Decades

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Feeling Good was written for the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint—The Smell of the Crowd, in 1964. The song has become a jazz standard, having been sung by the likes of Nina Simone and Michael Bublé. The song has also appeared in commercials for a leading Japanese car manufacturer.

Irving Berlin’s (1888–1989) song Blue Skies was composed in 1926 as a last-minute addition to the Rodgers and Hart musical Betsy. Although the show ran for only 39 performances, Blue Skies was an instant success, with audiences on opening night demanding 24 encores of the piece from star Belle Baker. In 1927, the music was published and in that same year it became one of the first songs to be featured in a “talkie,” when Al Jolson performed it in The Jazz Singer. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye performed the song in the 1954 film White Christmas. Crossing genres, Willie Nelson’s recording of Blue Skies was a #1 country music hit in 1978. Arranger Roger Emerson (b. 1950) is a professional composer and arranger with over 900 choral titles in print and over 30 million copies in circulation. He is the most widely performed composer/arranger of popular choral music in the world today.

Adiemus was written by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins (b. 1944). It is the first movement of a larger work entitled Songs of Sanctuary. The piece was written to be in the European classical tradition, but Jenkins states that the vocal sound is more akin to a “world” or “tribal” sound. In his performance notes Jenkins says he decided to treat the words as instrumental sounds so as to remove the distraction of language. The lyrics, then, are actually nothing more than made-up phonemes that do not correspond to an actual language.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author James Agee (1909–1955) wrote the poem “Description of Elysium” which was published in his 1934 poetry collection Permit Me Voyage. American composer Samuel Barber (1910–1981) excerpted ten lines from the middle of Agee’s enigmatic poem and created Sure on this shining night in 1938 for soprano and orchestra. He later wrote a choral setting of the piece which has remained a standard in the serious choral repertoire of the twentieth century. Barber’s work is lushly melodic and has often been described as neo-Romantic — a prime example of this sentiment is his best known work, Adagio for Strings.

British composer Victor Hely-Hutchinson’s (1901–1947) Old Mother Hubbard is a witty and theatrical setting of the classic English nursery rhyme. Known for his clever musical parodies, Hely-Hutchinson transforms the simple tale into a playful mini-drama, using vivid word painting, dynamic shifts, and humorous allusions to classical styles. This charming piece invites the choir to embrace its storytelling flair, making the familiar rhyme a fresh and entertaining musical experience.

From the composer: "Time, like money or borders between one country and another, is one of those funny human-made concepts that dictate our lives but are fundamentally meaningless if we didn't all agree to go along with it. And yet, we experience aging, the changing of seasons, and growth, undeniably. The line between time's reality and its invention is blurry, and there was no better way I could think of to depict that than by writing a repeating lyric that erodes as the piece unfolds. As lyrics disappear, phrases take on new meaning, like the way a 30th birthday differs from a fifth birthday, or how old memories can appear sharper than yesterday's. We lose time when we try to keep it, we spend time as we try to save it - and since it insists upon eluding us, we can only notice the fact that time has been winking at us all along. This wit, this relentlessness, and this freedom is the spirit behind Time, and this piece is my way of winking back." Jennifer Lucy Cook is a composer and lyricist based in Los Angeles. Jen specializes in music for the stage and screen, choral music, and pop songwriting.

Coldplay’s Viva La Vida was released in 2008 as part of their fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. The song marked a stylistic shift for the band, incorporating orchestral elements and historical imagery in its lyrics. It quickly became one of Coldplay’s most successful singles, topping charts in both the UK and the US, and winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2009. The title, meaning “Live the Life” in Spanish, was inspired by a painting by Frida Kahlo and reflects themes of revolution, downfall, and redemption. In this arrangement, Mark Brymer adapts the iconic anthem for choir, preserving its powerful spirit while making it accessible for vocal ensembles.

Originally released in 1977, Lovely Day was co-written by soul icon Bill Withers and songwriter Skip Scarborough. The song quickly became one of Withers’ most beloved hits, known for its warm message of hope and its record-setting 18-second sustained note. Released during a period of social and economic uncertainty, Lovely Day stood out for its unwavering positivity and emotional simplicity, offering a reminder that love and connection can brighten even the darkest moments. Over the decades, the song has remained a cultural touchstone, featured in countless films, commercials, and public campaigns.

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was one of the major hits by the Andrews Sisters and a musical icon of World War II. The sisters introduced the song in the 1941 Abbott & Costello film Buck Privates, which was released ten months before the United States entered the war. Written by Don Raye and Hughie Prince, the song tells the story of a trumpet-playing draftee whose jazzy, upbeat style brings swing to the military barracks. With its tight harmonies, infectious rhythm, and patriotic flair, the song quickly became a morale booster for troops and civilians alike.

John Newton (1725–1807), author of the text we now know as Amazing Grace, lived a troubled early life marked by irreligion, naval desertion, and involvement in the slave trade before undergoing a profound spiritual conversion during a violent Atlantic storm. His cries for divine protection and subsequent transformation inspired the hymn’s enduring message of redemption and grace, first published in Olney Hymns (1779). The melody, rooted in early American folk traditions with Scottish origins, was later paired with the text in the shape-note collection Virginia Harmony. Roger Ames’s Choral Reflection on Amazing Grace, written for the Westminster Chapel Choir and premiered in 2002, is poignantly dedicated to the children of the victims of September 11. In this powerful setting, Newton’s personal journey mirrors the collective grief and resilience of those forever changed by tragedy—offering a lament filled with sorrow, yet lifted by enduring hope.

The Gilbert Fine Arts Boosters are a group of Gilbert area parents and patrons who volunteer time and resources to enhance the fine arts programs offered by the Gilbert school system. This is done in many ways, including the following:

• Communicate with fine arts teachers and staff to determine their needs and how we can best help to meet those needs.

• Help represent fine arts priorities to Gilbert school administrators and the board.

• Organize volunteers as needed to support fine arts activities. Recent examples include arranging treats for plays/musicals and coordinating volunteers for music contests.

• Solicit, receive, manage, and disburse funds to support the fine arts programs at Gilbert. Some examples from recent years include:

  • new band uniforms and choir robes

  • money for the middle school Adventureland trip and elementary theater field trips

  • scholarships

  • new music

  • contest judge and accompanist support

  • new instruments

  • middle school music awards

  • art supplies and equipment

  • meals and snacks for students at arts activities

We support the arts for all ages and grades at Gilbert! For more information, to join us, or to make a contribution to the choral programs, email fineartsboosters@gilbert.k12.ia.us.