1. Exultate justi

Ludovico da Viadana (1564-1645)

Exultate justi in Domino: rectos decet collaudatio.
Confitemini Domino in cithara: in psalterio decem chordarum psallite illi.
Cantate ei canticum novum: bene psallite ei in vociferatione.
Psalm xxxiii, 1-3

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for it becometh well the just to be thankful. 
Praise the Lord with harp: sing praises unto him with the lute, and instrument of ten strings. 
Sing unto the Lord a new song: sing praises lustily unto him with a good courage.

2. Rejoice in the Lord alway

Atrrib. John Redford

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say Rejoice.
Let your softness be known unto all men. The Lord is e'en at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in all prayer and supplication let your petitions be made known unto God with giving of thanks.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesu. Amen.
Philipians iv, 4-7

3. Schmücke dich

J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele
lass die dunkle Sünden höhle;
komm ans helle Licht gegangen,
fange herrlich an zu prangen;
denn der Herr voll Heil und Gnaden
will dich jetzt zu Gaste laden.
Der den Himmel kann verwalten
will jetzt Herberg in dir halten.
J. Franck (1618-77)

Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness
Leave the gloomy haunts of sadness,
Come into the daylight's splendour,
There with joy thy praises render
Unto him whose grace unbounded
Hath this wondrous banquet founded;
High o'er all the heavens he reigneth,
Yet to dwell with thee he deigneth.
Tr. J. Winkworth

4. How dear are thy counsels

William Crotch (1775-1847)

How dear are thy counsels unto me O God: O how great is the sum of them!
Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart: prove me, and examine my thoughts.
Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me: and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm cxxxix, 17, 23 & 24

5. Gettin’ up mornin'

Trad. arr. Robin Doveton

1.I'm a goin' to tell ya 'bout the comin' of the Saviour, 
Fare you well, fare you well, 
When my Lord speaks to his Father,
Fare you well, fare you well.
In that great gettin' up mornin',
Fare you well, fare you well.
2.Says Father, "I'm a-tired o' bearin',
Tired o' bearin' for poor sinners."
3.O you preachers, fold your bibles,
For the last soul's converted.

11. Searching for lambs

Trad. arr. Robin Doveton

1.As I walked out one May morning,
one May morning betime,
I met a maid from home had strayed
just as the sun 'gan shine.
2."What makes you rise so soon, my dear, 
your journey to pursue?
Your pretty little feet, they tread so sweet,
strike off the morning dew!"
3."I'm going to feed my father's flock,
his young and tender lambs,
that over hill and over dale
lie waiting for their dams."
4."O stay, O stay, you handsome maid,
and rest a moment here,
for there is none but you alone
that I do love so dear."
5."How gloriously the sun doth shine,
how pleasant is the air;
I'd rather rest on a true love's breast
than any other where."
6."For I am thine and thou art mine,
no man shall uncomfort thee;
we'll join our hands in wedded bands
and married we shall be!" 

12. Ye spotted snakes

R.J.S. Stevens (1757-1837

Ye spotted snakes with double tongue,
Thorny hedgehogs be not seen,
Newts and blindworms do wrong,
Come not near our fairy queen.
Philomel with melody
Sing in your sweet lullaby.
Never harm nor spell nor charm
Come our lovely lady nigh:
So goodnight with lullaby.
Weaving spiders come not here,
Hence ye long-legg'd spinners, hence!
Beetles black approach not near;
Worm and snail do no offence.
W. Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

13. II bianco e dolce cigno

Jacques Arcadelt (c.1500-1568)

Il bianco e dolce cigno cantando more,
Ed io piangendo giung' al fin del viver mio.
Stran' e diversa sorte, ch'ei more sconsolato
Ed io moro beato morte che nel morire
M'empie di gioia tutto e di desire.
Se nel morir, altro dolor non sento,
Di mille mort' il di sarei contento.

The sweet white swan dies singing,
and I go complaining to my life's end.
Strange, different fate, that he dies disconsolate
and I die a blessed death
which fills me with joy and desire.
Were I to feel no other grief,
I should be happy to die a thousand times over.

14. Le chant des oiseaux

Clément Jannequin (c.1475-1558)

Réveillez vous, coeurs endormis,
Le dieu d'amours vous sonne.
Vous serez tous en joie mis
Car Ia saison est bonne.
Les oiseaux quand sont ravis
En leur chant font merveilles;
Ecoutez bien leur devis,
Détoupez vos oreilles.
Et fa ri ro frere li joli
Ti ti pi ti, chouti toui.
Tu, que dis tu?
Le petit sansonnet de Paris,
Le petit mignon: (q'est là bas?
Passe villain. Sainte tête Dieu,
II est temps d'aller boire)
Sage, courtois et bien apris.
A sermon, ma maitresse.
Sus madame à Ia messe.
A saint Trotin montrer le tétin,
Le doux musequin.
Teo ticun, frian, frian frian,
Tu tu tu, qui l'ara.
Coqui coqui, oi ti oi ti,
Huyt huyt, ter ter teo,
Queo queo, tar tar, fouquet, quibi,
Veleci, huyt huyt, ter turri.
Cocu coqui, ou est il, le cocu?
Fuiez, fuiez, maître cocu,
Sortez de nos chapitre,
Vous ne serez point retenu
Car vous n’êtes qu’un traître.
Par trahison en chacun nid,
Pondez sans qu’on vous sonne.
Réveillez vous, etc..

