Winter Concert 2025

Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) was a German Benedictine abbess. She was a prolific composer and writer on many subjects including medicine, natural history, philosophy, botany and theology. Ave Generosa is a chanted hymn to the Virgin Mary, and Hildegard wrote both words and a monophonic melody, but the hauntingly beautiful, harmonically rich version that we sing is by Ola Gjeilo, who was born in Norway, lives in New York, and published this piece in 2017.

Measure Me, Sky!

Elaine Hagenberg's 2023 musical interpretation of a poem by Leonora Speyer (1872-1956) encourages us to cast our arms wide, turn our eyes toward the heavens and take hold of our limitless potential. We reflect, “I have been little so long” and then are inspired by the expanse around and above us.  This impassioned piece builds through key changes before arriving at its brilliant final reflection, "Loveliness, wings for my flight!"  

Music, Lead the Way! 

This gospel-style original from 2013 draws inspiration from the work of the late Martin Luther King Jr. and others like him who worked to break down the barriers of racial discrimination and social injustice.  Laura Farnell wrote the music and added to words by Henry Van Dyke: The message: When we choose love and sing together in community, surely "peace and love will conquer hate and strife."

She Sang the Stars

WCS is proud to present the West Coast premiere of She Sang the Stars, by composer Sarah Quartel, first published in 2024. This five-movement piece for treble voices is inspired by the Kalevala, an epic Finnish poem which was compiled in the 19th Century, based on the prehistoric creation myth of Finland. In our music, a storyteller tells three women characters' tales of birth, adventure, urgent searching and magical power from the monumental work. The stars, watching, shone well before these tales were told and will remain long after the story is done.

Sing Gently

Eric Whitacre wrote the words and music of Sing Gently in 2020, when Covid 19 presented a world where not only was it very dangerous to sing together, but "the very fabric of society was tearing at the seams." The new piece premiered, online, as Virtual Choir 6; his Virtual Choir 1 had taken place in 2009 with 185 recorded participants, and had "gone viral." This one was performed by 17,572 singers from 129 countries. When Whitacre was invited to Eugene as Artist in Residence for the 2024 Oregon Bach Festival, hundreds packed Beall Hall to Sing Gently at a Community Sing with this remarkable composer/conductor.

Still I Rise

With upbeat and uplifting words and music, this joyful gospel-style song was composed by Rosephayne Powell and published in 2005. You may find yourself standing up, clapping and stomping your feet. The message is all about courage and believing that everything is within your reach. You can always get up from your troubles and reach for the skies! 

Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te Partirò)
Written by Francesco Sartori, Lucio Quarantotto and Frank Peterson, this song has topped the charts since it was first released in 1995. It is sung in both Italian and English, and interpretations vary. Some think this is a song saying goodbye to a loved one who has passed on. Or it could be about lovers who can’t find their way in life together. The literal translation is “I will go with you”, suggesting that no matter where the lovers in the song are going, they will be together.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken

This classic bluegrass piece was originally written in 1907 as a gospel hymn.  The Carter family recorded a revised version in 1935 that has become the widely familiar tune, now recorded by many others.  The hymn is sung every year at the conclusion of the Country Music Hall of Fame by the new inductees joined by any previous inductees present.  Our version was written by Cathy Winter, Betsy Rose and Marcia Taylor.