Fly away to the first half of the 20th Century!
We salute music honoring American and Jazz Standards
Come Fly with Me
Americana
Sammy Cahn, James Van Heusen
arr. Mac Huff
Charlie Tobias,
Lew Brown, Sam Stept
arr. Alan Billingsley
Women
Stephen Foster
Arr. Joseph M. Martin
JD Lawson
George M. Cohan
arr. Barbershop Harmony Society
Men
Don Raye and
Hughie Prince
arr. Mark Brymer
Women
American Folksong
arr. James Erb
Let’s Swing
Newton Mendonca, Antonio Carlos Jobim
arr. Paris Rutherford
Katie Lawson
John Janzen
Lorenz Hart,
Richard Rodgers
arr. Paris Rutherford
Nicole Larsen
Harris and Young
arr. G. Zaimont
Barbershop Quartet:
Kirk Thompson,
Russell Moon, Tenor
JD Lawson, Lead
Keith Lawson,
Jeff Wieland, Baritone
John Janzen, Bass
Time for Romance
Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
arr. Russ Robinson
Lauri Wieland
Keith Lawson
Meredith Willson
arr. Robert Rund
Men
Charles Chaplin
arr. Steve Zegree
Seymour Simons and Gerald Marks
arr. Jay Althouse
Karen Hubbard
Jeff Wieland
Entering the Holidays
Irving Berlin
arr. Kirby Shaw
Hugh Martin
and Ralph Blane
arr. Jay Althouse
Jack Bartlett
Katie Lawson
Program Notes
Written by Wendy Janzen
Americana
Come fly away with us on a musical journey including a little romance, a little swing, and a little bit of American nostalgia. We begin with a salute to Americana – defining music that captures the heart of the American tradition. To do so, we must include a collection of works by Stephen Foster, known as “the father of American music”. You are likely to recognize most of the songs, including Camptown Races, Oh Susanna, and Beautiful Dreamer, even though the majority of his works were published in the mid-1800s. About 50 years later, in 1906, “You’re a Grand Old Flag” became the first song from a musical to sell over a million copies! This is arranged for the men in the close harmonies of barbershop quartet singing, which is widely associated with the United States. The beautiful undulating arrangement of “Shenandoah” captures the feel of the river, where the music originated by canoe-going fur-traders in the early 1800s. And we cannot forget the influence of the Minnesota singing sensation The Andrews Sisters! They are known for their swing and boogie-woogie style and are well associated with supporting the troops during World War II. Now let’s continue with our Americana salute – just be sure you don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else!
Let’s Swing
Bossa nova, literally translated as “New Trend” or “New Wave,” came out of jamming sessions of American jazz artists and Brazilian musicians playing samba and traditional South American rhythms in the 1950s. The Portuguese word Desafinado is usually translated as “Out of Tune,” or “Off-Key.” This samba standard by Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim compares music with the alignment of the two lovers’ hearts. In My Funny Valentine, a Bossa nova, the singer’s lover makes her smile with her heart.
Just for You: Sweet Sue
Victor Young wrote “Sweet Sue, Just You” in 1928, with lyrics by Will J. Harris. It became a popular jazz standard, being recorded by Django Reinhardt, Benny Goodman, Fats Waller, Bing Crosby and Miles Davis among many others. It even was performed on the I Love Lucy show three separate times! Arranger Gary Zaimont was inspired to arrange this fun standard just for Arizona Cantilena Chorale. It features a barbershop quartet, a piano part written specifically with the skills of Dr. Mills in mind, and a counter melody with original lyrics sung by the basses in the second chorus influenced by Tommy Dorsey’s Marie. Hang on tight, folks!
Swinging into Romance
All of the following works are connected with the stage – Bewitched from the Rodgers and Hart musical Pal Joey, Till There Was You from Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, Smile was written by Charlie Chaplin based on a theme song in his film Modern Times, All of Me was first recorded in 1931 by the actress and singer Ruth Etting, and Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep is an Irving Berlin classic from the 1954 film White Christmas, brought to life by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney.
