(music) (music) >>ANNOUNCER: Support for WGTE Presents: Toledo Choral Society, Heavenly Light is provided, in part, by a generous gift from Jill Koehler, life-long supporter of music, art, culture, and good will and proud sponsor of WGTE's local holiday programs and performances.

>>BRAD CRESSWELL: Hello, I'm Brad Cresswell.

I'm standing in the sanctuary of Gesu Roman Catholic Church, where the Toledo Choral Society performed their holiday concert, Heavenly Light.

The Toledo Choral Society has performed music each holiday season since the group's establishment in 1919, and they continue that tradition of performing beautiful choral music with this concert.

Led by director Rick Napierala, the group presented a range of both classic and modern works.

I'll talk with Rick at intermission about the music and the choir.

For now, please enjoy this presentation of the Toledo Choral Society: Heavenly Light.

>>SINGERS: Sent from heaven, thy rays were given on great and small to shine.

O light Divine!

May each soul in sorrow's night see the heavenly light!

Thou blessing to all creation, lead us to our salvation!

All those whose feet may falter, lead unto the sacred altar!

Oh shine from above, Divine Light of love!

Show us the way unto our God, we pray!

Thou our beacon and guide shalt be!

Light Divine, we praise Thee!

(music) >>SINGERS: Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, we re going to see the king.

Music Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, we are going to see the king.

Hallelujah, hallelujah.

(music) No more dying there, we are going to see the king.

No more dying there, we are going to see the king.

No more dying there, we are going to see the king.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, we are going to see the king.

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, we are going to see the king.

Hallelujah, hallelujah.

Soon and very soon.

(applause) (music) >>SINGERS: Lo, how a Rose e er blooming from tender stem hath sprung.

Of Jesse s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.

It came, a blossom bright, amid the cold winter, when half spent was the night.

Isaiah twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind; with Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind, to show God's love aright, She bore to us a Savior, when half spent was the night.

Oh flower whose fragrance tender, with sweetness fills the air, dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere.

True man, yet very God, from sin and death have saved us and shared our heavy load.

and shared our heavy load.

(applause) >>RICHARD NAPIERALA: One of the nice things about being able to work with this choir is I, I have the opportunity to work with many talented musicians.

Um, and anybody who uh, had the privilege of coming to this young man s senior, um, graduate recital last week would understand that uh, this is truly a talented musician.

So I uh, would like to welcome to the podium Mr. Joshua Dufford.

(applause) (music) >>SINGERS: O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant.

O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold him, born the King of Angels.

O come, let us adore him.

O come, let us adore him.

O come, let us adore him, Christ the lord!

Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation.

Sing all ye citizens of heaven above.

Glory to God!

Glory in the highest.

O come, let us adore him.

O come, let us adore him.

O come, let us adore him, Christ the lord!.

(music) Ye lord we greet thee, born this happy morning.

Jesus to thee be all glory given.

Word of the father, now in flesh appearing.

O come, let us adore him.

O come, let us adore him.

O come, let us adore him.

O come, let us adore him.

O come, let us adore him.

O come, let us adore him, Christ the lord!

(applause) >>NAPIERALA: For my next guest, a show stopper here.

Um, I ran across this tune uh, probably about four years ago, and uh, when I heard it, I knew that the choral society had to do it.

And uh, I was introduced to Mr. Noah Widman, and uh, I knew that he had a perfect voice for it.

So sit back and please enjoy The Manger of Bethlehem.

(music) (vocalizing) (music) (vocalizing) >>NOAH WIDMAN: There's a song in the air.

There's a star in the sky.

There's a mother's soft prayer, and a baby's low cry.

And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing, for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King.

>>SINGERS: There's a tumult of joy o'er the wonderful birth, for the virgin's sweet boy is the Lord of the earth.

And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing, for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King.

(vocalizing) >>WIDMAN: And we look to the star while the beautiful sing to the manger of Bethlehem.

(music) >>SINGERS: We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song coming down through the night from the heavenly throng.

And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing >>WIDMAN: for the manger of Bethlehem >>SINGERS: cradles the King.

(applause) (music) >>SINGERS: People look east.

The time is near Of the crowning of the year.

Make your house fair as you are able, Trim the hearth and set the table.

People, look east and sing today: Love, the guest, is on the way.

(music) >>SINGERS: Furrows, be glad.

Though earth is bare, One more seed is planted there: Give up your strength the seed to nourish, That in course the flower may flourish.

People, look east and sing today: Love, the rose, is on the way.

Birds, though you long have ceased to build, Guard the nest that must be filled.

Even the hour when wings are frozen God for fledging time has chosen.

People, look east and sing today: Love, the bird, is on the way.

Stars, keep the watch.

When night is dim One more light the bowl shall brim, Shining beyond the frosty weather, Bright as sun and moon together.

