flying free Palissander 25-year celebration gala concerts 16 September 19:30 17 September 15:00 8 October 15:00

flying free Palissander 25-year celebration gala concerts 16 September 19:30 17 September 15:00 8 October 15:00 1

SHORT GROUP VITAE Palissander, one of South Africa s premier chamber choirs, is an independent amateur choir of international standing that was formed in 1992. The choir has to date performed to great acclaim in Canada, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Kenya, Italy, France, Germany and Spain. The choir s core values are passion, abundance, joy, respect and acceptance. The name Palissander is a reference to the fourth volume of poetry by the Afrikaans poet Boerneef, entitled Palissandryne. In the opening poem of this volume Boerneef writes of his recorder of palissander wood (a precious dark brown wood, related to jacaranda wood) that plays palissandertaal (palissander language). Later in the volume, the poet uses the word palissandertaal repeatedly as a synonym for music. Sarita Hauptfleisch, who still conducts the choir, founded Palissander with the purpose of making soul music. This has developed into the choir becoming an ambassador for love and peace to both local and overseas communities. The choir achieves this by engaging the audience not only musically, but also intellectually and emotionally through programmes bound together by central themes. This converts a choir concert into a spiritual experience for all. The theme approach enables an extremely diverse repertoire to be drawn together into a cohesive whole. Since 2004, the annual themes have addressed topics such as peace, democracy, tolerance, our response to HIV/AIDS and respect for the earth. Palissander s 2017 theme, Flying free, celebrates 25 years of the choir s existence by encouraging each one of us to live life to the full. Palissander has been associating itself with organisations that care for vulnerable children and youth. Vulnerable teenagers, together with their social worker, regularly accompany the choir on its overseas tours. In 2006, the choir received the South African Choral Society Award for the best contribution to community development through choral music. Palissander has to date released eight CDs. It is based in Pretoria and currently consists of 29 members. 2

KORT GROEP-VITAE Palissander, een van Suid-Afrika se toonaangewende kamerkore, is n internasionaal erkende onafhanklike amateurkoor wat in 1992 gestig is. Die koor het tot dusver met groot sukses in Kanada, Noorweë, Denemarke, Nederland, Kenia, Frankryk, Italië, Duitsland en Spanje opgetree. Die koor se kernwaardes is passie, oorvloed, vreugde, respek en aanvaarding. Die naam Palissander is n verwysing na die openingsgedig in Boerneef se vierde digbundel, Palissandryne: My blokfluit is van palissanderhout* daarom speel hy so palissander en laat my fluitspel julle koud die een bly tog maar anders as die ander ek trek dit my nie in die minste aan as niemand palissandertaal verstaan. * Palissanderhout is n kosbare donkerbruin houtsoort wat verwant is aan jakarandahout Later in die digbundel gebruik die digter palissandertaal herhaaldelik as n sinoniem vir musiek. Sarita Hauptfleisch, vandag steeds die koor se dirigent, het Palissander gestig met die doel om sielsmusiek te maak. Dit het daartoe gelei dat die koor sowel plaaslik as internasionaal n ambassadeur vir liefde en vrede geword het. Palissander doen dit deur die gehoor nie slegs op die musikale vlak nie, maar ook op die intellektuele en emosionele vlak te betrek deur middel van programme met sentrale temas. Hierdeur word n kooruitvoering tot n spirituele ervaring omskep. Die temabenadering maak dit moontlik om uiters uiteenlopende werke as n samehangende geheel aan te bied. Sedert 2004 het die jaarlikse temas onderwerpe soos vrede, demokrasie, verdraagsaamheid, ons reaksie op HIV/VIGS en respek vir die aarde aangespreek. Palissander se 2017 tema, Flying free, vier 25 jaar van die koor se bestaan deur elkeen van ons aan te moedig om voluit te lewe. Palissander assosieer homself met organisasies wat omsien na weeskinders en kwesbare kinders. Kwesbare tieners, saam met hulle maatskaplike werker, vergesel die koor gereeld op oorsese toere. In 2006 het die koor die Suid-Afrikaanse Koorvereniging se toekenning vir die beste bydrae tot gemeenskapsontwikkeling deur middel van koormusiek ontvang. Palissander het tot op datum agt CD s vrygestel. Die koor is in Pretoria gebaseer en het tans 29 lede. 3

