Tell My People
25 Years of Festival Singers
See below for a track listing, introduction, lyrics and credits.
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Track list
- Jesus Child 03:31
- Born in the night 02:48
- Christ Is Born 02:57
- Star Carol 03:08
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 03:11
- Tell My People I Love Them 03:51
- Ave Maria 02:05
- There Is A Redeemer 03:49
- Tama Ngakau Marie 01:42
- The Kingdom of Heaven 02:30
- There’s a Time 03:07
- Dear Lord and Father of Mankind 03:08
- West Indian Lord’s Prayer 02:37
- He Has Brought Us This Far 02:00
- Our God Reigns 03:02
- Within You 03:39
- The Servant Song 03:18
- Indigo II 02:57
- Moving Through the Silence 03:27
- O Holy Spirit (Kyrieleis) 02:53
- If My People 02:22
- A Cup of Water 03:36
- To Be God’s People 02:08
- Nothing Can Separate Us 03:18
- The Lord Bless You and Keep You 02:43
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About this CD Compilation
In a 1998 address to the American Hymn Society. historian Michael Hamilton discussed the enormous influence which the baby-boomer generation has had on churches. for example, in the praise and worship phenomenon. He said the sheer size of the generation (born between 1946 and 1964) had produced widespread transformation in worship music.
All of the folk-style hymns on this celebratory CD were written by baby-boomers. Reflecting on the Festival Singers’ six recordings produced over a fifteen year period one might ask whether the repertoire and creative performance effort came out of a common climate of opinion, a “breathing together” regarding contemporary church music?
But there have always been two sides to the choir and Festival Singers have deliberately kept the old with the new, the art classic with the popular contemporary.
The choir’s charter presents a worldview which reminds us of this second side of the Festival Singers’ performances. It explains the breadth of the offerings on this CD, including some recently recorded by past and present members of the choir, classics by Jenny McLeod and Stravinsky, and the Rutter evergreen, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”
We humbly offer this selection of items as songs of the Spirit, choral pieces of solace and fulfilment, capturing the essence of joy, celebration and festivity which is a special feature of the choir’s repertoire. I know that you will thoroughly enjoy the whole disc and find it an uplifting experience, as we celebrate 25 years of the Festival Singers of Wellington.
Dr Guy E. Jansen: Founding Musical Director.
Festival Singers School of Music, University of Queensland
It’s a great privilege for me to contribute to [the foreword of this retrospective collection – especially when I consider that Festival Singers was formed when I was only five years old! It is relatively recently that I have made my acquaintance with the great body of recordings made while the choir’s founding director, Dr Guy Jansen, was at the helm. In listening to these songs I would have thought I could have claimed some degree of “objectivity,” but I confess that I have found myself swept up in the affection that the Festival Singers membership still has for this music. As we prepare this compilation, I find it both fascinating and inspiring to talk to the likes of Felicia Edgecombe, Rosemary Russell and others involved in those wonderfully creative recording sessions. I hear some of the arrangements described as “of their time” (of course things change in 25 years!) but to me, the vigour and commitment captured on these recordings makes them timeless.
As we celebrate 25 years of the Festival Singers I would also like to make mention of Rita Paczian, musical director during the mid-1990s. Under her command, Festival Singers gave many fine performances of major classical works (including a memorable Haydn’s Creation).
I’d like to extend my warmest appreciation to the many past and present Festival Singers members who participated in the sessions for the new recordings found on this compilation. Finally, congratulations to the Festival Singers on your silver anniversary, and all the best for the next quarter century!
Mark Leicester, Musical Director,
Festival Singers of Wellington
Lyrics
Jesus Child
John Rutter
Have you heard the story
that they’re telling ‘bout Bethlehem,
Have you heard the story
of the Jesus child?
How he came from heaven
and was born in a manger bed?
Mary was his virgin mother pure and mild.
Sing alleluia, brothers,
sing alleluia, sisters,
Worship the Jesus child
and praise his mother mild.
“Glory to God on high”
the angel hosts above are singing:
Listen to the story of the Jesus child.
