~mericana - A Bit of Folk

AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC

I Gave My Love A Cherry Courtship Riddle Song(Stephen Paulus)

Courtship riddle songs were frequently used as the basis for American folksongs; this is perhaps the most popular of them all.

He's Goin' Away Mountain Song(Gail Kubik)

The words to this beloved mountain melody descend from an old Englishballad.

Little Bird, Little Bird Traditional(Gail Kubik)

A kind of endless singing game, millions of Americans have grown up singingthe tune and words upon wh ich th is setting is based.

Barbara Allen Kentucky Mountain Ballad(Stephen Paulus)

One of the oldest American ballads, the original Scottish melody has beenfound in innumerable versions virtually wherever British descendants went inAmerica. Barbara, slighted by Willie in public, gets even by refusing to admitshe loves him even though he is on his deathbed; his death brings her suchmisery, however, that she soon joins him in his grave - and they are united atlast.

Black Sheep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Traditional Lullaby(John Rutter)

Whalen's Fate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Lumberman's Song(Stephen Paulus)

The tragedy told by this ballad was a familiar scene to northwoods loggers,whose lives were constantly in peril from log jams, falling trees, illness, and thebitter Minnesota weather.

Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair Appalachian(Stuart Churchill)

Originally a girl's song of unrequited love discovered about 100 years agoin the Appalachian mountains, Black is the Color attained popularity in thiscentury as a man's elegy.

II

The Choral New Yorker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Irving FineChristine Dahl, piano (1914-1962)

I. PROLOGUE: Hen PartyII. SCHERZANDO: Caroline MillionIII. CONCERTANTE: Pianola d'AmoreIV. EPI LOGUE: Design for October

Settings of poems by Peggy Jacob, Isabelle MacMeekin, David McCord,and Jake Falstaff taken from various New Yorker periodicals, this suite demon-strates Irving Fine's mastery of choral writing. The extraordinary pianoaccompaniments are like little concerti in themselves, and feature the virtuosopianist as much as the chorus. Fine's untimely death from a heart attack in hismid-40's was a great loss to American music.

INTERMISSION

III

AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC

Shantyman's Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Lumberman's Song(Stephen Paulus)

The lumberman sang during his hours of leisure for his own entertainment.His life was rigorous, to be sure, but the tone of the songs describing his existencewas never complaining; instead, it revealed a spirit of pride in an occupation thatattracted stout and hearty men.

Shall We Gather At The River? Southern Hymn Tune(Stephen Paulus)

The words and melody to this much-loved gospel song are by Rev. RobertLowry, 1865.

Simple Gifts Shaker Song(Dale Warland)

One of the best-known songs from the tradition of the United Society ofBelievers in Christ's Second Appearing, commonly called "shaking Quakers"or "Shakers," Simple Gifts appeared in many collections from 1837-1847and honors that most pervasive of Shaker virtues - simplicity.

Wondrous Love Southern Folk Hymn(Jeffrey Van)

There is awe in the mood of this white spiritual, first harmonized in an almostmedieval manner by Billy Walker in his Southern Harmony of 1835.

Sourwood Mountain Fiddle Song(John Rutter)

This is one of the most spirited and popular of all the mountain fiddle tunes.There are as many variants of this song as there are counties and communitiesin the Kentucky and Tennessee mountains.

Shenandoah ' Voyageur River Song(Shaw-Parker)

This river song came from the American or Canadian voyageurs some 170years ago, and has been sung asa capstan chantey, a cavalry song on the westernplains, and a bawdy barracks ballad. It tells the story of a snubbed voyageurwho found solace with an Indian maiden (the daughter of the chief Shenandoah),finally leaving her on the shores of the Missouri River.

The Water is Wide. ; Traditional(Stephen Paulus)

Part of this song is derived from the old Scottish ballad, Waly, Waly, whichserved as the inspiration for many folk songs.

IV

Dance Set, Opus 32 (1980)Jerry Rubino, pianoBill O'Neil, clarinetDale Newton, cello

Joseph Holmquist, percussion

Libby Larsen(1950 -)

I. Two-Step and DragII. Her First WaltzIII. Polka

Written especially for The Dale Warland Singers under the auspices of theMinnesota State Arts Board Individual Fellowship Grant and dedicated to DaleWarland, Dance Set, for wordless chorus and instruments, is a reflection onAmerican dance music from the turn of the century. I am intrigued by thevitality of this music (the cake walk, fox trot, etc.) and have combined itsrhythmic vigor with a choral sound. I chose three dance forms - the two-step and drag, waltz, and polka - to make this set. In Two-Step and Drag,the couple begins dancing in duple meter; suddenly the rhythm changes in anattempt to fool the couple, creating a whimsical effect. Her First Waltz evokesthe image of a young girl shyly dancing; she begins tentatively, then whirlsgrandly into an elegant waltz. The Polka is a rhythmic, raucous, and jauntycountry dance.