FLYING FREE Our 25th anniversary programme focuses on the fact that music touches our souls and stays with us throughout our lives. Our birthday is also the birthday of life, of love, of the earth and of wings. Let us therefore fly free and celebrate life. Ons 25-jaar feesprogram fokus op die feit dat musiek ons siele aanraak en by ons bly deur ons hele lewe. Ons verjaarsdag is ook die verjaarsdag van die lewe, die liefde, die aarde en van vlerke. Laat ons daarom vry vlieg en die lewe vier. 4

Today s programme will be selected from the following works / Ons sing vandag n uittreksel uit die volgende werke 1. The wild song Michael McGlynn (born in 1964) For female voices SIELSMUSIEK / SOUL MUSIC Nature brings soul music to us. Each one of us has a secret place inside where this music echoes throughout our lives. Regardless of where we travel through live, the soul music in our hearts will never depart. Michael McGlynn is an Irish composer. He founded the Irish choral ensemble Anúna in 1987. Anúna has released 17 albums and has achieved a high level of international success. Almost all their repertoire is composed or arranged by McGlynn. Although best known as a writer of choral music, Michael has written orchestral and instrumental works, as well as music for theatre. He is also a vocal and choral clinician. A pale bird flies over open sea, singing sweet soul music to me, The ancient winds crying cold and flying free carry winter whispers through the trees. A soft voice murmurs a haunting melody as it flows to the river from a stream. The gentle breeze carries youthful memory through the shaded valley of my dreams. I have come through the darkness, touched the moon s new fallen dew I have found there a place where the wild song echoes in my heart. There the dawn is wide with the scent of spring, with a red sun burning on the tide. In the hazel forest the blackbird sings of a secret place I keep inside. I have travelled far; I have made the road my home, but that music never will depart I have walked the shoreline where seabirds cry alone, but a wild song echoes in my heart. 5

2. Musica animam tangens Joshua Shank (born in 1980) Text: Ryan Newstrom Latin translation: Byron Stayskal Sung in Latin Music touches our souls. It sounds and resounds and wells up in our souls until we are able to touch God. Joshua Shank is quickly becoming recognised as a talented and innovative young composer whose music has been widely performed by high school and professional ensembles alike. In 2002, Joshua became the youngest composer ever awarded the Raymond W. Brock Student Composition Award by the American Choral Directors Association for his work Musica animam tangens. From the moment he read the text, Shanks knew that he would eventually set it to music because it expresses something that any musician knows to be true that music puts us in touch with a higher power, something inexpressible and infinitely beautiful. The brevity of the original text seemed perfectly suited for a Latin translation. Musica animam tangens Maria vitae effundis Flumina cor liberantia omnes amore amantia Musica sonans resonans Implens meam essentiam Meam inundat animam Velut fluctibus montem submersum Ut tangam Deum. Musiek raak die siel aan; oseane van die lewe vloei; strome van die hart bevry alles deur liefde en lief te hê. Musiek wat klink en weerklink en my wese vul; wat my siel oorstroom soos wat golwe n berg oorspoel en wat daardeur God aanraak. SAL ONS NOOIT VERLAAT NIE / WILL NEVER DEPART 3. Mae-e Teks en musiek: Kentaro Sato (gebore in 1981) In Japanees gesing Soos wat musiek weer en weer opklink, so sal ons geliefdes voortleef in ons gedagtes. Kentaro Sato, ook bekend as Ken-P, is n komponis, dirigent/orkestreerder en ontleder van mediamusiek (film/televisie/rekenaarspeletjies) en konsertmusiek (simfoniese en koorwerk). Hy is in Los Angeles gevestig en het reeds talle toekennings ingepalm. Sy werk is tot op datum uitgevoer, uitgesaai en opgeneem in Noord- en Suid-Amerika, Asië en Europa. Hy tree dikwels 6