People, look east and sing today: Love, the star, is on the way.

(music) >>SINGERS: Angels, announce with shouts of mirth Christ who brings new life to earth.

Set every peak and valley humming With the word, the Lord is coming.

People, look east and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way.

(applause) >>NAPIERALA: Before we get to the end of our first half we are going to do a piece that the Toledo Choral Society is now in it s 99th year of doing, uh, the uh, For Unto Us a Child Is Born from Handel's Messiah.

(music) >>SINGERS: For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, unto us a Son is Given.

For unto us a Child is born, for unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given, unto us a Son is Given, For unto us a Child is born, for unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given, unto us a Son is Given, unto us, unto us a son is given, a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and the government shall be upon His shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful.

Counsellor.

The Mighty God.

The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Unto us a Child is born, for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name, and his name, shall be called Wonderful.

Counsellor.

The Mighty God.

The Everlasting Father.

The Prince of Peace Unto us a Child is born, for unto us a Child is born, for unto us a Child is born, for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, unto us a Son is given, and the government the government shall be upon His shoulder, and the government shall be shall be upon His shoulder, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful.

Counsellor.

The Mighty God.

The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Unto us a Child is born, for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, unto us a Son is given, unto us a son is given, and the government the government shall be upon His shoulder, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and his name, shall be called Wonderful.

Counsellor.

The Mighty God.

The Everlasting Father.

The Prince of Peace.

The Everlasting Father.

The Prince of Peace.

(music) (applause) >>CRESSWELL: Hi there, I'm Brad Cresswell.

We hope you're enjoying this broadcast of Toledo Choral Society Heavenly Light.

I'm sitting here in the sanctuary with Rick Napierala who is the director of Toledo Choral Society.

Now Rick, Toledo Choral Society has been around for a long time.

a sense of the history of the group?

>>NAPIERALA: Absolutely yeah, it uh, the society's roots actually go back all the way uh, to the Civil War era.

It was the Mendohlson Society at that time.

Um, and it has changed names quite a few times since.

Uh, after that I believe it was in the 18, uh 79 that it changed to the Toledo Vocal Society.

Um, and then it made another change, it was the Toledo Oratorio Society.

Um and then in 1919 was when it became the Toledo Choral Society under director Mary Willing.

>>CRESSWELL: Well there have been a lot of names associated with Toledo Choral Society over the years.

You have Sam Szor, who was there for a long, long time.

You also have Margaret Weber, who recently passed away.

I know she was 101 years old.

>>NAPIERALA: She was 101 years old, yes.

>>CRESSWELL: A long time pianist for the group, and I had a conversation with her some time ago before she passed talking about all the history, and when you think of it, I mean it, it's really a sort of a generational thing that was going on and on and on, and I assume still is.

>>NAPIERALA: Yes, um, Margaret was, Margaret was a great person, and.

She was an accompanist that actually served under all four directors prior to me with the Toledo Choral Society so, uh, she served with Mary Willing, she served with Lestor McCoy, and then of course Sam Szor.

And then she even came in and did some stuff with me as well.

>>CRESSWELL: Yeah, wonderful history there.

>>CRESSWELL: -of the program today.

What else are we going to hear?

>>NAPIERALA: You know, there's a couple other things that are going to be on the second half.

Um, one piece that you're going to hear, "Angels from the Realms of Glory."

Um, it's an arrangement by Dan Forrest.

Um, one of the nice things that the Toledo Choral Society has started to do is um, after, uh, Sam Szor's passing is start a scholarship program to give a graduate student in music an opportunity to work with the chorus so, um, that piece will actually be directed by him.

>>CRESSWELL: Oh ok. >>NAPIERALA: There is um, we're doing the um, "Night of Silence" by Daniel Kantor.

Um, it's kind of a piece that I try to close every concert, and as a matter of fact, after going back, I believe every Christmas concert, other than Messiah, we've closed or we've had "Night of Silence" on.

>>CRESSWELL: Yeah.

You mention Messiah, and Toledo Choral Society I mean, for the past 99 or 100 years has, has been sort of the you know go-to Messiah all that time.

And you sang a little Messiah at the end of the last segment, actually.

>>NAPIERALA: We did.

>>CRESSWELL: -one of the choruses.

Is that like, like, can anybody in Toledo Choral Society just jump up and sing Messiah for you at any given time?

(laughter) >>NAPIERALA: Well they definitely ought to be because this was our 99th performance in some shape or form, um, this year.

>>CRESSWELL: Yeah.

But that's different from what you're doing with this.

This Christmas concert is just all about Toledo Choral Society.

>>NAPIERALA: It is, it is.

The other one is in conjunction with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra >>CRESSWELL: Collaborative, yeah.

