Vancouver Youth Choir
WSCM Istanbul 2023
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VANCOUVER YOUTH CHOIR
WSCM Short Program
VANCOUVER YOUTH CHOIR
WSCM Long Program
VANCOUVER YOUTH CHOIR
WSCM Short Program
Vision Chant
Andrew Balfour* (1967- )
TEXT
Hey-hyah, Hey-hyah
Babamadizwin
Windigo
Misho mis, Nokomis,
Windigo
Hey-hyah, Hey-hyah
TRANSLATION
Hey-hyah, Hey-hyah
Journey
Evil Spirit
Grandfather, Grandmother
Evil Spirit
Salve Regina
Self-published
Franco Prinsloo (1987- )
TEXT
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae
vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve
Ad te clamamus, exules filii Hevae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos
ad nos converte.
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tuis,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende
TRANSLATION
O, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
Poor banished children of Eve;
To thee do we send up our sighs,
Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
Thine eyes of mercy toward us;
And after this our exile,
Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.
THE WEDDING
Self-published
Hussein Janmohamed* (1969- )
TEXT
Gujarati folk song
Taaliyo na taale, gori arabe ghoomi gayre
Punam ni raat chhe
Adapted from Song of Solomon 3:3
Oh, where is my love?
Arabic
Awwal, Akhir, Zahir, Batin (Quran 57:3)
La illaha ilallah
Persian Qasida Bi Ruz-u Shab
Gooyam Jooyam
Weep O Mine Eyes (John Bennet)
Oh when begin you to swell so high that I may drown me in you?
Indic Ismaili devotional poem
Chaalo saaheli var jova jaiye, so peeya mene paya Sharan tamare
TRANSLATION
Gujarati folk song
“Clapping hand on hand, let’s celebrate, singing and circling in the garba [traditional circle dance]. It’s a full moon night.”
Arabic
“The First, the Last, the Manifest, the Hidden”
“There is no god but God”
Persian Qasida Bi Ruz-u Shab
I seek, I call
Indic Ismaili devotional poem
“Come, oh friends let us go to meet the Beloved, the Beloved whom I have found.”
Apple Tree
AURORA (1996-), Magnus Skylstad (1983-), Odd Martin Skålness (living), arr. Katerina Gimon* (1993- )
TEXT
All of my life,
I’ve been hunting.
I’ve been a girl,
I’ve been a boy,
Digging my feet into the ground,
Like an apple tree
Wanting to live with a purpose.
Skin is a word,
Love is not a sin
People are bad
People are good
Just like the moon is a stone,
But it’s a star when it’s dark
And now she’s hiding
If you’ve seen what a heart is,
You’ve seen its colour
If I ever knew how we could guide it
I would take care of its children,
Become their mother
If I ever knew how we could hide it,
Hide it
Let her save the world,
She is just a girl
Let him save them all,
He is just a boy
Let her save the world,
She is just a girl
Let him save them all,
He is just a boy
Hunger is quiet, if you do it right
Hunter is loud and predictable
Scaring away every prey
So they are gone
Before the hunter arrives
Would you be kind
And put away your sword
You cannot cut away
What we got
You cannot kill what we are
We are not here
In physical form
You’ve seen where the knife is,
Its dark location
If I ever knew how we could hide it
I would cut into our anger, make pure emotion
If I ever knew how we could hide it… hide it
Can you carry the weight of mortality
The explosions around you is your symphony
Hela Rotan
trad. Moluccas (Indonesia) arr. Ken Steven (1993- )
TEXT
Hela, hela rotane, rotane, tifa Jawa, Jawa e baguna. Rotan, rotan sudah putus, sudah putus ujung dua, dua baku da pa e. Rotan, rotan sudah putus, sudah putus ujung dua, dua baku da pa e. Mangga, mangga muda e manise, mangga mangga datang dari Nila. Nona, nona muka manis, muka manis bikin sinyo, sinyo jadi gilae. Nona, nona muka manis, muka manis bikin sinyo, sinyo jadi gilae. Hela!
