St Lawrence's Church

Warkworth

Concert for the
Church Restoration Appeal

Saturday 29 March 2003

THE SINGERS

Conducted by Donald Halliday

Programme

Part 1

Adrian Batten (1591-1637)

O sing joyfully

O sing joyfully unto God our strength
Make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob
Take the song, bring hither the tabret,
The merry harp with the lute.
Blow up the trumpet in the new moon,
Ev'n in the time appointed, and upon our solemn feast day.
For this was made a statute for Israel
And a law of the God of Jacob.

Orlando Gibbons (1583 – 1625)

Almighty and everlasting God

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities, stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us: through Christ our Lord, Amen

Hugh Roberton (1874 – 1952)

All in the April evening

All in the April ev’ning, April airs were abroad: the sheep with their little lambs pass’d me by on the road. All in the April ev’ning, I thought on the Lamb of God.

The lambs were weary and crying with a weak human cry, I thought on the Lamb of God going meekly to die. Up in the blue, blue mountains, Dewy pastures are sweet, Rest for the little bodies, rest for the little feet. But for the Lamb of God, up on the hilltop green, only a cross, a cross of shame, two stark crosses between.

Francisco Guerrero (1528 – 1599)

Maria Magdalene

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had bought spices that they might come and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre, at the rising of the sun. Alleluia.

And they entered into the sepulchre and saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he said unto them: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. Alleluia.

James Macmillan (b. 1959)

The Gallant Weaver

Where Cart rins rowin to the sea
By monie a flower and spreading tree,
There lives a lad, the lad for me -
He is a gallant weaver!
O, I had wooers aught or nine,
They gied me rings and ribbons fine,
And I was fear'd my heart wad tine,
And I gied it to the weaver.

My daddie sign'd my tocher-band
To gie the lad that has the land;
But to my heart I'll add my hand,
And give it to the weaver.
While birds rejoice in leafy bowers,
While bees delight in opening flowers
While corn grows green in summer showers,
I love my gallant weaver.

arr. Moses Hogan (1957 – 2003)

De blin' man stood on de road an' cried

De blin' man stood on de road an' cried

O my Lord save me.

Crying that he might receib his sight.

Crying what kind am dose shoes you wear?

Dese shoes I wear am de Gospel shoes.

Save me.

Elijah Rock

Elijah rock, Oh, Elijah rock

Come on sister help me to pray, tell me my Lord done pass his way.

Satan ain’t nothin’ but a snake in the grass. He’s a conjur, he’s a liar, Hallelujah Lord.

If I could I surely would stand on the rock where Moses stood.

Elijah rock, Oh, Elijah rock,

Hallelujah Jesus,

Comin up Lawdy, comin’ up Lord.

Interval

Part 2

Northumbrian folk songs

Bobby Shaftoe

My bonny lad

Tomás Luis de Victoria (c. 1548 – 1611)

Cum beata Ignatius

When blessed Ignatius was condemned to the beasts, and in the pangs of suffering heard the roaring lions, he said: I am the grain of Christ, l shall be ground by the teeth of beasts, and found to be like pure bread.

Let fire, the cross, beasts, the breaking of bones and quartering, and the torturing of the entire body and all the torments of the devil – let them come upon me, such that I shall delight in Christ.

arr. anon

Londonderry Air

Gershwin, arr. Steve Zegree

Love walked in

Billy Joel, arr. Chilcott

And so it goes

In ev’ry heart there is a room, a sanctuary safe and strong. To heal the wounds from lovers past, until a new one comes along. I spoke to you in cautious tones: you answered me with no pretence. And still I feel I said too much. My silence is my self defence.

And ev’ry time I held a rose it seems I only felt the thorns. And so it goes, and so it goes, and so will you soon I suppose. But if my silence made you leave, then that would be my worst mistake. So I will share this room with you, and you can have this heart to break ...

arr. Moses Hogan

We shall walk through the valley in peace

We shall walk through the valley in peace, for Jesus himself will be our leader.

We will meet our loved ones there,

There will be no trials there.

We shall walk through the valley in peace.

Ezekiel Saw de Wheel

Ezekiel saw de wheel ‘way up in de air.

An’ de lil’ wheel run by faith, oh yes, an’ de big wheel run by de grace of God.

‘Tis a wheel in a wheel in de middle of de wheel way in de middle of de air.

Oh, some go to church fo’ to sing and shout, and defo’ six months dey’s all turned out.

Let me tell you what a hypocrit’ do. He’ll talk about me and he’ll talk about you.

I’m goin’ jine the heav’nly choir when dis worl’ is set on fiyer, One o’ dese days, ‘bout twelve o’clock, dis ole worl’ gonna reel and rock.

Thank you for supporting this concert the proceeds of which will go towards restoring this beautiful church.

You can find out more about The Singers at:

www.singers.org.uk