A Feast of Carols
A Feast of Carols
Olivia Sue Greene, soprano
Malcolm Merriweather, baritone
December 14, 2025
4:00 p.m.
Richardson Auditorium
Princeton University
A Feast of Carols
Olivia Sue Greene, soprano
Malcolm Merriweather, baritone
December 14, 2025
4:00 p.m.
Richardson Auditorium
Princeton University
Welcome to A Feast of Carols! Each December, end-of-year lists appear: the top ten this, the best 25 new that of 2025. What a joy that for this Feast, we’re not restricted to the last twelve months, but instead can draw upon more than ten centuries of human musical expression to pull together some of our all-time favorite selections.
For millennia, even before they knew what the sun actually was and how it fueled our very existence, humans scattered across the higher latitudes have observed the waning light at this time of year and longed for its return—for its warmth and budding renewal it begat. Given the hyperconnected ease and one-click gratification of contemporary life, it’s no wonder that a season of waiting, reflection, and expectation—for the arrival of a holiday, of a cherished visitor or special gift, or for the return of daylight or the promise of a new year—can still hold sway.
Surely any list of favorite holiday pieces includes selections from Handel’s Messiah. Prophecy and the yearning for change—for steps taken toward light and enlightenment—lie at its heart. Its first aria promises that a messiah’s advent will permanently transform the world as we know it, leveling mountains and raising up valleys, upending the hierarchies of our world as we know it. Its first chorus predicts that the glory of the Lord “shall be revealed,” and when that happens, “all flesh shall see it, together.” The newborn whose arrival is heralded by a chorus of angels will be both “mighty god” and “prince of peace.” In “The Trumpet Shall Sound,” the bass soloist, speaking of the second coming, portends: we shall be changed. Whether or not this has been or will be so, Handel’s music manifests the libretto’s sense of expectation and triumph and encourages us to consider them at length. Musically speaking, we know he sings the truth. There can be little doubt that the advent of the oratorio Messiah brought about a permanent transformation of our musical landscape. Which other work has rung in the ears and rattled in the hearts of so many millions? The fulfillment of hopes, the potential for transformation and renewal, the triumphal surmounting of suffering, the rapturous joy and assurance of good news: these are touchstones for any ear and every era. Pausing to listen to a performance of Messiah lets us cut through the din and drone and tune in to this spirit of hope.
Surrounding these selections from Messiah is a Feast, ultimately, of tunes—of the melodies dreamt up by folks across the centuries looking to imagine, to wonder, and to celebrate. The ninth-century chant contours of O Come, O Come Emmanuel; the gently circling shapes of I Wonder as I Wonder and Greensleeves, both folk tunes found in the countryside; the proud breadth of Go Tell it on the Mountain and O Come All Ye Faithful; the angelic exuberance of Angels We have Heard on High; the light-hearted trot of Jingle Bells; the jolly jig, Wassail; and the simple poignancy of Auld Lang Syne: each of these melodies captures something about the human experience, and it’s a joy to transform them into choral-orchestral arrangements for you to savor.
Our penultimate selection reminds us how precious it is that music, like the holidays themselves, can bring us together in the present and give an occasion for future reunion. We’ve all probably sung a few notes of Auld Lang Syne when the clock strikes midnight. But in fact, Burn’s ballad has several verses, noting that while our lives’ paths may diverge, it’s the cup of kindness, when raised for the sake of old times, that brings us back together. We hope that some combination of word, melody, and space conjures for you a doorway into a realm of reflection, even reverie, where you can marvel at the beauty of music, and, if you like, think about where we’ve been, and where we might be going. And we hope our closing chords leave you on the threshold of the happiest of holiday seasons.