TRANSLATION
Pull, let us pull the cane Accompanied by the sound of the Javanese drums The cane is cut already And both ends and meet now Mango, mango is young and sweet Mango, mango comes from Nila (name of a city) A girl with a sweet sweet face Makes me crazy
Riuh!
Self-published / Commissioned by the WSCM Artistic Committee
Tracy Wong* (living), text by BIHZHU
TEXT
Dalam huru-hara dunia
Hargai bibit ketenangan
Anyaman riuh dan damai terserlah
Gelombang hidup dilayar
TRANSLATION
In the chaos of the world
Treasure the seeds of stillness
Woven together – chaos and peace – they shine
As the waves of life are sailed
Here Comes the River
Unpublished
Patrick Watson* (1979- ), arr. George Chung* (1986- )
TEXT
The windows turned to fishbowls
The city to seas
The cars were drowning underneath your feet
The children were swimming from the top of the trees
Crowds of umbrellas were staring in mis-belief
Well Mary kept sewing
Holding on to her TV
Even if the water was rising past her knees
Now here comes the river
Coming on strong
And you can’t keep your head above these troubled waters
Here comes the river
Over the flames
Sometimes you got to burn to keep the storm away
Sometimes
Sometimes you got to just
Nobody told you it was going to be this hard
Something’s been building behind your eyes
You lost what you hold onto
You’re losing control
There ain’t any words in this world
That’s gonna cure this pain
Sometimes it’s going to fall down on your shoulders
But you’re going to stand through it all
Here comes the river
Coming on strong
But you can’t keep your head above these troubled waters
Here comes the river
Over the flames
Sometimes you got to burn to keep the storm away
Sometimes
You gots to just
VANCOUVER YOUTH CHOIR
WSCM Long Program
Nitohtamok Askîy (Listen to the Land)
Self-Published
Sherryl Sewepagaham*
TEXT
Nitohtamok askîy
Kiskin wahamakanaw mistahi kikwiy
Mamawi nâkatihtitan
Woodland Cree – Y Dialect
TRANSLATION
Listen to the land
It teaches us many things
We must take care of it together
Northern Lights
Musica Baltica
Ēriks Ešenvalds (1977- )
From the journals of Arctic explorers Charles Francis Hall (1821-1871) and Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1939)
It was night, and I had gone on deck several times
Iceberg was silent; I too was silent
It was true dark and cold
At nine o’clock I was below in my cabin
When the captain hailed me with the words:
“Come above, Hall, at once! The world is on fire!”
I knew his meaning, and, quick as thought
I rushed to the companion stairs
In a moment I reached the deck
And as the cabin door swung open
A dazzling light, overpow’ring light burst upon my startled senses!
Oh, the whole sky was one glowing mass of colored flames, so mighty, so brave!
Like a pathway of light the northern lights seemed to draw us into the sky
Yes, it was harp-music, wild storming in the darkness;
The strings trembled and sparkled in the glow of the flames
Like a shower of fiery darts
A fiery crown of auroral light cast a warm glow across the arctic ice
Again at times it was like softly playing, gently rocking silvery waves
On which dreams travel into unknown worlds
TEXT
Cik naksnīnas pret ziemeli redzēj’ kāvus karojam
Ē, redzēj’ kāvus karojam;
Karo kāvi pie debesu, vedīs karus mūs’ zemē;
Ē, vedīs karus mūs’ zemē
TRANSLATION
How many nights against the North wind
I saw the Northern Lights fighting;
Fighting in the sky, the Northern Lights
Bring wars to our land
Fire (from Elements - Mvt. 3)
Katerina Gimon* (1993- )
Music of Stillness
Oxford University Press
Elaine Hagenberg (1979- ), text by Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)
TEXT
There will be rest, and sure stars shining
Over the roof-tops crowned with snow
A reign of rest, serene forgetting
The music of stillness holy and low
I will make this world of my devising
Out of a dream in my lonely mind
I shall find the crystal of peace, – above me
Stars I shall find
Horovódnaya (Circle Dance)
Musica Russica
Georgy Sviridov (1915-1998) text by Alexander Blok (1880-1921)
TEXT
Веселимся, кружимся, хороводом тешимся— мальчики да девочки— ясные звёздочки.