op as gasdirigent en aanbieder van werkswinkels en werksessies oor koormusiek en komposisie/ orkestrasie oor die hele wêreld. Mae-e is opgedra aan die slagoffers van die aardbewing en tsoenami in 2011 in Japan wat 16 000 lewens geëis het en waartydens 2 500 mense vermis geraak het. Ek onthou jou warm hand. Ek onthou jou vriendelike stem. Ek onthou jou eerlike oë en stil gebed. As ek my oë toemaak onthou ek die tyd wat ons saam deurgebring het en die kere wat ons saam gesing het. Al hou die musiek op, beteken dit nie ons neem afskeid nie; soos wat musiek weer en weer opklink, so sal jy voortleef in my gedagtes. Ek onthou n droom wat jy gekoester het. Ek onthou hoe jy geglimlag het oor môre. Met herinnerings aan jou in my hart, loop ek treetjie vir treetjie vorentoe. Terwyl ek elke dag se vreugde en verdriet omarm, loop ek treetjie vir treetjie vorentoe. 4. Nader my God Vocal Point, arr. André van der Merwe Sung in Afrikaans and Latin Even if we journey far and experience difficulties along the way, we will still sing. Vocal Point is a nine-member, male a cappella group at Brigham Young University (BYU). Founded by students in 1991, Vocal Point operates under the auspice of BYU s School of Music. Nearer my God has been arranged by James Stevens, formerly of BYU Vocal Point. He considers this song a gift from God and wants to share it with the world. André van der Merwe has adapted the arrangement for mixed choir in Afrikaans. In articulo mortis Caelitus mihi vires. Deo adjuvante non timendum In perpetuam dirige nos domine Ad augusta per angusta Sic itur ad astra excelsior In die oomblik van my dood kom my krag vanuit die hemel Met God se hulp hoef ek niks te vrees nie Lei ons vir altyd, O God Op smal weë na hoë plekke So is die weg na die sterre altyd boontoe. Nader, my God, by U - steeds naderby! Al is daar ook n kruis nodig vir my. Dan sal my lied nog klink: nader, my God, by U - nog naderby! Al gaan ek ver op reis, bly ek aan U; al moet ook snags my hoof rus op 'n steen; Dan sal my lied nog klink: nader, my God, by U - nog naderby! Dan bring my drome my: nader, my God, by U - nog naderby! 7

5. Lullabye Billy Joel Verw. Niel van der Watt (gebore in 1962) Vir manstemme Wiegeliedere sterf nooit nie. Wanneer ons n wiegelied sing, is ons geliefdes altyd deel van ons. Lullabye kom van Billy Joel se 1993-album River of dreams. Die lied is geïnspireer deur sy dogter, Alexa Ray Joel. Niel van der Watt is een van die mees erkende koorkomponiste in Suid-Afrika. Goodnight, my angel time to close your eyes and save these questions for another day I think I know what you ve been asking me, I think you know what I ve been trying to say I promised I would never leave you and you should always know Wherever you may go, no matter where you are I never will be far away Goodnight, my angel, now it s time to sleep and still so many things I want to say Remember all the songs you sang for me when we went sailing on an em rald bay And like a boat out on the ocean, I m rocking you to sleep The water s dark and deep inside this ancient heart you ll always be a part of me Goodnight, my angel, now it s time to dream and dream how wonderful your life will be Someday your child may cry and if you sing this lullaby Then in your heart there will always be a part of me Someday we ll all be gone but lullabies go on and on... They never die, that s how you and I will be 6. Earth song Frank Ticheli (born in 1958) Music and singing have been my refuge and music and singing shall be my light. Through darkness and pain and strife, I ll sing. Frank Ticheli is an American composer of orchestral, choral, chamber and concert band works. He lives in Los Angeles, California, where he is a Professor of Composition at the University of Southern California. 8

