The program title is a reference to the interest in angels held by Amber Rose Hendry, a friend's daughter who joined the angels on February 6, 1994. Or so we suppose; such is the nature of human knowing. This show is a continuation of the Mixed Up Class program of 2/6/95.
Because of technical difficulties in the KZSU announcer's booth at Palo Alto City Council, some of the air time during the closed session was occupied with music by Arcangelo ("archangel") Corelli. Note that the anniversary of Corelli's birthday occurs this week.
Arcangelo Corelli: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6 (CD: Corelli: 12 (Liszt Fenrenc Chamber Orchestra, Concerti Grossi) Budapest; János Rolla)
Of the following selections, "Faire is the Heaven" compares various orders of angels, including "those eternal burning cherubim and seraphim". Panis angelicus is the "bread of angels". And Agnus Dei is a part of a continuing series of the various incarnations of Samuel Barber's "Adagio".
William H. Harris: Faire is the Heaven (CD: A Choral Showcase) (Winchester Cathedral Choir; Martin Neary) Cesar Franck: Panis angelicus (CD: Allegri: Miserere) Samuel Barber: Agnus Dei (Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge; Richard Marlowe)
Engelbert Humperdinck is another composer with "angel" (Engel) in his name. The duet from Hänsel und Gretel is a slumber song which counts the 7 pairs of guardian angels that watch over each child in sleep. This is dedicated to the memory of Miriam Anderson.
Englebert Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel excerpts (CD: Hänsel und Gretel) Abends will ich schlafen gehn Pantomime (Staatskapelle Dreseden; Ann Murray (Hänsel); Edita Gruberova (Gretel); Sir Colin Davis)
Next is a set anchored with the famous soprano aria, "Let the Bright Seraphim", recorded at the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. This is followed by a renaissance motet which includes praises from angels and archangels.
George Frideric Handel: Selections from Samson (LP: The Royal Tribute) March Let the Bright Seraphim Let their celestial concerts all unite (Kiri Te Kanawa, soprano; The Bach Choir and Orchestra; Sir David Willcocks) Orland Gibbons: We praise thee O Father (CD: Sheppard: "Cantate" (Clerkes of Oxenford; David Wulstan) Mass)
Mahler's 4th Symphony contains the song Das Himmlische Leben ("The heavenly life") from his earlier song "cycle", Das Knaben Wunderhorn; angels figure prominently here. Note that last week was the birthday of soprano Elly Ameling.
Gustav Mahler: Symphony Nr. 4 (LP: Mahler Symphony IV. Sehr Behaglich Nr. 4) (Elly Ameling, soprano; Concertgebuow Orchestra, Amsterdam, Bernard Haitink)
Lest we be tempted to think of angels as all sweetness and light, Black Angels is an unsettling composition for electric string quartet, written in 1970 as a reaction to the horrors of the Vietnam War. In contrast, "St. Michael Archangel" and Factum est silentium recount a celestial battle between St. Michael's angels and a dragon representing darkness, told in the Biblical book of Revelation.
George Crumb: Black Angels (CD: Black Angels) III. Return (Kronos Quartet) Ottorino Respighi: Church Windows (CD: Church Windows) St. Michael Archangel (Pacific Symphony Orchestra; Keith Clark) Richard Dering: Factum est silentium (LP: Oxford Book of (Choir of Christ Church Cathedral; Tudor Anthems) Simon Preston)
The In Paradisum text ("Into Paradise may the angels lead you") is presented in two forms. First it is presented in plainchant, then in an expanded choral/orchestral setting of the plainchant tune by Maurice Duruflé.
Plainchant: In Paradisum (CD: Ikos) (Choir of King's College, Cambridge; Stephen Cleobury) Maurice Duruflé: Requiem (CD: Requiem de In Paradisum Maurice DURUFLÉ) (Choeur des Solists et Orchestre Philharmonique Albert Roussel; Hugues REINER)
Finally, a florid Latin setting of the based on the Assumption of the Virgin finishes this evening of Mixed Up Class.
William Mundy: Vox Patris caelestis (CD: Allegri: Misrere) (Tallis Scholars; Peter Phillips)
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