Красное солнце! Глянь-ка в оконце! А в оконце глянь-ка, мамка да нянька! Белая хатка, смуглая Солдатка!
Веселимся, кружимся, хороводом тешимся— мальчики да девочки —ясные звёздочки. Гой вы ребятки! Врозь во все лопатки! Скидывайте шапки! Старшая сестрица, дай ты нам водицы. Дай ты нам водице.
Веселимся, кружимся, хороводом тешимся— мальчики да девочки— ясные звёздочки.
TRANSLATION
Round and round we go,
Reveling in our circle dance,
Boys and girls –
Shining little stars.
Beautiful sun,
Peek in through our window!
Through our window look in,
you’ll see a nursemaid and a nanny!
A little white hut,
A dark-skinned soldier-girl.
Hey, you guys,
Run as fast as you can!
Off with your hats!
Hey, oldest sister,
Give us a drink of water!
Namul Ke neun Cheonyeo 나물 캐는 처녀
Unpublished
Hyeon Je-myeong (1902 - 1960) , arr. Kim Dong-Hwan
TEXT
푸른 잔디 풀 위로 봄바람은 불고
아지랭이 잔잔히 끼인 어떤 날
나물 캐는 처녀는 언덕으로 다니며
고운 나물 찾나니
어여쁘다 그 처녀
소 먹이던 목동이 손목 잡았네
새빨개진 얼굴로 뿌리치고 가오니
그의 굳은 마음 변함 없다네
어여쁘다 그 처녀
TRANSLATION
The spring wind blows over the green grass
One day when the haze was gently caught
A girl gathering greens goes by the hills
Is she looking for fine herbs?
What a beautiful girl
A shepherd boy feeding cows grabbed her wrist
She walks away with a blushing face
His hard heart is unchanging
What a beautiful girl
Terre-Neuve
Marie-Claire Saindon* (1984- ), text by Annick Perrot-Bishop* (1945-2022)
TEXT
Terre
éclaboussée du cri d’un soleil
aux couleurs d’océan
de roc
fauve la falaise se brise
craquements de glace
goût frais de neige qui fait trembler
la mémoire ensevelie
se mêle de vent
s’enroule au sel d’une joie
Neuve
TRANSLATION
Land
splattered with shrieks of sun
with colours of ocean and
rock
rust-red the cliff splits
cracking ice
a fresh taste of shivering snow
stirs a shrouded memory
mingles with the wind
spirals vibrant with the salt of a joy
New found
Mis on inimene (What is to be Human?)
Walton Music
Pärt Uusberg (1986-) text by Doris Kareva (1958-)
TEXT
Mis on inimene?
Kas ingli vari?
Või igatsushüüd hingeühtsuse poole?
Igaüks meist on pill,
Läbi mille võrratuid vise vilistab Jumala tuul:
Hoia, küll siis hoitakse
TRANSLATION
What is human?
The shadow of an angel?
Or a cry of yearning towards a union of souls?
Each of us a pipe
For God’s wind to whistle:
Take care, then you are cared for.
بَيْروت Beirut
Dozan World Publishing
Shireen Abu-Khader* (living), arr. Hawanim Ensemble: Shireen Abu-Khader* (living), Toujan Atari* (living), Raneem Barakat* (living), Natalie Fasheh* (living)
TEXT
Bairut
Bardan wa salaman ya Bairut
Qumi, qumi Bairut
TRANSLATION
O Beirut
May the fire of pain and tragedy be cooled down, and may there be peace, O Beirut.
Rise up, rise up Beirut
Kızılcıklar
Self-published
trad. Keşan, Türkiye, arr. Hakan Önsöz
TEXT
Kızılcıklar oldu mu?
Selelere doldu mu?
Gönderdiğim çoraplar
Ayağına oldu mu, yar?
Mendili eline,
Mendili verdim geline
Kara kına yollamış
Yar benim ellerime
Tabakası aynalı
Şu oğlana varmalı
Oğlan pek güzel ama
Anası olmamalı yar!
