Texts and Translations
Chamber Singers
Mo Li Hua
arr. Chen Yi
Sung in Mandarin
Jasmine flower, such a beautiful flower,
Her sweet scent covers all others in the garden.
I want to pluck her for myself,
But I’m afraid of the garden’s keeper
Jasmine flower, such a beautiful flower,
She is as white as snow when she is blooming.
I want to pluck her for myself,
But I’m afraid of gossip all around.
Jasmine flower, such a beautiful flower,
Her looks can eclipse all others in the garden.
I want to pluck her for myself,
But I’m afraid she won’t bud next year.
-Jiangsu Folksong
Ah, Sun-flower!
Jonathan Dove
Ah Sun-flower! weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the Sun:
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done.
Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale Virgin shrouded in show:
Arise from their graves and aspire,
Where my Sun-flower wishes to go.
-William Blake
To Propagate a Home
Ayanna Woods
We must have uncommon strength to face the wound
and refuse to let it wither.
We must have uncommon faith to plunge our heads into the land
and nurture an abandoned place.
They say it's a lost cause–
they haven't seen the new roots
weaving through the dark.
They say it isn't worth it–
they haven't watched with joy
as each new bud emerges.
When they cut off a branch that they say is dying,
it takes uncommon faith to grow.
These roots have never forgotten
how to grab hold of the soil.
This branch has never forgotten
how to reach up toward the sky;
-Ayanna Woods
Concert Chorale
Mahalo Piha
arr. Justin Ka 'upu
Sung in Hawaiian and English
All hail to you, Great Queen of England,
Fair Queen who rules over land and sea,
From northern seas to southern shores
Your way is known both far and near
We come to your shores, gracious lady
On this great day of your Jubilee
To bring kind greetings from afar
May heaven bless you, long may you reign
Farewell to you,
The charming one who dwells in the bowers
One fond embrace
Ere I depart
Until we meet again
To bring kind greetings from afar
May heaven bless you, long may you reign
We meet again
-Queen Lili'uokalini, ed. by Jace Kaholokula Saplan
Gao Shan Qing
arr. Reed Criddle
Sung in Taiwanese
The mountain is green; the stream is blue.
The maidens of Ali Mountain are as beautiful as the water;
The young men of Ali Mountain are as strong as the mountain.
The mountain is always green; the stream is always blue.
The maiden and that youth will never be separated–
Like the Bi River always encircling the green mountain.
-Aboriginal Tune, tr. Reed Criddle
Combined Choir
Fengyang Song
arr. Chen Yi
Sung in Taiwanese
Gongs and drums are in my hands;
I am singing a song while playing drums and gongs.
Other songs I don't know how to sing,
I can only sing a Fengyang song!
-Anhui Folk Song
University Singers
Alleluia
Johann Sebastian Bach
Alleluia!
-from Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden
Mayila
arr. Chen Yi
Sung in Mandarin
Mayila, Mayila, my name is Mayila.
I sing songs, I play the Dongbula,
I am Mayila.
Young people of Hasake all can tell
my name, Mayila.
They come to me from far, far away,
they come to me.
Mayila, Mayila.
-Sinkiang Folk Song
Moon Boat
arr. Saunder Choi
Sung in Mandarin
Moon boat
Carrying mother's songs
Floating into my cradle
Clear and bright
As if mother is looking at me
Smiling with her crooked eyes
Moon boat
The mystery of childhood
Floating into my dreams
Quietly takes the night
Unknowingly approaching the shore of youth
Moon boat
Carrying a small wish by my pillow
Moon boat
Carrying a wish in my heart
-Yang Hong and Zhang Quanfu, tr. Saunder Choi
Diu Diu Deng
arr. Chen Yi
Sung in Taiwanese
A train is chugging into a tunnel
Where the water drips down
Makes a sound like "Diu Diu"
Sounds like a coin
When it's flipped up and drops to the floor
-Taiwanese Folk Song