2023 WSMA State Honors Concerts

[inspirational orchestral music]

– The following program is a PBS Wisconsin original production.

[trumpet fanfare]

– Narrator: Every October, Wisconsin’s most talented high school musicians gather in Madison to participate in a unique workshop.

[trumpet fanfare]

Under the guidance of acclaimed conductors, over 400 students from across the state take center stage with their peers.

Five ensembles… two days… one unforgettable experience!

Welcome to the 2023 Wisconsin School Music Association State Honors Concerts!

– Announcer: Funding for the State Honors Concerts is provided by donors to the Focus Fund for the Arts, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.

[fast orchestral music]

[“Festive Overture” by Dmitri Shostakovich]

[cheers and applause]

[“KwaMashu”, South African folk song by Theodore Cookson]

[singing in Zulu, moderately quick]

Wenuse benza KwaMashu maye

Wenuse benza KwaMashu maye

KuseThewinima

KwaMashu Maye

KuseThewinima

KwaMashu maye

Wenuse benza

KwaMashu maye

Wenuse benza

KwaMashu maye

Wenuse benza

KwaMashu maye

Wenuse benza

KwaMashu maye

Wenuse benza

KwaMashu maye

Wenuse benza

KwaMashu maye

KuseThewinima

KwaMashu maye

KuseThewinima

KwaMashu Maye

Wenuse benza

KwaMashu maye

Wenuse benza

KwaMashu maye

Wenuse benza

KwaMashu maye

Wenuse benza

KwaMashu maye

Tiwiwi wiwi

[stomp]

Tiwiwi tiwi

[stomp]

Tiwiwi wiwi

[stomp]

Tiwiwi

[stomp]

Tiwi Tiwiwiwiwiwi

[stomp]

Tiwiwi Tiwi

[stomp]

Tiwiwiwiwiwi

[stomp]

Tiwiwi Tiwi

[stomp]

Tiwiwiwiwi

[stomp]

Tiwiwi wiwi

Tiwiwiwiwi

[stomp, clap]

Tiwiwi wiwi

Tiwiwiwiwi

Tiwiwi wiwi

Tiwiwiwiwi

[clap]

Tiwiwi wiwi

Wenuse benza KwaMashu maye

Wenuse benza KwaMashu maye

KuseThewinima

KwaMashu Maye

KuseThewinima

KwaMashu

[vocalizing]

KwaMashu

[vocalizing, patting dejembe]

[cheers, whistles, and applause]

– Andrew Last: Gosh, it’s good to be with you tonight! I have had such a great time with these incredible, incredible musicians. We got together in June and made some incredible music. And they kind of set the bar pretty high at that, at that summer camp. They worked their tails off.

And I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but they’re not standing in sections. They’re standing quartets– so none of them are standing next to their same part. And that is a certain level of musicianship right there, especially when it’s not an ensemble that you sing with during the normal school year.

So they have done exceptional work in that area, and I am so glad and happy to share and showcase their talents with you tonight.

[cheers and applause]

[piano introduction]

[“Sweet Rivers” by Shawn Kirchner]

– Women: Sweet rivers of redeeming love

Lie just before mine eyes

Had I the pinions of a dove

I’d to those rivers fly

– Men and Women: I’d rise superior to my pain

With joy outstrip the wind

I’d cross o’er Jordan’s stormy waves

And leave the world behind

[piano interlude]

– Men: A few more days, or years at most

My troubles will be o’er

I hope to join the Heav’nly host

On Canaan’s happy shore

– Men and Women: My rapt’rous soul shall drink and feast

In love’s unbounded sea

The glorious hope of endless rest

Is ravishing to me

[rhythmic piano interlude]

O, come, my Savior, come away

And bear me through the sky

And bear me through the sky

Nor let thy chariot wheels delay

But quickly draw thou nigh

Then I shall join the angel throng

And circle round thy throne

I’ll sing through all the ages long

And joy to be thine own

And joy to be thine own

To be thine own

Joy to be thine own

To be thine own

To be thine own

To be thine own

[inspiring piano interlude]