Rouse yourselves, sleeping hearts,
The god of love calls you.
You should all be joyful
For spring is come.
The birds, all inspired,
Do wonders with their song;
Listen well to their ditty,
Bend your ears.
And...
...
You, what are you saying?
The little starling of Paris,
The little thing: (who’s there?
Pass, knave. By the holy head of God
It is time to go drinking)
Wise, courteous and well versed.
Go to the sermon, my mistress.
Get thee to Mass, Madam.
To St. Trotin to show your tits
And sweet looks.
...
…Who wants it?
Cuckoo, cuckoo...
...
...
...
Cuckoo, where is the cuckoo?
Away, go away, master Cuckoo,
Get out of our company.
You will never be missed
For you are nothing but a traitor.
Treacherously, in every nest
You lay without being called.
Rouse yourselves, etc..

15. Herzlich tut

Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)

1.Herzlich tut mich erfreuen
die fröhlich Sommerzeit,
all mein geblüt erneuen,
der Mai viel Wollust geit;
die Lerch tut sich erschwingen
mir ihrem hellen Schall,
lieblich die Vöglein singen,
voraus die Nachtigall.
2.Der Kuckuck mit sein'm Schreien
macht fröhlich jedermann,
des Abends freundlich reihen
die Maidlein wohlgetan;
spazieren zu den Brunnen
pflegt man zu dieser Zeit,
all Welt sucht Freud und Wonne
mit Reisen fern und weit.
3.Darum Lob ich den Sommer
dazu den Maien gut
der wendt uns allen Kummer
und bringt viel Freud und Mut;
der Zeit will ich geniessen
dieweil ich Pfennig hab,
und wen es tut verdriessen,
der fall die Stiegen ab.

1.The happy summertime
heartily gladdens me,
my blood is renewed and May
fills me with much desire;
the lark ascends
with his clear call,
and the birds sing sweetly,
especially the nightingale.
2.The cuckoo with his call 
makes everyone happy,
companionable evening dancing
does the girls good;
one should take a walk
to the well at this time,
the whole world seeks joy and pleasure
by travelling far and wide.
3.Therefore I praise summer
and also sweet May
which comforts us all
and brings us so much joy and courage;
I shall enjoy the season 
as long as have any money, 
and whoever complains about it 
can just fall downstairs.

16. Yuki no huru machi o

Nakada, arr. Robin Doveton

1.Yuki no furu machi o
Omoide dake ga tori sugite yuku,
Toi kuni kara ochite kuru kono omoideo
Itsu no hi ka tsutsuman
Atakakaki shiawase hohoemi.
2.Yuki no huru machi o
Asi oto dakega oi kakete yuku
Hitori kokoro ni michite kuru
Kono kanashimio itsu no hi ka hogusan
Midorinasu harunohi no soyokaze.
Nakada

1.In a snowy town
only memories passed by;
memories coming down from a distant land,
enveloping, unknowing,
with warm happiness and a smile.
2.In a snowy town
only footsteps follow
a heart that was full.
One day this sadness will pass,
blown on the breeze of a green Spring day
Tr. Mio Ito, Eriko Koyama, Aya Nakanishi

17. Mailied

F. Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)

1.Der Schnee zerrint,
der Mai beginnt,
und Blüthen keimen
auf garten Baümen
und Vogelschall tönt überall.
2.Pflückt einen Kranz
und haltet Tanz,
ihr schönen Frauen,
auf grünen Auen,
wo grüne Mai'n uns Kühlung streuen.
3.Wer weiss, wie bald
die Glocke schallt,
da wir des Maien
uns nicht mehr freuen.
4.D'rum werdet froh,
Gott will es so,
der uns dies Leben
zur Lust gegeben.
Geniesst der Zeit, die Gott verleiht.
Heinrich Heine

1.The snow melts,
May begins,
The garden trees blossom
and birdsong
is heard everywhere.
2.Pluck a garland
and dance,
lovely ladies,
on the green meadows
where green May refreshes us.
3.Who knows how soon
the bell will toll?
Then May will no
Longer delight us.
4.So be joyful:
God wishes it so,
who gave us this life
for our pleasure.
Enjoy the time God gives us.

18. In summer's cool shade

Samuel Arnold (1740-1802)

In summer's cool shade, how delightful to sit:
In winter, how social, when few friends are met:
In autumn ripe fruits our palates regale:
In spring we delight in the blossom'd sweet vale.
Each season has pleasure and blessing in store:
Rejoice and be happy and wish for no more;
For know, the best season to laugh and to sing
Is summer, is winter, is autumn, is spring.

