The Beloit Memorial High School Concert Choir Presents. New York City Tour. Tuesday, April 2 - Saturday, April 5, 2014

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1 The Beloit Memorial High School Concert Choir Presents New York City Tour Tuesday, April 2 - Saturday, April 5, 2014 Cathedral of St. John the Divine Friday, April 4, :00 AM Church of St. Paul the Apostle Friday, April 4, :10 PM

2 Thank you for joining us today. We are excited to share our music with you! We will be performing selections from the following listed below, a collection of songs that have been prepared and learned throughout this academic school year. Zion s Walls...Aaron Copland ( ) Vox Populi...Giedrius Svilainis Vox populi, vox Dei. The voice of the people is the voice of God Homo homini amicus est. Man is a friend to man. Ubi concordia ibi victoria. Where there is unity, there is victory. Sicut Cervus...Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina ( ) As the deer longs for running water, so longs my soul for Thee, Lord. Bright Morning Stars...arr. Shawn Kirchner A Boy and a Girl...Eric Whitacre The Road Home...Stephen Paulus The Testament of Freedom...Randall Thompson ( ) A setting of four passages from the writings of Thomas Jefferson I. The God who gave us life II. We have counted the cost III. We fight not for glory IV. I shall not die without a hope

3 The Testament of Freedom Texts by Thomas Jefferson The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy but cannot disjoin them. -A summary View of the Rights of British America (1774) We have counted the cost of this contest, and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery. Honor, justice, and humanity forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding generations to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them if we basely entail hereditary bondage upon them. Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our internal resources are great... We gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances of the Divine favor towards us, that His Providence would not permit us to be called into this sever controversy until we were grown up to our present strength, had been previously exercised in warlike operation, and possessed of the means of defending ourselves. With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare that, exerting the utmost energy of those powers which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, that arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverance, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die freemen rather than to live slaves. -Declaration of Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms (July 6, 1775) We fight not for glory or for conquest. We exhibit to manking the remarkable spectacle of a people attacked by unprovoked enemies, without any imputation or even suspicion of offense. They boast of their privileges and civilization, and yet proffer no milder conditions than servitude or death. In our native land, in defense of the freedom that is our birthright and which we ever enoyed till the late violation of it; for the protection of our property, acquired solely by the hoenst industry of our forefathers and ourselves; against violence actually offered; we have taken up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors and all danger of their being renewed shall be removed, and not before. Declaration of Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms (July 6, 1775)

4 I shall not die without a hope that light and liberty are on steady advance...and even should the cloud of barbarism and despotism again obscure the science and liberties of Europe, this country remains to preserve and restore light and liberty to them... The flames kindled on the 4th of July, 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism; on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them. -Letter to John Adams, Monticello (September 12, 1821) * * * * The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy but cannot disjoin them. Note: It is not the intent of the Vocal Music Department to persuade students views with opposing beliefs or ideals that the text may present. Rather, it is our goal to familiarize students with quality choral literature that will provide historical and global perspective and create a positive awareness of musical aesthetics. Follow us online! The School District of Beloit The School District of Beloit, a family of 7000 students and 900 staff nestled in the heart of a thriving community, has a place for every child with such programs as: state-recognized intervention model, gifted and talented student options, online learning, all-day 4K, dual-language immersion programs, an advanced technical traning center and Ignite Beloit 1:1 ipad Learning Initiative. Beloit. Proud.

5 The City of Beloit! The City of Beloit is located along Interstate 39/90, just north of the Wisconsin s southern border. The City Center is located along the Rock River, while the new Gateway Business Park is easily accessible on the east side of the Interstate. Situated between four major metropolitan areas, the city of Beloit has all the big city amenities without the hassle of navigating a big city. Beloit is conveniently located near the City of Chicago to the southeast along Interstate 90, while Madison, Wisconsin is less than an hour s drive to the north. The City is directly connected to Milwaukee via Interstate Highway 43, which merges with Interstate 39/90 in Beloit, forming a strategic transportation network in the nation s heartland. City of Beloit covers approximately 17 square miles. It is home to 37,110 residents as well as more than 88 industrial firms, 850 retail establishments, several corporate headquarters, a minor league baseball team, several museums and an internationally acclaimed college that bears the community s name. Beloit is rich with breathtaking scenery, exciting attractions, convenient recreational facilities, and year-round events. Whether you re interested in fishing and boating on the Rock River, watching the Snappers play exciting Class-A minor league baseball at Telfer Park, ice skating at Edwards Ice Arena, or partaking in the world horseshoe championship, Beloit has a facility to fit the needs of any sports enthusiast. The Beloit Snappers minor league baseball team is a Class A affiliate of the Oakland A s. They play at Pohlman field which holds about 3,500 people. The City is also a center for the arts and includes many cultural assets. The Wright Museum of Art and the internationally acclaimed Logan Museum of Anthropology are located at Beloit College. The exciting new Industrial Arts Museum and the popular Angel Museum, along with the City s Historical Society and the Hanchett-Bartlett Homestead celebrate the City s proud heritage. Many beautiful pieces of public art adorn the riverfront, downtown and the Beloit College Campus. The City shares a world-class symphony orchestra with its neighbors in Janesville.

6 Home of the Purple Knights!