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| O Come, O Come Emmanuel/God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen | Plainchaint and Trad. English, arr. Ryan James Brandau (b. 1981) | |
| Mi Yimalel | Traditional Hebrew, arr. Brandau | |
| Kenny Litvack, conductor | ||
from Messiah
|
G.F. Handel (1685-1759) | |
| Olivia Sue Greene, soprano | ||
|
||
| Josh Lisner, Conducting Fellow, conductor | ||
| Angels We Have Heard on High | Trad. French, arr. Brandau | |
| For Unto Us a Child is Born (Messiah) | G.F. Handel | |
| Go Tell it on the Mountain | Trad. Spiritual, arr. Margaret Bonds (1913-1972), orch. Brandau | |
| Malcolm Merriweather, baritone | ||
| O Come All Ye Faithful (singalong) | John Francis Wade, arr. Brandau | |
| Greensleeves | Trad. English, arr. Brandau | |
| I Wonder as I Wander | John Jacob Niles (1892-1980), arr. Brandau | |
| Olivia Sue Greene, soprano | ||
| I Saw Three Ships | Trad. English, arr. Brandau | |
| I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day | John Baptiste Calkin, arr. Brandau | |
| Malcolm Merriweather, baritone |
||
| Jingle Bells (singalong) | John Pierpont, arr. Brandau | |
| The Trumpet Shall Sound (Messiah) | G.F. Handel | |
| Wexford Carol | Trad. Irish, arr. Brandau |
| Olivia Sue Greene, soprano | |
| Wassail | Trad. English, arr. Brandau |
| Auld Lang Syne | Trad. Scots, arr. Brandau |
Finale
|
Trad. English, arr. Brandau |
Olivia Sue Greene, soprano, is drawn to music for the relationships it fosters. Growing up a South Georgia chorister, she experienced the radical magic of learning in collaborative contexts and performing in intimate relation to her community. In her work as a performer and as a teacher, she actively strives to nourish a symbiotic musical ecosystem. Olivia followed her love of ensemble to the Choral Music Education and Voice Performance programs at the University of Georgia, and later, Westminster Choir College.
Her passion for projects that connect us across generations has shaped her dynamic and multifaceted career. Recognized for her “remarkably nimble ability to embody a variety of styles,” she brings “vibrant expression and insightful musicianship” to an exceptionally diverse repertoire.
Recent highlights include her debut performance of Schönberg’s Pierrot Lunaire with City Lyric Opera; the world premiere of Paola Prestini’s groundbreaking opera Sensorium Ex with Beth Morrison Projects; an American Songbook recital exploring the works of Amy Beach, Lee Hoiby, and Samuel Barber; a featured performance as the soprano soloist in John Rutter’s Magnificat under the composer’s own baton; and Relics & Martyrs, a stirring program presented by the acclaimed Death of Classical concert series and performed with The New Consort and Theotokos Ensemble.
As a concert soloist and chamber musician, she has performed works by Charpentier, Bach, Händel, Stravinsky, and Britten. On the operatic stage, favorite roles include Nannetta in Verdi’s Falstaff and Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. A sought-after ensemble singer, she appears regularly with renowned vocal ensembles including Trinity Choir, Clarion Music Society, and Musica Sacra.
Outside of classical music, Olivia’s favorite singers are Cécile Mclorin Salvant and Dolly Parton. She also loves drawing, tap dancing, flowers, and her hound dog, Susan Sarandon.
GRAMMY-nominated conductor Malcolm J. Merriweather is Director of the New York Philharmonic Chorus and Music Director of New York City’s The Dessoff Choirs and Orchestra. He is Professor and the Tania León Endowed Chair of Music at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.
His 2025–2026 season features four world premieres, including David Lang’s The Wealth of Nations and Ellen Reid’s Earth Between Oceans with the New York Philharmonic Chorus, Mark Campbell and Peter Boyer’s A Hundred Years On with The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Crossing, and the title role in Frederick with Music Worcester. Merriweather also marks his tenth season with the Dessoff Choirs with performances of Herbert Howells’s Requiem, Adolphus Hailstork’s The World Called, Bach’s Mass in B Minor with period orchestra, a reprise of Tania León’s It’s a journey, and two appearances with Andrea Bocelli at Madison Square Garden.