Have you heard the story
of the poor humble shepherd men,
Sitting on the hillside
with their flocks at night?
Suddenly the angel tells them:
“Hurry to Bethlehem; Go and find
the Jesus child,
the world’s new light.”
Jesus Child, lying at Bethlehem,
sleeping safe at Mary’s knee,
Save my soul and bring me to paradise,
let me join the angels singing glory to thee.
Have you heard the story
of the kings from the orient,
Following the star
that’s shining over his head?
Offering their precious gifts
of gold, myrrh and frankincense,
Kneeling with the ox and ass
before his bed?
Brothers, let us celebrate
the birth of the Jesus child,
Sisters, come and welcome him,
the newborn king;
Praise the Lord who sent him down
from heaven at Christmas time;
Young and old and rich and poor,
his praises sing.
Born in the Night
Geoffrey Ainger Arr: G. E. Jansen
Born in the night, Mary’s child,
a long way from your home;
Coming in need, Mary’s child,
born in a borrowed room.
Clear shining light, Mary’s child,
your face lights up our way;
Light of the world, Mary’s child,
dawn on our darkened day.
Truth of our life, Mary’s child,
you tell us God is good;
Prove it is true, Mary’s child,
go to your cross of wood.
Hope of the world, Mary’s child,
you’re coming soon to reign;
King of the earth, Mary’s child,
walk in our streets again.
(Soloist: Graham Wise)
Christ Is Born
Felicia R. Edgecombe
Oh, he is born’ he is born.
Let us all rejoice and be glad
for Jesus Christ is born.
Mary knew a beautiful thing;
A visit from the Lord.
The Holy Spirit came upon her,
promising her a child.
Joseph was a righteous man
To whom the angel came –
“Do not be afraid for Mary,
she has been blest of God.
She will bear a holy child,
the only Son of God –
Jesus Christ Immanuel
God is to be with us.”
Then at last, the moment came;
and Mary bore the child.
Wise men, shepherds, come and worship:
joy is ours today.
Star Carol
John Rutter
Sing this night, for a boy is born in Bethlehem,
Christ our Lord in a lowly manger lies;
Bring your gifts, come, and worship at his cradle
hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!
See his star shining bright
in the sky this Christmas Night.’
Follow me joyfully,
hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!
Angels bright, come from heaven’s highest glory,
bear the news with its message of good cheer:
“Sing, rejoice, for a King is come to save us,
hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!”
See, he lies in his mother’s tender keeping:
Jesus Christ in her loving arms asleep.
Shepherds poor, come to worship and adore him,
offer their humble gifts before the son of Mary.
Let us all pay our homage at the manger,
sing his praise on this joyful Christmas Night;
Christ is come, bringing promise of salvation;
hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
F. Mendelssohn
Descant and Organ Arr. David Wilcocks
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled:
Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With th’ angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come
Offspring of a virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail th’ incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings;
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Tell My People I Love Them
Leonard Barlotti and G. E. Jansen
Arr: Jan Harrington and G. E. Jansen
Tell my people I love them;
tell my people that l care.
When they feel far away from me,
tell my people I am there.
Tell my people I came and died
to give them liberty.
As they abide in me,
they will be really free!
Tell my people where’er they go
to claim my risen pow’r.
My peace and joy and love
is for them hour by hour.
Tell my people who grieve and mourn
that I allowed the night
of darkness to descend,
but I am still the Light.
Tell my people to share their wealth
and fight the sin of greed,
care for the refugee,
the hungry they’re to feed.
(Soloist: Tom Oates
Flute: Nicola Jansen)
Ave Maria (Revised 1949)
Igor Stravinsky
Ave Maria, gratia plena
Dominus tecum:
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus
ventris tui Jesus.
Sancta Maria,
mater Dei,
ora pro nobis pecatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen.
There Is A Redeemer
Melody Green Arr: G. E. Jansen
There is a Redeemer:
Jesus, God’s own Son.
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah:
Holy, Holy One.
Thank you O, our Father,
for giving us your Son
and leaving your Spirit
‘till the work on earth is done.