-Libby' Larsen

INSTRUMENTALISTS

Kathy Kienzle, harpAdele Lorraine, fluteJeffrey Van, guitar

Wayne M. Kivell, Assistant ConductorDiana J. Leland, General Manager

George Berglund, Assistant Manager

SOPRANO ALTO TENOR

Rosemary L. Barenz*R uth BrewsterVictoria DeanSue Boxrud DonaldsonSigrid JohnsonElizabeth MillerMary L. OlsonMarie SathrumSue ShepardLinda Steen

Roxanne BentleyThea Sikora EngelsonJoanne HalvorsenElizabeth HolmesLynn Carol JonesChris LudwigMichaela Mahady

*Dianne PrieditisKay SandeenMarilyn SieberRica Jane VanRuth Warland

Paul AndersonGeorge BerglundCraig Edwall

*Rob EngelsonJames GoodrichTim JohnsonJoel LillethunPaul LohmanMichael MillerJerry D. NelsonA. Douglas NodlandWHliam Rollie

*section leaders

BASS

David BriggsSteve BurgerCary John FranklinLarry Lee HenselLloyd HjelleWaynne B. HornickeJack JaegerJerry RubinoFrank Steen

*Clyde ThompsonPaul van HoutenJohn Woodward

Cover Design by Michaela MahadyProgram Notes and Coordination by George Berglund

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THE DALE WAR LAND SINGERS

The Dale Warland Singers, now in its ninth season, is a 46-voice mixed professional choralensemble comprised of singers from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area which has received exten-sive national and international critical acclaim.

While building an extensive repertoire of standard a cappella choral music, The Dale WarlandSingers ensemble has made one of its most significant contributions with artistic performancesof 20th-century music. The long list of composers represents a wide variety of nationalitiesand musical styles.

The Dale Warland Singers appear regularly with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, MinnesotaOrchestra, and Minnesota Opera. In addition, they concertize throughout the central portionof the United States and broadcast regularly over public radio. In 1977 The Dale WarlandSingers toured Scandinavia at the request of the Swedish and Norwegian governments (Riks-konserterl, and recorded for both Swedish and Norwegian Radio.

Continually active in recording projects, The Dale Warland Singers may currently be heardon three recently-released digital recordings: Echoes of Christmas (Augsburgl. Choral Mosaic(Augsburg), and La Fiesta de la Posada (Columbia; with Dave Brubeck and The Saint PaulChamber Orchestra). Two albums of Scandinavian choral music, Gloria and Swedish ChoralBallads, have just been released by Walton Music Corporation. A new digital Christmas album,Carols of Christmas, will be released by Augsburg Publishing House in the summer of 1981.

DALE WAR LAND

Dale Warland, Professor of Choral Music at MacalesterCollege, received his B.A. from St. Olaf College, M.A.from the University of Minnesota, and D.M.A. fromthe University of Southern California. His academichonors include a Tanglewood scholarship and a FordFoundation grant which made possible a nine-monthstudy of choral music in England, Sweden, and Norway.He is an active composer and arranger, a member of theAmerican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers(ASCAPl. and has his own choral series with JensonPublications. Dr. Warland was recently appointed ChorusMaster for Minnesota Opera and awarded an IndividualArtist Grant by the Minnesota State Arts Board to workwith Robert Shaw, Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony.In January 1981 he appeared as Guest Conductor of TheSwedish Radio Choir (Stockholm) in a series of rehearsalsand broadcasts.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DALE WARLAND SINGERS, INC.

Arland D. BrusvenJ. Roger DeLange, Jr.Anders B. HimmelstrupJon Kietzer

May G. MunsonGordon W. OlsonMary K. SteinkeJames R. Treanor

Dale Warland

FUNDED IN PART BY THE FOLLOWING (as of April I S, 1981):

Benefactors/$I,OOO or moreDeluxe Check Printers FoundationGeneral Mills FoundationGraphic Systems, Inc.Grotto FoundationMetropolitan CouncilMunson, May G.National Endowment for the ArtsThe Saint Paul FoundationUnited Arts Fund

Partons/$250 - $999Brusven, Sharon and ArlandDeLange,1. Roger, Jr.The Jostens Foundation, Inc.Land 0' LakesNorthern States Power CompanyPiper, Jaffray & Hopwood

Sponsors/$IOO - $249Andersen, Elmer L.Bell, Frances and ArthurDenef, Ruth and LawrenceHovel, CharlotteKietzer, JonNorthwestern BellSchmitt FoundationWolsted, Donna and MichaelZastrow, LaVerne M.