Equally at home with symphonic choral masterworks and contemporary repertoire, Merriweather has conducted Bach’s St. John Passion, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Handel’s Messiah, and is widely recognized for championing the music of Margaret Bonds through premiere recordings with AVIE Records. Guest conducting appearances include the Choir of Trinity Wall Street, CHINEKE!, Novus Orchestra, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
His ensembles have appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Disney Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Westminster Abbey, and the Vatican. At the invitation of Solange Knowles, he joined Saint Heron for Glory to Glory: A Revival of Devotional Art with Voices of Harlem and The Clark Sisters.
Merriweather holds degrees from Eastman, Manhattan School of Music, and Syracuse University, and was a Tanglewood fellow. Connect with him on social media @maestroweather and at malcolmjmerriweather.com.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O Come, O Come Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel.
That mourns in lowly exile here
Until the song God appear.
Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall ransom captive Israel.
God rest ye, merry gentlemen,
God rest ye, merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy.
O Come Thou dayspring come
and cheer our spirits
by thy advent here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadow put to flight!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
Mi Yimalel
| Mi yimalel gvurot Yisrael, Otan mi yimne? Hen be'chol dor yakum ha'gibor Goel ha'am!Shma! Ba'yamim ha'hem ba'zman ha'ze Maccabi moshia u'fode U'v'yameinu kol am Yisrael Yitached yakum ve'yigael! |
Who can retell the things that befell us, Who can count them? In every age, a hero or sage Came to our aid. Hark!In this time of year in days of yore Maccabees the Temple did restore And tonight our people as we dream will arise, unite, and be redeemed. |
There Were Shepherds
There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (Luke 2:8)
And Lo!
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. (Luke 2:9)
And the angel said unto them: Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10–11)
And Suddenly
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heav’nly host, praising God, and saying: (Luke 2:13)
Glory to God
“Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)
Angels We Have Heard on High
Gloria!
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!
Shepherds why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be?
which inspire your heav’nly song?
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see
him whose birth the angels sing!
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord our newborn King!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
For Unto Us a Child is Born
For unto us a Child is born,
unto us a Son is given.
and the government shall be upon His shoulder,
and His name shall be called:
Wonderful, Counselor,
the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace.
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Go tell It on the mountain
Over the hills and ev’rywhere.
Go tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.
When I was just a learner,
I sought both night and day.
I asked the Loard to aid me
And He showed me the way.
Lord made me a watchman
Upon the city wall.
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.
The wise men and the shepherds,
All hailed the Saviour’s birth,
He came to spread the message
Of peace to all the earth.
Go tell It on the mountain
Over the hills and ev’rywhere.
Go tell it on the mountain,
Our Jesus Christ is born.
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Oh, come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;
[Chorus]
Oh, come, let us adore him;
Oh, come, let us adore him;
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord.
I Wonder as I Wander
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
how Jesus the Savior did come for to die
for poor ordinary people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall
with wise men and farmers and shepherd and all.
but high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
and the promise of ages it did then recall.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
a star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
or all of God's angels in heaven for to sing,
he surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
how Jesus the Savior did come for to die
for poor ordinary people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
I Saw Three Ships
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And what was in those ship all three?
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And what was in those ship all three?
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Our Savior Christ and His Lady,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Our Savior Christ and His Lady,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Pray whither sailed those ship all three?
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Pray whither sailed those ship all three?
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Oh they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Oh they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the angels in heav’n shall sing
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And all the angels in heav’n shall sing
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Then let us all rejoice, amain,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Then let us all rejoice, amain,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
I heard the bells on Christmas Day,
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet, the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to me
Jingle Bells
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
Over the hills we go
Laughing all the way
The bells on bobtail ring
They make spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight
Chorus:
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
What fun it is to ride
On a one horse open sleigh, hey
A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot.
(Chorus)
The Trumpet Shall Sound
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be chang’d, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (I Corinthians 15:51–52)
The trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be rais’d incorruptible, and we shall be chang’d. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality. (I Corinthians 15:52–54)
Wexford Carol
Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done,
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas Day;
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born.
Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;
To whom God’s angels did appear,
Which put the shepherds in great fear.
“Prepare and go,” the angels said,
“To Bethlehem, be not afraid;
For there you’ll find, this happy morn,
A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.”