Jesus my Redeemer:
Name above all names.
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah:
O for sinners slain.
When l stand in Glory,
l will see His face.
There I’ll serve my King, forever
in that Holy place.
(Soloist: Nicola Jansen)
Tama Ngakau Marie
Traditional Maori hymn
Tama ngakau marie,
Tama a t’Atua,
Tenei tonu matou,
Arohaina mai.
Son of a peaceful heart,
Son of God,
here we are,
love us.
Murua ra nga hara:
Wetekina mai
Enei here kino,
Whakararu nei, Amine.
Take away our sins
undo
these evil ties
which bind us.
Amen.
The Kingdom of Heaven
Felicia R. Edgecombe
Lord, you will come to your little ones
when they turn to you in faith.
You always hear what they say to you,
and bless them in your grace.
And the kingdom of heaven
belongs to such as these.
Kindly men to save your time
sent the little ones away.
“See the master is busy now,
so go away and play.”
But you saw them and loved them:
“Do not send them away;
The kingdom of heaven
belongs to such as these.”
(Horn: Carol Munden)
There’s a Time
Shirley Erena Murray/Colin Gibson
Our life has its seasons and God has the reasons
why Spring follows Winter and new leaves grow.
For there’s a connection with our resurrection
that flowers will bud after frost and snow,
so there’s never a time to stop believing.
There’s never a time for hope to die.
There’s never a time to stop loving:
These three things go on.
There’s a time to be planting, a time to be plucking,
a time to be laughing, a time to weep,
a time to be building, a time to be breaking,
a time to be waking, a time to sleep,
but there’s never…
There’s a time to be hurting, a time to be healing,
a time to be saving, a time to spend,
a time for grieving, a time to be dancing,
a time for beginning, a time to end,
but there’s never…
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Traditional
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives thy service find,
In deeper reverence praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard.
Beside the Syrian sea,
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow thee.
Drop thy still dews of quietness,
‘Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and thy balm:
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire.
O still small voice of calm.
(Soloist: Graham Wise)
West Indian Lord’s Prayer
Traditional Arr: John Hendren
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed a be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
hallowed a be thy name.
On the earth as it is in heaven,
hallowed a be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread,
hallowed a be thy name.
And forgive us all our trespasses,
hallowed a be thy name.
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
hallowed a be thy name.
And leave us not to the devil to be tempted.
hallowed a be thy name,
But deliver us from all that is evil,
hallowed a be thy name.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
hallowed a be thy name.
For ever, for ever, for ever and ever,
hallowed a be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen, amen,
hallowed a be thy name.
(Soloist: Peter Baillie)
He Has Brought Us This Far
Bonnie Low Arr: Rosemary Russell
Blessed be God,
Blessed be God,
Blessed, Oh blessed be God.
He has brought us this far by his grace,
He has led us by fire and by cloud.
He will bring us to Zion to look on his face,
Oh blessed, Oh blessed be God,
He has sheltered us under his wing,
He has planned every path that we’ve trod
He will bring us to Zion his praises to sing,
Oh blessed, Oh blessed be God.
Our God Reigns
Leonard E. Smith, Jr. and G. E. Jansen
Arr: Edward Dagnes
How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
who brings good news, good news,
announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness,
Our God reigns, our God reigns.
Waste places of Jerusalem break forth with joy,
shout for your King, your King.
The Lord has saved and comforted his people.
Our God reigns. our God reigns.
Ends of the earth. see the salvation of your God.
Jesus is Lord, is Lord.
Before the nations he has bared his holy arm
Our God reigns, our God reigns.
Within You
Felicia R. Edgecombe
The Kingdom of God is within you –
The Kingdom of God is within you –
Within you. Jesus said.
To do things my way comes naturally:
to see things my way appeals to me:
to live all my life successfully:
But now – Jesus comes.
To see beyond all the ugliness:
to see the person however dressed:
to live out God’s life in holiness:
For now – Jesus dies.
The humble spirit finds happiness:
the grieving spirit is comforted:
the cry for justice is fully met:
Today – Jesus lives.