19. Begone, dull care

Trad. arr. Robin Doveton

1.Begone, dull care, I prithee be gone from me,
Begone dull care, you and I will never agree:
Long time hast thou been tarrying here
And fain thou would'st me kill,
But i'faith, dull care,
Thou never shall have thy will.
2.Too much care will make a young man turn grey,
And too much care will turn an old man to clay:
My wife shall dance and I shall sing, 
So merrily pass the day,
For I hold it one of the wisest things 
To drive dull care away.

20. Orpheus with his lute

George Macfarren (1813-1887)

Orpheus with his lute made trees
And the moutain tops that freeze
Bow themselves when he did sing:
To his music plants and flowers
Ever sprung, as sun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.
Everything that heard him play,
Even the billows of the sea,
Hung their heads and then lay by.
In sweet music is such art,
Killing care and grief of heart,
Fall asleep or, hearing, die.
from Shakespeare's Henry the Eighth

21. Silence and music

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Silence, come first. I see a sleeping swan,
Wings closed and drifting where the water leads.
A winter moon, a grove where shadows dream,
A hand outstretched to gather hollow reeds.
The four winds in their litanies can tell
All of earth's stories as they weep and cry,
The sea names all the treasure of her tides,
The birds rejoice between the earth and sky.
Voices of grief and from the heart of joy.
So near to comprehension do we stand
That wind and sea and all of winged delight
Lie in the octaves of man's voice and hand
And music wakes from silence, where it slept.
Ursula Wood

22. Fair Phyllis

John Farmer (c.157O-I6OI)

Fair Phyllis I saw, sitting all alone,
Feeding her flock near to the mountainside.
The shepherds knew not whither she was gone,
But after her lover Amyntas hied.
Up and down he wandered whilst she was missing:
When he found her, oh, then they fell a-kissing.

23. 0 love, they wrong thee much

Hubert Parry (1848-1918)

O love, they wrong thee much
That say thy sweet is bitter,
When thy rich fruit is such,
As nothing can be sweeter.
Fair house of joy and bliss
Where truest pleasure is,
I do adore thee.
I know thee what thou art:
I serve thee with my heart
And fall before thee.

24. Annie Laurie

Trad. arr. Robin Doveton

1.Maxwellton braes are bonnie
Where early fa's the dew,
And it's there that Annie Laurie
Gi'ed me her promise true;
Gi'ed me her promise true
That ne'er forgot will be,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doon and dee.
2.Her brow is like the snowdrift,
Her neck is like the swan;
Her face, it is the fairest
That e'er the sun shone on,
That e'er the sun shone on,
And dark blue is her e'e,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doon and dee.
3.Like dew on the gowan lying
Is the fa' o' her fairy feet,
And like winds in summer sighing,
Her voice is low and sweet,
Her voice is low and sweet,
And she's a' the world to me,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doon and die.

25. Mas vale trocar

Juan del Encina (1468-c.1530)

Mas vale trocar placer por dolores
Que estar sin amores.
1.Donde es gradecido es dulce morir:
Vivir in olvido aquel no es vivir.
Mejor es sufrir pasion e dolores
Que estar sin amores.
2.Es vida perdida vivir sin amar,
Y mas es que vida saber la enplear.
Mas vale penar sufriendo dolores
Que estar sin amores.
3.Amor que no penar no pida placer,
Pues ya el condena su poco querer.
Mejor es perder placer por dolores
Que estar sin amores.
Juan del Encina

To change pleasure for sorrow 
is preferable to life without love.
1.It is sweet to die with honour:
Life in oblivion is worthless.
To suffer passion and sorrow
is preferable to life without love.
2.Life is wasted without love
But to know love is more than to live.
To suffer the pain of love
is preferable to life without love.
3.Love without pain brings no pleasure,
Since it contains too little desire.
To change pleasure for sorrow
is preferable to life without love.

26. The yellow rose of Texas

Trad. arr. Robin Doveton

1.There's a yellow rose in Texas that I am going to see,
No other fellow loves her, nobody, only me.
She cried so when I left her, it like to broke my heart,
And if I ever find her, we never more will part.
She's the sweetest rose of color this fellow ever knew,
Her eyes are bright as diamonds, they sparkle like the dew.
You may talk about your dearest May and sing of Rosa Lee,
But the yellow rose of Texas beats the belles of Tennessee.
2.When the Rio Grande is flowing and the starry skies are bright,
She walks along the river in the quiet summer night.
She thinks, if I remember when we parted long ago,
I promised to come back again and not to leave her so.
3.Oh, now I'm going to find her, for my heart is full of woe;
We'll sing the song together that we sang so long ago.
We'll play the banjo gaily and we'll sing the song of yore:
The yellow rose of Texas shall be mine for evermore.