>>NAPIERALA: And, and uh, Terra State, as well.

They've joined us the last couple years.

>>CRESSWELL: Yeah, that's wonderful.

Well, uh, speaking of the first half of the concert, I noticed you had a boy soprano, which was fun, and uh beautiful in this space, this sacred space, with all the reverberation, that we can hear.

Tell us about that.

>>NAPIERALA: We did.

I um, ran across Noah at one of our Good Friday concerts- >>CRESSWELL: This is the soprano?

The boy soprano?

>>NAPIERALA: This is the boy soprano.

I ran across him and he actually did the uh, "Pie Jesu' from the Faure Requiem for us.

>>CRESSWELL: Oh, beautiful.

>>NAPIERALA: And when I came across "The Manger in Bethlehem" by Rob Gardner I was like, we, we gotta get Noah in here to sing this piece, so.

>>CRESSWELL: Yeah.

Well before we get back to the music, let's talk a little bit about you.

Give us a little bit of your history.

Are you from this area originally?

>>NAPIERALA: I am.

I uh, grew up in Maumee, Ohio.

I went to the University of Toledo.

I did my Bachelor's and Master's degree at the University of Toledo.

Um, and I do a lot of different music jobs.

(laughter) >>CRESSWELL: That's the lot of a musician these days.

>>NAPIERALA: It is.

>>CRESSWELL: Yeah.

>>NAPIERALA: Um, I actually sang in the Toledo Choral Society under Sam Szor, um, before finding out the position was open when I applied for it.

Um, I also am the director at Terra State College, uh, which we have a choral society over there we um, we've done a lot of combined concerts with the Toledo Choral Society.

And then um, to fill things out, just because I'm not busy enough, um, I'm the director of athletic bands at the University of Findlay.

>>CRESSWELL: So Rick Napierala, are you open to people coming and auditioning?

How does that work?

>>NAPIERALA: Absolutely.

We are always looking for people uh, especially tenors and basses.

So, if there are any tenors and basses that are interested in singing with the Toledo Choral Society, we would love to have you >>CRESSWELL: are there what are the challenges of working with a group like that or you know, bringing what you do to the community?

>>NAPIERALA: I mean, I would say the largest challenge is funding.

>>CRESSWELL: Yeah.

>>NAPIERALA: I mean, it's not cheap to put on concerts, and to hire musicians, and to purchase music.

Um, but the choral society has risen to the challenge.

I mean, uh, on top of performing all the concerts, there's a huge number of people that are in the group that are out fundraising.

They're working University of Toledo football game concession stands.

They're working the Mudhens concession stands to raise the funds in order to make this group run.

And it's, that's, that's the challenging part, you know.

Everything else comes together, you know.

Whether the joy of making music, the, the concerts, that all can come together, um, when people are working together, but funding for nonprofits is, I mean it's- >>CRESSWELL: Always a challenge >> NAPIERALA: -the same across anything as a nonprofit organization >>CRESSWELL: But we're reaping the uh, the rewards of all of that hard work in this concert and the other concerts.

about Toledo Choral Society, they can find you online.

>>NAPIERALA: Definitely.

It's got all of the audition information on there, It's got our calendar.

It's got our ticket information on there.

>>CRESSWELL: Ok, great.

Well, Richard Napierala, thank you for joining me today.

Rick is the director of Toledo Choral Society, and now let's go back to Toledo Choral Society Heavenly Light.

>>NAPIERALA: So this next piece that we're going to start the second half of our concert with uh, is by American composer Gwyneth Walker.

Um, Gwyneth and the Toledo Choral Society have formed a very good relationship right now because she is the composer that has written our hundredth anniversary commission entitled the Great Lakes.

Um, every time Gwyneth gets a new piece now, she sends it to the Toledo Choral Society for us to perform.

Um, I'm very excited to present "The Friendly Beasts and Other Christmas Carols."

(music) >>SINGERS: Children go where I send thee.

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee one by one.

One for the little bitty baby that was born, born, born in Bethlehem (music) >>SINGERS: Children go where I send thee.

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee two by two.

Two for Paul and Silas.

One for the little bitty baby that was born, born, born in Bethlehem.

(music) Children go where I send thee.

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee three by three.

Three for the Hebrew children.

Two for Paul and Silas.

One for the little bitty baby that was born, born, born in Bethlehem.

(music) >>SINGERS: Children go where I send thee.

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee four by four.

Four for the four that stood at the door.

Five for the gospel preachers.

Six for the six that never got fixed.

Seven for the seven that went up to heaven.

Eight for the eight that stood at the gate.

Nine for the nine that dressed so fine.

Ten for the Ten Commandments.

Eleven for the eleven deriders.

They were born, born, born in Bethlehem.

(music) >>SINGERS: Children, children, children, children, children, children.