(Flute: Jodie Bishop)
The Servant Song
Richard Gillard Arr: V. Fleetwood
Brother, let me be your servant,**
let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I might have the grace to
let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey,
we are brothers on the road.**
We are here to help each other
walk the mile, and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ light for you,
in the night-time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow,
‘till we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven,
we shall find such harmony,
born of all we’ve known together
of Christ’s love, and agony.
Repeat verse 1.
** Since this track was recorded it has been customary to make the lyrics more inclusive by changing verse 1, line 1 to: “Brother, Sister let me serve you” and verse 2, line 2 to: “we are travellers on the road.”
(Soloists: Graham Wise and Frank Carter)
Indigo II
Jenny McLeod
Light of lights beholden
we from days of olden
sang this song for to understand
that peace upon this planet
was pledged to come:
Each to other be as brother
born for life and song
Look towards the light and carry on,
let the simple heart and hope among us
keep our family strong.
Light calling, night falling, falling, falling.
Darkness all around us;
Light has always found us,
light will come
where the dark is deepest
greater light will keep us safe from harm:
Troubled times will always find
a voice of troubled doom.
Moving Through the Silence
John Weir/Ian Render
Arr: G. E. Jansen
Who is moving through the silence
gentle as the summer rain?
Who is standing in the doorways
knocking. asking to come in.
Father, you have sent your Spirit
to console your little ones.
You have sent your Son to find us
and to lead us safely home.
Father, I have seen your Kingdom
in the streets of little towns.
In the shadows of the city
when we gather in your name.
Father, I have seen your Kingdom
in the eyes of those who love.
In the mercy of your people
I have seen your Kingdom come.
(Soloist: Rodney Macann)
O Holy Spirit (Kyrieleis)
Fred Kaan/Ron Klusmeier
O Holy Spirit, hear us as we pray:
Renew your people’s faith day by day.
Free us from the chaos of night and deepness;
in our life and death cheer and keep us.
Kyrieleis (Lord have mercy)
Uproot and teach us by your restless love
to share with all what we are and have;
That with strong affection in truth and doing,
we may love all life, peace pursuing.
You plead our cause and by your gift of peace
from fear of death our lives are released.
How we need your presence, O gift from heaven,
all our words and deeds to enliven.
(Flute: Jodie Bishop)
If My People
Felicia R. Edgecombe Arr: G. E. Jansen
lf my people called by my name,
humble themselves and pray;
and seek my face,
turn from their wicked ways,
humble themselves and pray:
then I will hear from heaven,
forgive their sin forever,
and heal, heal their land,
and heal their land.
(Soloist: Graham Wise)
A Cup of Water
Felicia R. Edgecombe
Just a cup of water in his name
Jesus said will honour him:
Many need your love, Lord – make us see
and help us live in true charity.
“Love your neighbour as you love yourself,”
Jesus’ words come to us
and they will not go away.
Jesus had compassion and touched the lives
of all those whose needs he saw:
Many need your help, Lord – make us care
and use us freely your gifts to share.
All alone we’re powerless to do God’s work.
Ev’ry strength must come from him.
You have sent your Spirit, you give life
so lead in victory and be our light.
(Soloist: Frank Carter
Flute: Jodie Bishop)
To Be God’s People
Charles Brown and G. E. Jansen
Almighty Father. give us a vision
of a dying world that needs your love and care.
We see the need, the searching for a saviour.
in Jesus’ name grant this our prayer.
To be God’s people in this place,
live his goodness, share his grace;
Proclaim God’s mercy through his Son,
be his love to everyone.
Free us to follow our great Companion
guiding us as pilgrims on the servant way,
to walk more humbly, bringing peace and freedom,
and pointing to eternal day.
(Soloist: Rodney Macann)
Nothing Can Separate Us
Felicia R. Edgecombe
Nothing now can separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Not trouble, nor poverty, nor danger, nor death;
For in all these things
we can be conquerors through Jesus;
Nothing can separate us from his love.
Jesus you were human,
and you understand my weakness;
my disappointments, loneliness and fear.