Sweet rivers of redeeming love

Lie just before mine eyes

Had I the pinions of a dove

I’d to those rivers fly

I’d rise superior to my pain

With joy outstrip the wind

I’d cross o’er Jordan’s stormy waves

And leave the world behind

I’d cross o’er Jordan’s stormy waves

And leave the world behind

Leave the world behind

Sweet rivers of redeeming love

Sweet rivers of redeeming love

Sweet rivers of redeeming love

Lie just before mine eyes

[rapturous cheering and applause]

[“Aurora Awakes” by John Mackey]

[gentle percussion, woodwinds]

[energy and tempo quicken]

[melody accelerates]

[cheers and applause]

[“Hope Lingers On” by Lissa Schekenburger]

My mother, when love is gone

My mother, when love is gone

In our darkest hour, hope lingers on

My father, when peace is gone

My father, when peace is gone

In our darkest hour, hope lingers on

[accompanied by cajn and shaker]

I will not hate, and I will not fear

In our darkest hour, hope lingers here

My sister, when equality’s gone

My sister, when equality’s gone

In our darkest hour, hope lingers on

My brother, [clap] with tolerance gone [clap]

My brother, [clap] with tolerance gone [clap]

In our darkest hour, hope lingers on

[stomping, then clapping]

I will not hate, and I will not fear

In our darkest hour, hope lingers here

My love, when honor is gone

My love, when honor is gone

In our darkest hour, hope lingers on

[stomping]

My country, when justice is gone

My country, when justice is gone

In our darkest hour, hope lingers on

[fast clapping]

I will not hate

and I will not fear

In our darkest hour

hope lingers here

I will not hate

and I will not fear

In our darkest hour

[rhythmic percussion]

Hope lingers here

[shimmery percussion]

Hope lingers here

[high-energy cheers and applause]

– Julie Skadsem: Parents, thank you for investing in your kids’ social and emotional health. Choir and music, the arts are really where it’s at right now. Coming out of COVID, so many kids are so lost. And having them have this sort of ensemble to be a part of builds their strength, it builds their relationships, and it gives them a home away from your home.

[speaking with great emotion]

So, thank you!

[applause]

[“Vichten”, a joyful modern Acadian folk song]

[nonsense French syllables]

– Soloist: Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va

Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va

Taria a ka ta ka shoon ta ka shoon ta ka shoon

Taria ka ta ka shoon

Vichten a ven a va

[nonsense French syllables]

– Choir: Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va

Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va

Taria a ka ta ka shoon ta ka shoon ta ka shoon

Taria ka ta ka shoon vichten a ven a va

Ala couchi oom shoo shla Ha!

Ala couchi oom shoo shla Ha!

Bi bi bit’n taria

Bodnah bi bodne bit’n taria

Stalawala w’d da lia bibodn ne’

Bi bi bit’n taria

Bodnah bi bodne

Stalawala w’d da lia bibodn ne’

Bi bi bit’n taria oo!

Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va

Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va

Ala couchi oom shoo shla

Ala couchi oom shoo shla

Ala couchi oom shoo shla lizabeta

Ala couchi oom shoo shla

[clap]

Ala couchi oom shoo shla lizabeta

Ala couchi oom shoo shla

[clap]

Bi bi bit’n taria

Bodnah bi bodne

[stomp]

Stalawala w’d da lia bibodn ne’

Bi bi bit’n taria bodnah bi bodne

Stalawala w’d da lia bibodn ne’

Bi bi bi ten oo!

Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va

Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va

Taria aka taka shoon taka shoon taka shoon

Taria aka taka shoon vichten a ven a Hah!

Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va

Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va

Taria aka taka shoon taka shoon taka shoon

Taria aka taka shoon vichten a ven a Hah!

Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va

Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va

Taria aka taka shoon taka shoon taka shoon

Taria aka taka shoon vichten a ven a Hah!

[cheers, whistles, and applause]

[“Black Ball Swing” by Marcus Shelby]

[drum solo]

[full band playing up tempo jazz]

[sparkly piano]

[improvised bari sax solo]

[modern big band music]

[improvised trumpet solo]

[improvised trombone solo]

[improvised trumpet solo]

[improvised piano solo]

[improvised drum solo]

[push-and-pull rhythm]

[grand flourish]

[cheers and applause]

[“Symphonic Metamorphosis” by Paul Hindemith]

[trumpet and trombone fanfare]

[moody woodwind melody]

[bouncy string accompaniment]

[mid-tempo symphony]

[loud dissonance]

[cymbal crash]

[entire orchestra together]

[lighthearted melody]

[celebratory tone]

[serious, dramatic mood]

[cheers and applause]

[piano solo with slow, somber chords]

[“Love: Then and Still” by Susan Labarr]

We were married in late September

Among the changing leaves

Crimson banners in the courtyard

Heralding our union

We were so happy then

[piano interlude]

The music we shared brought us together

Brought us together

A duet most unlikely

Work and home and son and daughter

Busy in joy and love

How simple it seemed, then

[piano interlude]

But who could have known

what fate awaited

Our little family of four?