Sing, be, live, see This dark stormy hour, the wind, it stirs. The scorched earth cries out in vain. Oh, war and power, you blind and blur. The torn heart cries out in pain. But music and singing have been my refuge, and music and singing shall be my light. A light of song, shining strong. Hallelujah! Through darkness and pain and strife, I ll sing, I ll be, live, see. Peace. ONS DANK GOD VIR ONS VERJAARSDAG / WE THANK GOD FOR OUR BIRTHDAY 7. i thank You God for most this amazing day Eric Whitacre (gebore in 1970) Teks: e.e. cummings Solis: Adré du Plessis Ons dank God vir ons 25e verjaarsdag. Dit is ook die verjaarsdag van liefde, lewe, die aarde, die son en van vlerke. Die Amerikaanse komponis Eric Whitacre het as n begaafde komponis, dirigent en dosent vinnig bekendheid verwerf as een van die mees populêre komponiste van sy generasie. Baie van Whitacre se werke vorm nou deel van die standaard koor- en simfonierepertoriums en is die onderwerp van verskeie onlangse studies en doktorale verhandelings. Whitacre het komposisiepryse in die Barlow International Composition Competition en van die American Choral Directors Association en die American Composers Forum gewen. i thank You God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for ev rything which is natural which is infinite, which is yes i who have died am alive again today, and this is the sun s birthday; this is the birthday of life and the birthday of love and this is the birthday of wings and of the gay great happening illimitably earth i thank You God how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any lifted from the no of all nothing human merely being doubt unimaginable You? now the ears of my ears awake, now the eyes of my eyes are opened i thank You God 9

VANDAG VERJAAR DIE LIEFDE / TODAY IS THE BIRTHDAY OF LOVE 8. The conversion of Saul Z. Randall Stroope (born in 1953) Onderweg na Damaskus, gee God aan Saulus opdrag om haat in liefde te verander. Hy doen dit op n manier wat liefde uitstraal en nie verwyt nie. Randall Stroope is an American composer, conductor and lecturer. He has conducting engagements across the world. He is also the artistic director for two summer music festivals in Europe. He has pubished 165 works and his shorter choral works have sold over three million copies. He wrote the first section of words for The conversion of Saul. The composition is often used in European and Asian choral competitions. The work begins with a raucous depiction of death and destruction through highly accentuated rhythmic treatment and repeated agitation of the text. A pedal tone emerges in the middle of the piece, symbolising the one true light. This continuum of light brings Saul to his knees and commissions him to a life of turning hatred into love and bringing compassion to those around him. Murder, harass, bind into chains! Saul! Chain, prosecute and harass! Why do you persecute me, Saul? Why, why, why? Fall down on your knees, turn hatred into love. Turn darkness into light. Bow down, Saul! Bow down, Saul! Saul, Saul, Saul. 9. Peace Paul Mealor (gebore in 1975) Gebed van St Francis van Assisi Soos Saulus, moet elkeen van ons ook n instrument van vrede word wat haat in liefde verander. Die hoogtepunt van die werk is die toonsetting van die teks wat vra om nie soseer liefde te ontvang nie, as om met ons hele siel lief te hê. Francis Bernardone, stigter van die drie Fransiskaanse Ordes, is in 1181 in Assisi, Italië gebore. Na gevangenskap en n langdurige ernstige siekte het hy geroepe gevoel tot n lewe van buitengewone diens aan die Kerk van Christus. Hy het sy welgestelde lewe laat vaar en begin met n lewe van radikale armoede in diens van die armstes van die armes. Francis het op 3 Oktober 1226 gesterf, 10

uitgeput deur sy apostoliese pogings, in pyn na die stigmata wat hy in 1224 ontvang het, en blind weens n oogsiekte. Die gebed van St. Francis van Assisi vat sy filosofie saam, alhoewel daar geen bewys is dat hy in werklikheid hierdie presiese woorde geskryf het nie. Paul Mealor is a Welsh composer who shot to fame in 2011 when his motet, a setting of Ubi caritas et amor, was premiered at the Royal Wedding of HRH Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton. Later that year, he was commissioned to write the music for Wherever you are, a song compiled from letters written between the wives and partners of British Army military personnel. This made it to number one in the charts. Thus, Mealor became the first classical composer to hold both the classical and pop chart number one spots at the same time. Peace, Lord. Make me a channel of your peace: where there is hatred, let me bring your love, where there is injury, your pardon, Lord, and where there is doubt, true faith in you. Peace, Lord. Make me a channel of your peace: where there is hatred, let me bring your love, where there s despair in life, let me bring hope, where there is darkness, only light, and where there s sadness, ever joy. O Master, grant that I may never seek so much to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand, to be loved, as to love with all my soul! Make me a channel of your peace: it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, In giving of ourselves that we receive, and in dying that we re born to eternal life. Make me a channel of your peace: where there is hatred, bring your love, bring your peace, Lord. 10. Because of you Text: Antjie Krog Music: Niel van der Watt (born in 1962) In 1995, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up in South Africa to help heal the country and to bring about a reconciliation of its people by uncovering the truth about human rights violations that had occurred during the period of apartheid. The commission heard reports and considered amnesty applications from all sides, from the apartheid state to the liberation forces, including the African National Congress. The award-winning South African poet and journalist, Antjie Krog, wrote: The Commission has kept alive the idea of a common humanity. Painstakingly it has chiselled a way beyond racism and made space for all our voices. For us all; all voices, all victims. For all its failures, it carries a flame of hope. 11