With thankful heart and joyful mind
The shepherds went the babe to find,
And as God’s angel had foretold
They did our Savior Christ behold.
Within a manger he was laid,
And by his side the virgin maid,
Attending on the Lord of life,
Who came on earth to end all strife.
Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done,
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas Day;
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born.
Wassail! Wassail!
Wassail! wassail! all over the town,
Our bread it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the green maple tree;
In the wassail bowl, we'll drink unto thee.
Here's health to the ox and to his right horn,
Pray God send our master a good crop of corn:
A good crop of corn as e'er I did see,
In the wassail bowl we’ll drink unto thee.
Here's health to the ox and to his long tail,
Pray God send our master a good cask of ale:
A good cask of ale as e'er I did see,
In the wassail bowl we’ll drink unto thee.
Here's health to the ox and to his left ear,
Pray God send our master a happy New Year!
A happy New Year as e'er I did see,
In the wassail bowl we’ll drink unto thee.
Come butler, come fill us a bowl of the best
Then pray that your soul in heaven may rest
But if you do bring us a bowl of the small
May the devil take butler, bowl and all.
Then here’s to the maid in the lily white smock,
Who tripp’d to the door and slipp’d back the lock;
Who tripp’d to the door and pulled back the pin,
For to let these jolly Wassailers walk in.
Wassail!
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind,
Should auld acquaintance before,
For auld Lang Syne.
For Auld Lang Syne ma dear,
For Auld Lang Syne,
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For Auld Lang Syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup,
And surely I’ll buy mine,
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For Auld Lang Syne?
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
but seas between us broad have roared,
since Auld Lang Syne.
And there’s a trusty hand my friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
We’ll take a right good will draght,
For Auld Lang Syne.
Joy to the World!
Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart
Prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing.
Hallelujah
Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah!
The kingdom of this world is become
the kingdom of our Lord,
and of His Christ:
and He shall reign for ever and ever
Joy to the World / We Wish You a Merry Christmas
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of his love,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
And a happy New Year!
We wish you a merry Christmas,
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin.
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year!
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns;
Let us our songs employ,
While field and floods
Rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy!
| SOPRANO
Gail Balog |
ALTO
LaVerna Albury |
| TENOR
Morris Cohen |
BASS
Charles Appel |
| Violin Urara Mogi, concertmaster Margaret Banks Cheng-Chih Kevin Tsai Linda Howard William Barney Stevens Gabriel SchaffViolin II Marina Fragoulis The Frank Biletsky Chair Mioi Takeda Courtney Orlando Claire Smith Samantha TomblinViola Stephen Goist Jacqueline Watson Beth Meyers Beth Dzwill Cello Bass Flute Piccolo Oboe English Horn
|
Clarinet Christopher Cullen Bohdan Hilash Bass Clarinet Bassoon Horn Trumpet Trombone Timpani Percussion Keyboard Harp Personnel Manager |
A very special thank you to the staff and crew of Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall, Princeton University, for all your help.
Princeton Pro Musica wishes to thank the following individuals and organizations for providing their assistance and support:
Discover Jersey Arts
Innvoke Print and Marketing Solutions
Princeton Area Community Foundation
Princeton Mercer Chamber of Commerce
Regina Opera Company for their Supertitles template
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Janet Breslin
AUDITIONS COORDINATOR
Janet Perkins
BOOKKEEPER
Maureen Kyle
CHAMBER CHORUS COORDINATORS
Susan Bindig
Carolyn Landis
CONCERT HOUSE STAFF
Kitanya Khateri
Kevin Dziuba
CONCERT MANAGER
Dianne D. Miles
DIGITAL PROGRAM
Dianne D. Miles
MUSIC COORDINATION
Sara Maldonado
OFFICE ASSISTANT
Janet Perkins
OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Nina Lucas
REHEARSAL COORDINATOR
Janet Breslin
SECTION LEADERS
Candus Hedberg, soprano
Kim Neighbor, alto
Gary Gregg, tenor
Kenny Litvack, bass
SUPERTITLES CREATOR/OPERATOR
Mary Trigg
WEBMASTER
Kenny Litvack
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