A spectre came and dwelt among us

And robbed us of our joy

And then we were only three

[piano interlude]

But time has passed

And wounds have healed

And wounds have healed

Leaving scars behind

But scars remind us

Remind us

What was, and what yet may be

What yet may be

That we loved

that we loved

That we loved

that we loved

That we loved that we loved

That we loved

that we loved

That we loved

And love you still

[slow, somber piano chords]

[applause]

– Peter Haberman: What a privilege it has been for me– in the last couple days, as well as June– to be back in the great state of Wisconsin, helping celebrate all that’s good about music education here. It’s been wonderful to be back and you have a lot to be proud of here.

The next piece we’re about to play for you is by Leonard Bernstein. It’s a fun parody, it’s cheeky, it’s cute, it’s precious, it’s difficult. It’s called “Slava!” He wrote it for his friend and that was his friend’s nickname.

Here is Bernstein’s “Slava!”

[quirky, up tempo orchestral music]

[“Slava!” by Leonard Bernstein]

[rousing and festive tune]

[vaudevillian razz-ma-tazz tune]

[harmonious melody]

[sliding trombones]

[melody speeds up]

– Slava! (Russian for “Glory!”)

[cheers and applause]

[piano solo introduction]

[“Music Down In My Soul” arranged by Moses Hogan]

I hear music in the air

[piano interlude]

I can feel it in the air

There must be a God somewhere

[piano interlude]

Over my head

I hear music in the air

Over my head I hear music in the air

Over my head I hear music in the air

There must be a God somewhere

Over my head

I hear singing in the air

Over my head I hear singing in the air

Over my head

I hear singing in the air

There must be a God

There must be a God

There must be a God somewhere

[gospel style piano accompaniment]

I got this music down in my soul

And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!

I got this music down in my soul

And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!

[call-and-response]

I’ve got joy!

I’ve got it, joy everlasting

I’ve got peace!

I’ve got it, peace everlasting

I’ve got love!

I’ve got it, love everlasting

I’ve got joy!

I’ve got it, joy everlasting

Love in my heart

Oh yes, I got peace in my soul

Oh yes, I got joy in my heart

Joy today!

I got this music down in my soul

And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!

I got this music down in my soul

And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!

[call-and-response]

I’ve got joy!

I’ve got it, joy everlasting

I’ve got peace!

I’ve got it, peace everlasting

I’ve got love!

I’ve got it, love everlasting

I’ve got joy!

I’ve got it, joy everlasting

Love in my heart

Oh yes, I got peace in my soul

Oh yes, I got joy in my heart

Joy today!

[call-and-response]

Do you love the Lord?

I love the Lord!

Do you love the Lord?

I love the Lord!

Do you love the Lord?

I love the Lord!

Do you love the Lord?

I love the Lord!

Do you love the Lord?

I love the Lord!

Do you love the Lord?

I love the Lord!

Well, I’ve got joy!

I’ve got it, joy everlasting!

I’ve got joy!

I’ve got it, joy everlasting!

Peace!

I’ve got it, peace everlasting!

Peace!

I’ve got it, peace everlasting!

Love!

I’ve got it, love everlasting!

Music down in my soul

And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!

I got this music down in my soul

And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!

I’ve got joy!

I’ve got it, joy everlasting

I’ve got peace!

I’ve got it, peace everlasting

I’ve got love!

I’ve got it, love everlasting

I’ve got joy!

I’ve got it, joy everlasting

Love in my heart

Oh yes, I got peace in my soul

Oh yes, I got joy in my heart

I got joy!

I got peace!

I got love!

In my soul!

[piano glissando]

[thundering cheers and applause]

– Announcer: Funding for the 2023 WSMA State Honors Concerts was provided by donors to the Focus Fund for the Arts and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.