She concludes her book on the Commission with the words of this song, which we dedicate to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, chairman of the Commission, and former President Nelson Mandela, who became an inspirational worldwide symbol of forgiveness. May all of us, everywhere in the world, also on a personal level, be moved to forgive one another for whatever wrongs we have done. Because of you this country no longer lies between us, but within. It breathes becalmed after being wounded in its wond'rous throat, it sings in the cradle of my skull, it ignites my tongue my inner ear the cavity of my heart shudders towards the outline new in soft intimate clicks and gutterals of my soul the retina learns to expand daily because by a thousand stories I was scorched a new skin. I am changed forever, I want to say: Forgive me. You whom I have wronged, please take me with you. Senzenina? What have we done? 11. Det är med hjärtat man ser Teks: Gebaseer op Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Musiek: Lennart Esborn Uit: Livet under solen (Leef onder die son) In Sweeds, Gambies en Senegalees gesing Klavier: Isabeau Salmon The little prince is a novella written and illustrated by French aristocrat Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900 1944). First published in 1943, the book has since been translated into more than 190 languages and has sold more than 80 million copies, placing it among the best-selling books ever. It tells the story of a pilot and the young prince he meets, who has fallen to earth from an asteroid. The little prince is both a plea to retain one s imagination and an eloquent examination of love in all its forms: And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. This song is based on the core idea from The little prince. Esborn weaves two versions of the same text in West African languages into the initial Swedish version. Det är med hjärtat man ser ordentligt Det viktigaste är osynligt för ögenonnen n Mens kyk met die hart Wanneer die duisternis so donker is 12

VANDAG VERJAAR DIE AARDE / TODAY IS THE EARTH S BIRTHDAY 12. Rain improvisation This work is a free improvisation depicting a thunderstorm. It starts with the sounds of birds and animals anticipating the rain. Then rain drops start falling softly. Soon the rain starts to build up into a shower, until one can hear the sound of rolling thunder. Slowly the rain dies down again. The work concludes with the sounds of birds and animals celebrating. 13. Stars Teks: Sara Teasdale Musiek: Ēriks Ešenvalds (gebore in 1977) Vir koor, wynglase en Tibetaanse metaalbakke Solis: Adré du Plessis Die Letland-komponis Eriks Ešenvalds is een van die mees gesogte hedendaagse koorkomponiste en sy musiek word op elke vasteland uitgevoer. Ešenvalds sê: For me, harmony is most important how it flows and becomes a new harmony. The melodic line is secondary. I don t want to write simple music it is important for me to create sounds that I truly feel. I conclude that I am constantly changing, searching for new paths, but absolutely not, once having found them, mass-producing them. Alone in the night on a dark hill with pines around me spicy and still, And a heaven full of stars over my head, white and topaz and misty red; Myriads with beating hearts of fire the aeons cannot vex or tire; The dome of heaven like a great hill, and myriads with beating hearts of fire Heaven full of stars I know I am honoured to be witness of so much majesty. 13