Entering the Holidays
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was originally written in 1943 for Judy Garland, for the movie Meet Me in St. Louis. Let this be our gift to you as we enter the holidays.
Lyrics
Come fly with me. Let’s fly, let’s fly away.
If you can use some exotic views, there’s a bar in far Bombay.
Come fly with me. Let’s float down to Peru.
In Llama Land there’s a one-man bad and he’ll toot his flute for you.
Come fly with me. Let’s take off in the blue!
Once I get you up there, where the air is rarified; we’ll just glide starry-eyed.
Once I get you up there, I’ll be holding you so near.
You may hear angels cheer ‘cause we’re together.
Weather wise, it’s such a lovely day.
Just say the words and we’ll beat the birds down to Acapulco Bay.
It’s perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say.
Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly away.
I wrote my mother, I wrote my father
And now I’m writing you too
I’m sure of mother, I’m sure of father
And now I wanna be sure, very very sure of you!
Don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me,
Anyone else but me, anyone else but me
No! No! No!
Don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me,
‘til I come marching home.
Don’t go walking down lover’s lane with anyone else but me
Anyone else but me, anyone else but me
No! No! No!
Don’t go walking down lover’s lane with anyone else but me,
‘til I come marching home.
I’m so afraid that the plans we made underneath those moonlit skies
Will fade away and you’re bound to stray if the stars get in your eyes.
So, Don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me
‘til I come marching home.
Oh, I come from Alabama, Camp-town ladies sing this song, Dooh-dah doo-dah
Goin’ to Lou’siana, Camp-town ladies sing this song, Dooh-dah doo-dah
I’m goin’ to Lou’siana with a song in my heart, and a banjo upon my knee!
OH, SUSANNA
Oh, I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee,
And I’m goin’ to Lou’siana, my true love for to see.
It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry.
The sun so hot I froze to death, Susana, don’t you cry.
Oh, Susana, oh, don’t you cry for me.
For I come from Alabama with a banjo on me knee.
SOME FOLKS DO
Some folks like to sigh, some folks do, some folks do.
Some folks sit and cry, but that’s not me nor you.
Long live the merry, merry heart that laughs both night and day.
Filled with love and joy, no matter what some folks say.
BEAUTIFUL DREAMER
Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and moonbeams are waiting for thee.
Sounds of the rude world heard in the day,
Lulled by the moonlight, have all passed away.
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song.
List while I woo thee with soft melody.
Gone are the cares of the throng.
Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me!
THE GLENDY BURKE
The Glendy Burke is a mighty fine boat with a mighty fine captain, too.
He sits up there on the hurricane roof and he keeps his eye on the crew.
I can’t stay here for the work’s too hard; I’m bound to leave this town.
I’ll take my duds and I’ll tote ‘em on my back when the Glendy Burke comes down.
THE SWANEE RIVER
Way down, on the Swanee River. Camp-town race-track file miles long,
Oh, doo-dah day!
Gonna run all night, gonna run all day.
Bet my money on the bobtail nag, somebody bet on the bay.
Way down, on the Swanee River, far, far away.
There’s where my heart is turning ever,
There’s where the old folks stay.
OH, SUSANNA
Oh, I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee,
And I’m goin’ to Lou’siana, my true love for to see.
Oh, Susana, oh, don’t you cry for me.
For I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee!
You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high-flying flag,
and forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of the land I love,
the home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
For the Red, White and Blue,
where there’s never a boast or brag.
“But should auld acquaintance be forgot”
keep your eye on the grand old flag!
There’s a feeling comes a-stealing,
And it sets my brain a reeling
when I’m list’ning to the music of a military band.
Any tune like “Yanke Doodle” simply sets me off noodle.
It’s that patriotic something that no one can understand.
Red, White and Blue, I am for you.
Keep your eye on the grand old flag!
It’s the boogie woogie bulge boy!
He was a famous trumpet man from out Chicago way,
He had a “boogie” style that no one else could play.
He was the top man at his craft,
But then his number came up, and he was gone with the draft.
He’s in the army now, a blowin’ reveille,
He’s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B.