Go where I send thee.

I m gonna send thee twelve by twelve.

Twelve for the twelve apostles.

Eleven for the eleven deriders.

Ten for the Ten Commandments.

Nine for the nine that dressed so fine.

Eight for the eight that stood at the gate.

Seven for the seven that went up to heaven.

Six for the six that never got fixed.

Five for the gospel preachers.

Four for the four that stood at the door.

Three for the Hebrew children.

Two for Paul and Silas.

One for the little bitty baby that was born, born, born in Bethlehem.

(applause) (music) >>SOLO SINGER: Angels.

I hear angels singing, angels singing through the night.

>>SOLO SINGER: O er the mountains, voices ringing, guided by a Holy light.

>>SINGERS: Alleluia!

Alleluia!

(music) >>SINGERS: Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plains, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria!

In excelsis Deo.

Gloria!

In excelsis Deo.

(music) >>SINGERS: Shepherds why this jubilee?

Alleluia!

Why your joyous strains prolong?

Alleluia!

What gladsome tidings be- Alleluia!

Which inspire your heavenly song?

Alleluia!

Gloria!

In excelsis Deo.

Gloria!

In excelsis Deo.

(music) >>SINGERS: Come to Bethlehem and see.

O see O see Him.

Him whose birth the angels sing.

The angels sing.

Come adore on bended knee.

On bended knee to Christ.

Christ the Lord, the new born King.

The newborn King.

Gloria!

In excelsis Deo.

Gloria!

In excelsis Deo.

(music) >>SINGERS: See Him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise.

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid while our hearts in love we raise.

Gloria!

In excelsis Deo.

Gloria!

In excelsis Deo.

Alleluia!

Alleluia!

Alleluia!

Alleluia!

O holy night!

(applause) (music) >>SINGERS: On this day, on this day a tiny child is born.

On this day, on this day a tiny child is born.

He is peace.

Peace on earth.

He is peace, peace on earth.

Gloria, Gloria, how it rang throughout the sky.

Gloria, Gloria, singing praise to God on high.

(music) (vocalizing) (applause) (music) >>SINGERS: Angels from the realms of glory wing your flight o er all the earth.

Ye who sang creation s story now proclaim Messiah s birth.

Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.

(music) >>SINGERS: Shepherds, in the field abiding watching o er your flocks by night.

God with us is now residing Yonder shines the infant light.

Come and worship, come and worship, come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sages, leave your contemplations brighter visions beam afar.

Seek the great desire of nations, ye have seen his natal star.

Come and worship, come and worship, come and worship, come and worship Christ, the newborn King.

(music) >>SINGERS: All creation join in praising God, the Father, Spirit Son, evermore your voices raising, to the eternal three in one.

Come and worship, come and worship, worship, worship Christ the newborn King.

(applause) >>NAPIERALA: We have a, we have one last piece that we re gonna sing, Night of Silence.

Um, and I wanna thank everybody again for coming out to this concert, for supporting the Toledo Choral Society, again Gesu and Father Marty.

Uh, and know that, you know, all the canned goods that you guys bring in that s all, that s all going to people who really need that around this time of year.

So, thank yourselves again for that as well.

Um, and, the choral society appreciates, you know, the support that you ve given them too, for their hundredth anniversary.

So uh, our last song will be Night of Silence.

(music) >>SINGERS: Cold are the people, winter of life.

We tremble in shadows this cold endless night.

Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping.

Flowers that will echo the sunrise.

Fire of hope is our only warmth.

Weary, it's flame will be dying soon.

Voice in the distance, call in the night.

On wind you enfold us You speak of the light, Gentle on the ear you whisper softly.

Rumors of a dawn so embracing.

Breathless love awaits darkened souls.

Soon will we know of the morning.

Spirit among us, shine like the star.

Your light that guides shepherds and kings from afar.

Shimmer in the sky so empty, lonely.

Rising in the warmth of your Son's love.

Star unknowing of night and day.

Spirit we wait for your loving Son.

Cold are the people, winter of life.

We tremble in shadows this cold endless night.

Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping.

Flowers that will echo the sunrise.

Fire of hope is our only warmth.

Weary, it's flame will be dying soon.

(music) (applause) >>ANNOUNCER: Support for WGTE Presents: Toledo Choral Society, Heavenly Light is provided, in part, by a generous gift from Jill Koehler, life-long supporter of music, art, culture, and good will and proud sponsor of WGTE's local holiday programs and performances.

>>SINGERS: Children go where I send thee.

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee four by four.

Four for the four that stood at the door.

Five for the gospel preachers.

Six for the six that never got fixed.

Seven for the seven that went up to heaven.

Eight for the eight that stood at the gate.

Nine for the nine that dressed so fine.

Ten for the Ten Commandments.