VANDAG VERJAAR DIE LEWE / TODAY IS THE BIRTHDAY OF LIFE 14. Uit Konsert vir koor Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) In Russies gesing Christus het die dood en die graf oorwin en daardeur aan elkeen van ons die lewe gegee. Rachmaninoff was n Russiese komponis, pianis en dirigent. Hy word wyd beskou as een van die voortreflikste pianiste van sy tyd. As komponis word hy gesien as een van die laaste groot verteenwoordigers van die Romantiek in Russiese klassieke musiek. Die Konsert vir koor is een van sy vroeë werke. Vmolit vakh nyeusypayushuyu bogoroditsu v pryedstatel stvakh mira nyeprelozhnoye unavaniye; Grob I umershvleniyenye uderzhasti. Nóg die dood, nóg die graf kon seëvier oor die moeder van God, wat onophoudelik vir ons bid en as middelaar vir ons intree, want as die moeder van die Lewe is sy self tot lewe gewek deur die Een wat uit haar maagdelike skoot voortgekom het. 15. Hoe kosbaar is U liefde Niel van der Watt (gebore in 1962) Psalm 36:7-9 Hierdie werk is n opdragwerk wat Niel van der Watt gekomponeer het vir Palissander se uitvoering in Bosjes Kapel op 1 September 2017 die eerste konsert wat ooit in die kapel gehou is. Die kapel se argitektuur is geïnspireer deur Psalm 36:7. Later in die psalm verwys die psalmdigter na God wat die fontein van die lewe is. Hoe kosbaar is U liefde en trou, O Heer! Die mense is veilig by U, in die vleuels van U beskerming. In U huis geniet ons oorvloed, ons drink uit strome van U goedheid. Want U is die fontein van die lewe, U is die lewe. In U lig, sien ons die lig. Amen. Hoe kosbaar is U liefde en U trou. 14

OUR BIRTHDAY IS ALSO THE BIRTHDAY OF LIFE, OF LOVE, OF THE EARTH AND OF WINGS - LET US THEREFORE FLY FREE AND CELEBRATE LIFE / ONS VERJAARSDAG IS OOK DIE VERJAARSDAG VAN DIE LEWE, DIE LIEFDE, DIE AARDE EN VAN VLERKE - LAAT ONS DAAROM VRY VLIEG EN DIE LEWE VIER 16. Blackbird/I will Music and words: John Lennon and Paul McCartney Arr. Jonathan Rathbone (born in 1957) The Swingle Singers is a vocal group of eight members that was formed in 1962 by Ward Swingle. They began as session singers, who mainly did background vocals. Although they are an a cappella group, they sometimes use accompaniment by bass and drums. They produce complicated, technically impressive covers, ranging from modern classics to classical music and opera. Their arrangements are often informed by jazz harmonies and stylings. Other influences include Nat King Cole, various smooth singers and pianists. In this arrangement, two well-known songs by the Beatles are juxtaposed with one another. Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these broken wings and learn to fly All your life you were only waiting for this moment to arise Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these sunken eyes and learn to see All your life you were only waiting for this moment to be free Blackbird fly into the light of a dark black night Blackbird singing in the dead of night You were only waiting for this moment to arise Who knows how long I ve loved you You know I love you still Will I wait a lonely lifetime? If you want me to I will. For if I ever saw you I didn t catch your name But it never really mattered I will always feel the same. Love you forever and forever Love you with all my heart Love you whenever we re together Love you when we re apart. And when at last I find you Your song will fill the air Sing it loud so I can hear you Make it easy to be near you For the things you do endear you to me Ah, you know I will. 15 Should I wait a lonely lifetime? If you want me to I will.

