Women in Praise of the Sacred
Presenting beautiful music and poetry from Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Christian traditions spanning 24 centuries. The program features Hildegard von Bingen’s “O Clarissima Mater”, Gustav Holst’s “Hymns from the Rig Veda” with harpist Nancy Brace, and the premiere of “Spring Night’s Moon” by Colorado composer Deborah Schmit-Lobis, and guest artists from Speaking of Dance.
Spring Night’s Moon
This piece takes its title from the first of a series of five short
poems written by the great tenth century Japenese poet, Izumi Shikibu.
Her poetry, suffused with Buddhist teaching and practice, and much of
it written at mountain monasteries and wooded retreats of feudal Japan,
returns again and again to the themes of impermanence and
enlightenment. As Jane Hirschfield states in her introduction to
Izumi’s poems, “To read her poems….it is helpful to know that in
Buddhist cultures the moon is often a symbol of awakened mind.”
The music is developed as a progression through three overall segments.
First, the theme of an opening awareness of nature, life and its
possibilities is presented. Then we enter a more conflicted state where
countering pressures and influences, like the distracting sounds and
tumult of the world outside the temple, struggle with the attempt to
maintain that opening awareness. Finally, we pass through to an
acceptance of the human predicament and struggle, but now infused with
a vision of hope and transcendence.
Deborah Schmit-Lobis
About Deborah Schmit-Lobis
Deborah Schmit-Lobis, pianist/composer, has performed in the Colorado
Symphony, with Central City Opera, the Colorado Chamber Players, the
Colorado Ballet Orchestra, and the Mercury Ensemble.
In a less classical setting she also tours with the 70’s Oldies band
Edison Litehouse and was a member of the legendary Mother Folkers.
She’s also been a member of several small folk and jazz ensembles
specializing in the performance of their original music. These include
Upsidasium, Consort Colorado and Windy Peak and Sarabande. Their CDs
are played on Public Radio stations all over the United States.
As a composer/arranger Deborah has worked with the David Taylor Dance
Theater, Colorado Ballet, Speaking of Dance, Central City Opera, the
Colorado Children’s Chorale, the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus and the Mostly
Strauss Orchestra. Deborah was also a composer in residence in the
Rocky Mountain National Park Program in 1992 and in 2000. She is also a
Sound Healer and is currently working on a CD in that genre.
Program
- The Name is Changeless
- Gwyneth Walker
- O Clarissima Mater
- Melanie Nehls Burow, soloist
Jeanine Ashley, Mary Bullock, Debbie Martin, Mariena Richards, Althira Romas
Hildegard von Bingen - Circle
- Mary Bullock, soprano
Erica Tenant, alto
Joan Szymko - Reconstruction of Music from the Second Temple (536BCE - 70AD)
- Psalm 122
Psalm 150
Christina Lynn-Craig, soprano
Nancy Brace, harp
Ruth Harvey, gamba
Suzanne Haik-Vantoura - Teresa of Avila
- Bobbi La Placa, reader
- Saint Teresa’s Prayer (premiere performance)
- Christina Lynn-Craig
- Mechtild von Magdeburg
- Nancey Bookstein, reader
- Dancing
- Scott A Tucker
- Buddhist Poet Isumi Shikibu
- Deborah Reshotko, reader
- The Spring Night’s Moon (premiere performance)
- Sarah Brennan-Green, soprano
Jane Schein, mezzo-soprano
Alex Craig, piano
Deborah Schmit-Lobis, synthesizer
Lara Hayes-Giles, dancer
Jennifer Thompson, dancer
Deborah Reshotko, choreographer
Deborah Schmit-Lobis
Ten Minute Intermission
- Two Hindu Poets: Lal Ded and Mirabai
- Althira Romas, reader
- Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda (Group Three)
- Hymn to the Dawn
Hymn to the Waters
Hymn to Vena
Hymn of the Travellers
Lara Hayes-Giles, dancer
Jennifer Thompson, dancer
Nancy Brace, harp
Deborah Reshotko, choreographer
Gustav Holst - Emily Dickinson
- Carolyn Crouse, reader
- “Nature, the gentlest mother” from Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson
- Mariena Richards, soprano
Alex Craig, piano
Aaron Copeland - As Sisters in Zion
- Mary Bullock, reader
Janice Kapp Perry - How Can I Keep From Singing?
- Jane Schein, conductor
Alex Craig, piano
Gwyneth Walker - O Unico Amore
- Melanie Nehls Burow, mezzo-soprano
Alex Craig, piano
Kathleen Fagre - I Thank You God
- Alex Craig, piano
Gwyneth Walker