Contributors/$50 - $99Anderson, Joyce L.Ericksen, Mr. and Mrs. LeifJones, Shirley and JamesNelson, Mark T.Waldeland, Dagny

Anchor Paper CompanyAugsburg Publishing HouseBrovold, JulieCommercial St-ate BankDeLange, J. Roger, Jr.Engelson, Thea and RobFirst Bank BurnsvilleFirst Bank GrandForner, Edouard

Donors/$l - $49Allen, CoralieAllen, Mrs. RolandAnderson, Mr. and Mrs. ArthurArmstrong, Jack L.Barnes, John D.Barnhart, LawrenceBerglund, LucileBiernat, Karen and LenBlack, Sheila W.Bloomington RentalBoehnke, Mr. and Mrs. GeorgeBond, Judy and DixonBOYd,MargeryBrown, NealCincotta, June W.Coenen, CharlesDeLange, Mrs. 1. Roger, Sr.Doepke, Katherine G.Dorsett, RebeccaDuty, Ronald W.Eide, Wendie E.Elsner, Ronald W.Engelson, Thea and RobEschweiler, GenevaFletcher, Cherylyn H.Geiser, Dr. Michael W.Gore, KristineHartwick, Mr. and Mrs. E. O.Hogancamp, RalphHolmes, Mr. and Mrs. George E.Hornicke, Myrette and WalterHuesner, JeanHulburt, Robert S.Hunt, Walter L.Hunter, Audrey P.Institutional Sales, Inc.Jensen, Deloris and RolandJohnson, MaryJohnson, Sharon

IN KIND CONTRIBUTORS

Jones, Mary StaughtonKeirn, Douglas K.Knapp, PeterKoutsky , Kathryn and DeanLarson, Mr. and Mrs. David 1.Lehrman, Dorothy H.Lohman, Charlotte and RichardLudwig, Mr. and Mrs. HenryMaxwell, JeanMears, Donna L.Merchak, Viola and JosephMcCoy, ThomasMiller, MichaelNorberg, EdwinObrestad, Susan and PaulOlson, Merle O.Olson, Sally and StevenOstrem, RobertPaulus, Patty and StevePhillips, Mr. and Mrs. JosephRichter, Nancy JaneRiggott, D. C.Rorern, MelvaSateren, Leland B.Scholer, Margaret D.Setterlund, Lorraine and WallaceSorkin, RenaSpong, RobertStefferud, ArneSteinke, Mary and GlennTeie, ErnestThoreen, Priscilla and WallyToensing, EllenTolzmann, James A.Van, Joy and TedWahl, SusanWoodward, DonaldZimmerman, Ralph

Macalester CollegeMahady, MichaelaMariner High School Choral DepartmentMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing.Minnesota Mutual Life InsuranceNorthwestern National BankOlson, Gordon W.St. Paul JayceesSound 80, Inc.

Treanor, James R.

The Dale Warlalld Singers wish to extend a special ward of.appreciation to:

Macalester College Music DepartmentWestwood Lutheran Church staff and members

No cameras or recording devices will be allowed during the performance.

AMERICANA - A BIT OF FOLK

Saturday, May 16, 1981- 8:00 P.M.Westwood Lutheran ChurchSt. Louis Park, Minnesota

Sunday, May 17, 1981-'::3:00 P.M.Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center

Macalester CollegeSt. Paul, Minnesota

Receptions will be held immediately following both performances.

AMERICANA - A BIT OF FOLK is the final program offering in the Dale Warland Singers'1980-1981 Inaugural Subscription Concert Series, an activity made possible in. part by agrant provided by the Metropolitan Council from funds appropriated to the Minnesota Arts -Board by the Minnesota Legislature. ""

THE DALE WARLAND SINGERS' TENTH ANNIVERSARY SEA-SON

Second Annual "Singing, -Sipping, and Serendipity"Friday, September 25,1981 =- 7:30 P.M.

Charlie Boone, WCCO Radio Personality Master of CeremoniesGreenway Ballroom, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Fall ConcertSaturday, November 7, 198L- 8:00 P.M.

- Colonial Church of Edina

Sunday, November 8, 198L-- 3:00 P.M.St. Paul's United Church of Christ, St. Paul

Second Annual "Echoes of Christmas at Orchestra Hall"Sunday, December 6,1981

Two Performances: 3:00 P.M. & 7:00 P--'M.Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis

Tenth Anniversary Celebration ConcertSunday, March 14, 1982 - 3:00 P.M.

Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis

Spring ConcertSaturday, May 15, 1982 - 8:00 P.M.

Location to be Announced

Sunday, May 16, 1982 - 3:60 P.M.Location to be Announced

=

For subscription information regarding The Dale Warland Singers' 1981-1982Tenth Anniversary Sea-son, please contact:

The Dale Warland Slngers;1643 Wellesley Avenue~

St. Paul,-Minnesota 55105(612) 292-9780

1981-1982 season subscription brochures will be -ivailable in July-1981.

aD - Thank you for your suppo::t t~ season! ~ - - -

USThe Dale Warland Singers, Inc., is a member of the Association of Professional Vocal Ensembles (APVE).