And you’ve been there before me,
You have suffered all those hard things.
Please turn me around and lead me on.
When I look around me,
l see everyone has troubles,
and all of nature’s subject to decay.
So how I long for freedom
from its frailty and its bondage,
now living with Christ in full control.
Spirit comes to help us,
and he bears us up in weakness;
he pleads for us according to God’s will.
He gives us faith to see God
working in our lives for good
thus making us sons, setting us free.
(Soloist: Frank Carter)
The Lord Bless You and Keep You
John Rutter
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up the light
of his countenance upon you,
and give you peace. Amen.
Credits
Acknowledgements (then and now)
Soloists: Nicola Jansen, Frank Carter, Rodney Macann, Tom Oates, Graham Wise.
Piano: Felicia Edgecombe. Guy Jansen, John Hendren, William Southgate, Rosemary Russell, Jonathan Berkahn
Electric Piano & Synthesizer: William Southgate, Dayle Anderson, Felicia Edgecombe
Acoustic / Electric Guitar: John O’Connor, Bruce Macauley, Bill Wood, Sylvia Hendricksen, Bruce Candy, Dennis Cribb
Bass Guitar: Fritz Stigter. George Limbidis, Roland Farmer
Organ: Roy Tankersley Janet Gibbs, Philip Walsh
Percussion: Diane Cooper Maurice Philips, Bill Brown, Gary Brain, Gregory Jansen, Nicola Jansen
Flute: Alison Catanach, Nicola Jansen, Susan Legge,
Jodie Bishop
Oboe: Raymond Lind, Nick Field, Gundy Scharnke
Horns: Carol Munden, Peter Sharman
Brass & Strings: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Brass: Evening Post Onslow Brass Band, members Wellington Citadel Salvation Army Band
Instrumental Arrangements: Matthew Raymond, William Southgate, Craig Utting, Colin Gibson, Guy Jansen
Orchestral Arrangements: William Southgate, Matthew Raymond
Choral Arrangements: Guy Jansen, Matthew Raymond
Musical Directors: Guy Jansen, Mark Leicester
Production Advisers: William Southgate, Robert Hagen, Michael Grafton-Green, Richard Hulse
Recording & Mixing Engineers: Tony Burns, Robert Hagen, Neil Maddever, Richard Hulse
Cover Artwork: Nicki Heenan
Festivity Productions Board (now): Ruth Archer, Val Boyd (Chairman), Quentin Christie, Mary Dunn, Ian Livingstone
The original analogue tapes used on this CD were re-mastered at 24 bit resolution. The CD compilation was done by Richard Hulse at Radio New Zealand, Wellington.
Copyright Clearance via AMCOS. All rights reserved.
FPCD2007 © & ® 2000 Festivity Productions Ltd – now Festival Singers of Wellington, c/- PO Box 17160, Karori, Wellington, NZ
Manufacturer: AMStore Ltd.
license
all rights reserved
_________
Review
“As a very fitting celebration of 25 years of singing Christian music the Festival Singers, based in Wellington, have issued this compact disc. Some of the material is new but much of it has been skillfully re- mastered from analogue tracks recorded fifteen or more years ago. It is difficult to tell the difference.
The selection of music varies from traditional hymns such as Dear Lord and Father of Mankind through a range of hymns from New Zealand writers to Ave Maria by Igor Stravinsky. Most of it comes off well but there is no doubt that the Festival Singers do better with contemporary writing.
John Rutter’s Jesus Child and his setting of The Lord Bless You and Keep You that respectively begin and end the CD are particularly noteworthy as is Jenny McLeod’s Indigo II, the West Indian Lord’s Prayer with a splendid solo from Peter Baillie and a lovely rendition of Who is Moving though the Silence.
Congratulations to the Festival Singers, their conductor, Mark Leicester, and recording engineer, Richard Hulse. This is a CD well worth a place in the collection of anyone who enjoys good, well considered Christian music across a wide spectrum of styles.”
Maureen Garing
Crosslink, March 2001
Festival Singers of Wellington 
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