They made him blow a bugle for his Uncle Sam,
It really brought him down because he couldn’t jam.
The captain seemed to understand
Because the next day the “cap” went out and drafted a band.
And now the company jumps when he plays reveille,
He’s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B.
A toot, a toot, a toot didde an-da toot
He blows it eight to the bar, in “boogie” rhythm.
He can’t blow a note unless the bass and guitar is playin’ with ‘i’m.
He makes the company jump when he plays reveille,
He’s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B.
He was our boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B.
And when he plays boogie woogie bugle he was busy as a buzzie bee.
And when he plays he makes the company jump eight to the bar.
He’s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B.
He puts the boys asleep with “boogie” every night,
And wakes them up the same way in the early bright.
They clap their hands and stamp their feet
Because they know how he plays when someone gives him a beat.
He really breaks it up when he plays reveille,
He’s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B! Yeah!
Oh, Shenando’, I long to see you,
And hear your rolling river,
Oh, Shenando’, I long to see you,
‘Way, we’re bound away,
Across the wide Missouri.
I long to see your smiling valley,
And hear your rolling river,
I long to see your smiling valley,
‘Way, we’re bound away, Across the wide Missouri.
‘Tis sev’n long years since last I see you,
And hear you rolling river,
‘Tis sev’n long years since last I see you,
‘Way, we’re bound away,
Across the wide Missouri
Love is like a never-ending melody.
Poets have compared it to a symphony.
A symphony conducted by the lighting of the moon.
But our song of love is slightly out of tune.
Once your kisses raised me to a fever pitch.
So, now the orchestration doesn’t seem so rich.
Seems to me you’ve changed the tune we used to sing.
Like a Bossa Nova, love should swinging.
We used to harmonize two souls in perfect time.
Now the song is diff’rent and the words don’t even rhyme.
‘Cause you forgot the melody our hearts would always croon
And so what good’s a heart that’s slightly out of tune?
So tune your heart to mine the way it used to be.
Join with me in harmony and sing a song of loving.
We’re bound to get in tune again before too long!
There’ll be no desafinado when your heart belongs to me completely.
Then you won’t be slightly out of tune, you’ll sing along.
Sweet song, sing along.
My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine,
you make me smile with my heart.
Your looks are laughable, unphotographable,
yet, you’re my favorite work of art.
Is your figure less than Greek;
is your mouth a little weak, when you open it to speak,
are you smart?
But don’t change your hair for me, not if you care for me,
stay, little valentine, stay, oh stay!
Each day is Valentine’s Day.
Sue pretty eyes of blue, tears were never meant for you.
Smile a while please do, Sue,
Dear don’t believe the things you hear.
I’m lonely for only sweet you.
Ev’ry star above, knows the one I love
Sweet Sue, just you.
And the moon up high knows the reason why,
Sweet Sue, it’s you.
No one else it seems, Ever shares my dreams
And without you dear I don’t know what I’d do.
In this heart of mine, you live all the time,
Sweet Sue just you.
Hello Suzie let’s watch a movie on Netflix or Hulu
Or Amazon Prime it’s movie time.
You pick the movie and I’ll get the popcorn
Oh no not Liam Neeson we’ve seen everything that guy has done twice!
Please pick a move there’s thousands to choose from
fantasy and horror, comedy and drama, science fiction mystery musicals and romance.
Foreign film my cherie, military 1 2 3 4
Oh Suzie not that one, don’t want more hit men
No more amnesia, no killing no mayhem
So let’s watch Cats!
I’m hearing from all the stars above,
they’re saying that you’re the one I love
it’s true, Suzie it’s you.
And Suzie the big old moon up high
He’s saying he know the reason why it’s just you
Without you Suzie dear I don’t know what I’d do
In this heart of mine you live all the time
Sweet Sue, it’s you.
He’s a fool and don’t I know it,
but a fool can have his charms.
I’m in love and don’t I show it,
like a babe in arms.
Love’s the same old sad sensation.
Lately I’ve not slept a wink,
since this half-pint imitation
put me on the blink.