17. The present tense Knut Nystedt (1915-2014) Teks: Fred Kaan Uit Magnificat for a new millennium Fred Kaan is in Haarlem, Nederland gebore. In 1963 verhuis hy na Plymouth en begin om aan n aanvullende gesangeboek te werk omdat hy gefrustreerd was dat hy nie vir n diens kon vind wat hy wou nie en omdat hy in woorde dít wou uitdruk wat na aan sy hart en gewete was. Hy het later belangrike poste beklee in onder andere die International Congregational Council, World Alliance of Reformed Churches en World Council of Churches. In 2000 het hy opdrag ontvang om die teks te skryf vir Magnificat for a new millennium vir EXPO 2000, die wêrelduitstalling in Hanover, Duitsland. Die Noorweegse komponis Knut Nystedt het deur n lang periode van vinnig veranderende musiekstrome n sentrale posisie beklee. Sy styl is ryk in kleur en terselfdertyd delikaat genuanseer. Hy het n merkwaardige vermoë om nuwe benaderings in komposisie by hierdie hoogs persoonlike styl aan te pas. Terwyl die meeste van sy werke vir koor en orkes vir die eerste keer in Noorweë deur die Oslo Filharmoniese Orkes of sy eie koor uitgevoer is, is hy een van die min hedendaagse Noorweegse komponiste wie se werke wêreldwyd uitgevoer word. Dit het ook aan hom nasionale sowel as internasionale toekennings besorg. Thank you, o God, for the time that is now, for all the newness your minutes allow; keep us alert with your presence of mind to fears and longings that move humankind. Thank you, o God, for the time that is past, for all the values and thoughts that will last. May we all stagnant tradition ignore, leaving behind things that matter no more. Thank you for hopes of the day that will come, for all the change that will happen in time; God! For the future our spirits prepare, hallow our doubts and redeem us from fear. Make us afraid of the thoughts that delay, faithful in all the affairs of today; Keep us, Creator, from playing it safe, thank you that now is the time of our life 18. Gabriella s song Stefan Nilsson (born in 1955) Arr. Marlene van den Berg & Sarita Hauptfleisch Sung in Swedish Soloist: Classina Cornelius This is a key song from the Swedish film As it is in heaven, that received an Academy Award nomination in 2005 as best foreign film. Writer/director Kay Pollak s wife gave him the idea for the film. Pollak says: She sang in a choir and I used to go to pick her up. I listened to the choir and studied it, and I gradually realised what a metaphor for humanity a choir is. 16

In the film the conductor of the church choir writes this song for Gabriella to encourage her to reclaim her life from an abusive husband. The song has captured the imagination of millions of viewers worldwide. Stefan Nilsson, the composer of the song, has more than 25 years experience in the music business and has worked in a wide selection of musical styles. Many of Nilsson s compositions over the past 20 years have been for film and his collection of film music is, to date, the most successful collection of its kind in Sweden. Nou is my lewe my eie, ek het net n kort tydjie op aarde. En my verlange het my tot hier gebring - my verlange na wat ek mis en na wat ek gehad het. Dit is steeds die weg wat ek gekies het; daar is nie woorde vir my selfvertroue nie, want ek het n blik gekry op die hemel wat ek gedink het daar ver is. Ek wil voel dat ek leef. Al die tyd wat ek het gaan ek voluit leef. Ek wil voel dat ek leef met die wete van wat ek nog oor het. Ek het nie vergeet wie ek is nie; ek het dit net laat sluimer. Miskien het ek nie n keuse gehad nie - net die begeerte om te oorleef. Ek wil gelukkig lewe omdat ek myself is. Ek wil sterk en vry wees en sien hoe die nag oorgaan in dag. Ek is hier en my lewe is net myne en die hemel wat ek geglo het daar ver is kan ek hier êrens vind. Ek wil voel dat ek my lewe voluit geleef het. LEDE / MEMBERS Soprane Alte Tenore Basse Sandra Botha, Classina Cornelius, Adré du Plessis, Melani Fouché, Ina Hugo, Kathleen van der Linde, Sarisa van Niekerk Nellie Celliers, Laetitia Crause, Letitia Grobler, Amy Herman-Roloff, Isabeau Salmon, Helga Schabort, Chantal Verster Dean Boltman, George de Bruin, Marco Hellberg, Andrew Hofmeyr, Jaques Kruger, Eugene Lategan, Gerhard Pienaar, Graeme Wilkinson Otto Bester, Marinus Claassen, Llewellyn Jackson, Gert Maree, Marc Oosthuizen, Johan Scheepers, Marius van Staden ACCOMPANIMENT / BEGELEIDING Isabeau Salmon 17

www.palissander.co.za e-pos: info@palissander.co.za Dirigent: Sarita Hauptfleisch Selfoon: +27 (82) 784 0409 Faks: +27 (86) 672 5256 Palissander Chamber Choir 18

1992 FOUNDING OF PALISSANDER 2003 STRADDLING THE EQUATOR IN KENYA 19

2013 PERFORMING IN THE NOTRE DAME IN PARIS 2017 BOSJES CHAPEL 20