TRANSLATION
Have the kızılcık ripened?
Have they filled up the baskets?
Do the socks I have sent,
Fit your feet my love?
Handkerchief to her hand,
Gave the handkerchief to the bride
Dark henna she has sent,
For my hands, oh love
His cigarette case is mirrored,
Got to marry that boy
The boy is handsome, but,
His mother has got to go, oh love!
Canadian Folk Song Medley
arr. Ray Knorr*
Royal Hudson
DAVE BAKER*, ARR. LARRY NICKEL
TEXT
Yes, that old Royal Hudson
is bound to ride the big steel rails again
In those dark depression years with the poverty and tears
and storm clouds of war drawing near
The royal couple came to see a land they’d heard by name
and ride across the wilderness frontier
The engine that was named to pull the royal train
was Hudson number twenty-eight five oh
Though now she lies interned
her sister has returned to ride the rocky Howe Sound mountain shore
Yes, that old Royal Hudson
is bound to ride the big steel rails again
If you should ask any girl, from the parish around,
what pleases her most from her head to her toes,
she’ll say “I’m not sure that it’s business of yours,
But I do like to dance with a log driver.
For he goes birling down, a-down white water;
that’s where the log driver learns to step lightly.
It’s birling down, a-down white water;
a log driver’s waltz pleases girls completely.
Black fly, the little black fly,
Always the black fly no matter where you go,
I’ll die with the black fly pickin’ my bones in North Ontario-io,
in north Ontario
Black Fly
WADE HEMSWORTH*, ARR. Earle Peach*
TEXT
Black fly, the little black fly,
Always the black fly no matter where you go,
I’ll die with the black fly pickin’ my bones in North Ontario-io,
in north Ontario
V’là l’bon vent
ALLISON GIRVAN*
TEXT
Derrière chez-nous y’a t’un étang
Trois beaux canards s’en vont baignant
V’là l’bon vent,
V’là l’joli vent,
V’là l’bon vent
M’amie m’appelle
V’là l’bon vent,
V’là l’joli vent
V’là l’bon vent
M’amie m’attend
Trois beaux canards s’en vont baignant
Le fils du roi s’en va chassant
TRANSLATION
Behind our house there is a pond
Three handsome ducks go a-swimming
Here’s the good wind,
Here’s the pretty wind
Here’s the good wind
My friend is calling me
Here’s the good wind
Here’s the pretty wind
Here’s the good wind
My friend waits for me
Three handsome ducks go a-swimming
The king’s son goes a-hunting
Vichten
Angèle Arsenault, arr. Hart Rouge, text by Arthur Arsenault
Log Driver's Waltz
WADE HEMSWORTH*, arr. RON SMAIL*
TEXT
If you should ask any girl, from the parish around,
what pleases her most from her head to her toes,
she’ll say “I’m not sure that it’s business of yours,
But I do like to dance with a log driver.
For he goes birling down, a-down white water;
that’s where the log driver learns to step lightly.
It’s birling down, a-down white water;
a log driver’s waltz pleases girls completely.
We Rise Again
LEON DUBINSKY *, ARR. STEPHEN SMITH*
TEXT
When the waves roll on,
Over the waters, and the ocean cries,
We look to our sons and daughters to explain our lives,
As if a child could tell us why
That as sure as the sunrise, sure as the sea
Sure as the wind in the trees,
We rise again in the faces of our children,
We rise again in the voices of our song,
We rise again in the waves out on the ocean
And then we rise again
We rise again in the faces of our children
We rise again in the voices of our song,
We rise again in the waves out on the ocean,
And then we rise again
Gimikwenden Ina
Corey Payette* (1987- ), arr. Elliot Vaughan*
TEXT
Gimikwenden ina
Aaniin ezhinikaazoyan
Aandi wenjibaayan
Gimikwenden in
Gimikwenden ina
Nindedeyag nimaamaayag
Nimiseyag nisayeyah
TRANSLATION
Do you remember?
What you are called?
Where you are from?
Do you Remember?
Our fathers and mothers
Our sisters and brothers?
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