I’m wild again, beguiled again,
a simpering, whimpering child again.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.
I couldn’t sleep, and wouldn’t sleep,
When love came and told me I shouldn’t sleep.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.
Lost my heart, but what of it?
He Is cold, I agree.
She can laugh, but I love it
Although he laugh’s on me.
I’ll sing to him, each spring to him, and
Long for the day when I’ll cling to him.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.
Finding your love is not just a game,
It’s noticing when things are not the same.
No one can give you a book of the rules,
But perhaps there are gifts far more precious than jewels.
Some days you find yourself wond’ring a lot
whether true love will find you or not.
Just when I thought I hadn’t a clue,
I suddenly realized something so now.
There were bells on the hill,
but I never heard them ringing,
no, I never heard them at all,
till there was you.
There were birds in the sky,
but I never saw them winging,
no, I never saw them at all,
till there was you.
And there was music,
and wonderful roses,
in sweet fragrant meadows
of dawn and dew.
There was love all around,
but I never heard it singing,
no, I never heard it at all
till there was you.
Only you, just you.
Smile though your heart is aching,
smile, even though it’s breaking.
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
if you smile through your fear and sorrow,
smile and maybe tomorrow
you’ll see the sun come shining through for you.
Light up your face with gladness,
hide every trace of sadness,
Altho’ a tear may be ever so near.
That’s the time you must keep on trying,
smile, what’s the use of crying,
you’ll find that life is still worthwhile,
If you just smile.
All of me, why not take all of me?
Can’t you see, I’m no good without you?
Take my lips, I want to lose them.
Take my arms, I’ll never use them.
Your goodbye left me with eyes that cry.
How can I go on without you?
You took the part that once was my heart,
so why not take all of me?
When I’m worried and I can’t sleep,
I count my blessings instead of sheep.
And I fall asleep counting my blessings.
When my bankroll is getting small,
I think of when I had none at all.
And I fall asleep counting my blessings.
I think about a nurs’ry and I picture curly heads.
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds.
If you’re worried and you can’t sleep,
just count your blessings instead of sheep.
And you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
let your heart be light.
From now on our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
make the Yuletide gay.
From now on our troubles will be miles away.
Here we are as in olden days,
happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
gather near to us once more.
Through the years we all will be together
if the fates allow.
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough,
and have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
Donor List
We humbly recognize all the individuals, businesses, foundations and government agencies that have played a large role in allowing Arizona Cantilena Chorale to look toward an exciting future of engaging, enriching and inspiring our audiences with beautiful music.
The list below includes supporters who have contributed financially and in-kind to date since November 1, 2023. Please consider joining this honored list and donate online at www.AZCanti.org
BENEFACTOR ($10,000-$25,000)
Arizona Commission on the Arts
Otto & Edna Neely Foundation
SPONSOR ($5,000-$9,999)
Keith & Nannette Lawson+
Lorraine Tschaesche
PATRON ($2,500-$4,999)
Tom & Louise Oliver
David & Pamela Watson
SUSTAINER ($1,000-$2,499)
Jack and Elisa Bartlett+
Richard & Joyce Fox Trust
Robert & Pauline Smith
Michael Vlach & Julia Dane Vlach+
FRIEND ($100-$999)
Jonathan & Harriet Askew
Les & Patsy Bartlett
Robert & Paula Beck
Kay Block
Kristal Damron
Dayspring United Methodist Men
James & Diane Gardiner
Chris & Carey Hausbeck
Virgil & Donna Heusinkveld
Betty Hiett
Robin Jones
Samuel & Jenny Kao
Anthony & Susan Nicholson
Richard & Susan Oliver
DeAnna Robbins-Oman+
Jeff & Janice Procter-Murphy
Kenneth & Gay Rhoades
Brad & Melanee Tiffany
Richard & Julie Van Dyk
Joel & Cheryl Wallace
Linda West
Larry & Lauri Wieland+
IN-KIND
Arizona Community Church
Church of the Master Presbyterian
C. R. McKnight Accounting & Bookkeeping Services
+ denotes current Chorale member