go?
Back to who I was
On to find my future
Things my heart still needs to know

Yes, let this be a sign!
Let this road be mine!
Let it lead me to my past
And bring me home, at last

Say Something

by A Great Big World. Arranged by André van der Merwe.

This 2011 breakup ballad by A Great Big World was rerecorded with Christina Aguilera won a 2013 Grammy. André van der Merwe arranged the choral piece for Stellenbosch University Choir.

Say something, I’m giving up on you
I’ll be the one if you want me to
Anywhere, I would’ve followed you
Say something, I’m giving up on you

And I am feeling so small
It was over my head
I know nothing at all
And I will stumble and fall
I’m still learning to love
Just starting to crawl

Say something, I’m giving up on you
I’m sorry that I couldn’t get to you
Anywhere, I would’ve followed you
Say something, I’m giving up on you

And I will swallow my pride
You’re the one that I love
And I’m saying goodbye

Baba Yetu

by Christopher Tin.

Tin’s piece is the first among the very few video game compositions to be nominated for and win a Grammy Award. Composed as the theme song for the video game Civilization IV in 2005, the lyrics are the Lord’s Prayer translated to Swahili.

Baba yetu, yetu uliye
Mbinguni yetu, yetu amina!
Baba yetu, yetu uliye
Jina lako litukuzwe.
Utupe leo chakula chetu
Tunachohitaji utusamehe
Makosa yetu, hey!
Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe
Waliotukosea usitutie
Katika majaribu, lakini
Utuokoe, na yule, muovu e milele!
Ufalme wako ufike utakalo
Lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni. (Amina)

Our Father, who art
in Heaven. Amen!
Our Father,
Hallowed be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread,
Forgive us of
our trespasses
As we forgive others
Who trespass against us
Lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one forever.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven. (Amen)

Bridge Over Troubled Water

by Paul Simon. ARRANGED BY KIRBY SHAW.

This song, rearranged to a fresh, gospel-style setting by composer Kirby Shaw, is folk duo Simon & Garfunkel’s most celebrated song, winning five Grammys in 1971, and topping the US pop chart for a six-weeks.

I’ll be your bridge over troubled water
When you’re down, I will carry you
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down

When you’re weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all
I’m on your side when times get rough
And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down

When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street, my Lord
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you
I’ll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you ever need a friend
Look around, I’m sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind