June 10 Text

I. Voices of Singapore Children’s Choir

Darius Lim, Conductor

Singapura

Van Moring, arr. Darius Lim

Singapura O Singapura, sunny island set in the sea,

Singapura O Singapura, pretty flowers bloom for you and me,

Come along join the song in merry singing,

Blend our voices join in the chorus,

Stars and crescent shine on me, make us more than what we can be,

In every village by the sea.

Whenever I am feeling low, I look around me and I know this is home.

Singapura O Singapura, pretty flowers bloom for you and me.

Dayung Sampan

Darius Lim

Row the sampan (boat), row row the sampan (boat)

Coming from China to Singapore

An oar to row your sampan (boat) to Singapore.

Row, Row!

Youth Medley

Singaporean Mandarin Song Medley, arr. Darius Lim

We all had dreams when we were young.

You shared your wishes with me without realising it.

I gave you a small harmonica as a gift on your birthday,

and I will never forget your smile upon receiving it.

Our friendship flows like a gentle stream into both of our hearts.

I cheered for you on the soccer field, and when you fell, I carried you on my back.

At night, as shooting stars streak across the sky

and the evening breeze listens to our countless aspirations,

we imagine the paths our futures may take.

Although I may not be able to achieve grand accomplishments on my own,

I will do my best to make a meaningful contribution.

While I may not radiate with brilliance, my light can still illuminate even the smallest of spaces.

Being an unremarkable figure has never bothered me, as I find happiness in simplicity.

Amidst the busy lives of the famous, I find peace in the rhythm of my own life.

Even the most ordinary days can be fulfilling.

A Puppet’s Dream

Darius Lim

A bright and shinning flower, the little forest shower,

the sun that shines and marvels, the night that brings the owls a bright and shinning flower.

Dance in the woods, make a merry laughter

Oh dance in the woods, dance a little faster

the light of the dawn has a secret that many would not know

that it hears where the night goes and where the starry sky hides the moon on high.

Shinning hills and streams and the showers in the sunlight,

fading stars at sight and the moon light still in silence.

Dance and stomp a little faster, dance for joy dance for the laughter

dance lightly dance swiftly, dance in the woods sweetly

around we go, as soft as snow

the moon is shining, the starlight beaming dance!

Echoes of the Lost World

Darius Lim

The light of the whole earth! Spirit! Soul! Life!

Arise! Come into the light, seek the world alone.

Far across a stormy land, somewhere where the pebbles end lies a glowing rainbow in the

woods.

Make a wish and you’ll feel the breeze of a thousand rustling leaves walk through that

rainbow’s end.

Hear a voice sing in the wind and the grand music through the magical and mystic tunes

they sing.

Can you hear the sound of angels? Can you hear the sound of life?

Light the world, Sing for joy, Pray for peace, Goodness, Love and affection, Light!

Far across a stormy land, somewhere where the pebbles end lies beneath the trees the

rainbow.

Make a wish you’ll hear the beat of a thousand drums that sound.

Arise! Let the breath (soul) of life begin! Light the fire arise in song!

Beat the ground with your feet! All the earth!

Life come Forth! Sing! (celebrate) Rejoice! Last forever! Light!

Listen to the echoes of the night! Arise! See the shining light. Come forth!

Feel the music of the night! Fill the sky with the voices of the light!

There’s a voice moving in the wind and the grand music!

In the sounds echoed in the hills of eternity. Rejoice! Sing! Rejoice! Life come forth!

II. Asian & Pacific Islander Stories – National Concert Chorus

Jace Kaholokula Saplan, Guest Conductor

‘Ōiwi E

John Keola Lake

Natives

Natives the bones (ancestors) are calling

I know

I know my home land

Behold

Behold the natives of Hawaiʻi

Support

Support and be loyal faithfully

Look to the distant future

Look to the distant future, oh descendants

The multitudes of friends

Humanity stands firm

Humanity stands firm and proud

Humanity stands

Humanity stands firm and proud.

Paruparong Bukid

Traditional Filipino Song, arr. George Hernandez

Field butterfly, flying around

In the middle of the road, flapping its wings

Wearing a nine meter long apron over her back skirt

A handspan tall is the butterfly sleeves

Her skirt, shaped like a grand piano

Has a train with the length of the entire rack of cloth

She even has an ornamental double comb – wow!

And even a decorative comb – wow!

She shows her petticoat embroidered with eyelet.

She faces the church’s altar and looks at her beauty in the mirrors.

Then she struts swaying her hips.

Poli’ahu

Traditional Hawaiian Song, arr. Michael Springer

Tears of the snow goddess

And the pains of love

Sadden by separation

Of Aiwohi, the demi-god

Cold the sacred dew

Of Mauna Kea

And no one to love

And to warm

To enact memories of love

Of times gone by

Refresh the water of Nohi

And my loneliness

Your wreath of love

For my body

And bosom closed tied

Put in place forever

(Chorus)

Come back to me

My sweetheart

Come back to me

As we embrace

Come back to me

Mae-e

Kentaro Sato

I remember
Your warm hand.
I remember
Your kind voice.
I remember
Your honest eyes and quiet prayer.
When I close my eyes
I recall the time we spent together,
And the time we sang together.
The end of music is not our farewell.
As music lives again,
So will you live again and again in my memory.
I remember
A dream you cherished.
I remember
A smile you beamed at tomorrow.
With memories of you in my heart,
One step at a time, I walk forward.
Embracing every day’s happiness and sadness,
One step at a time, I walk forward.
One step at a time, I walk forward.

Wide American Earth

Saunder Choi

In my mouth is a country of longing
The bittersweet of border crossings
Some words don't come easy—scarce, scars
English is a language of leaving
a lexicon of who invaded
and what they left behind
I taste what passes for shrimp paste
I crave spice, some sharpness and haste
I chased a life around shifts and routes

First train leaves before first light

Last train comes before midnight
Transport me with the sight of filtered light
In my mouth is a country of bittersweet crossings
The only space I will ever occupy
is this expanse of longing

Arirang

Traditional Korean Song, arr. Hyo-Won Woo

Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo
Crossing over Arirang Pass
My dear one who abandoned me
Shall not walk even ten miles before their feet hurt.

III. National Masterwork Chorus

Tom Trenney, Guest Conductor

I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes

Adolphus Hailstork

Biblical text

Psalm 121:1-4, 6-7

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help surely cometh from the Lord. Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

He that keepeth thee shall not slumber nor sleep.

The sun will not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

Psalm 13:1-2a, 3

How long, O Lord, will Thou forget me? How long will Thou hide Thy face from me?

How long must I suffer anguish in my soul and grief in my heart?

Look now and answer me O Lord. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.

Psalm 23 (Alleluia)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside [the] still waters.

He restoreth my soul: [he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.]

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art

with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my

head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the

house of the Lord forever.

I Will Make a Way!

Tom Trenney, orch. Jeremy Bankson

Adapted Biblical text

Behold! I will do a new thing!

Everything old has passed away.

See, everything old has become new.

I will make a way in the wilderness.

I will make rivers in the desert.

See, everything old has passed away.

Everything has become new.

Do not remember the former things

or consider the ways of the old.

Everything old has passed away.

See, everything has become new.

I will make a way in the wilderness.

I will make rivers in the desert.

The wild animals will honor me, jackals and ostriches,

for I give water in the wilderness; the desert shall be a pool.

See, everything old has passed away.

I will make a way in the wilderness.

I will make rivers in the desert.

Everything old has passed away!

I will make a way!