Music as the Message: It Takes a Village! Digital Program

Presented by The American Opera Project and Opera on Tap, in association with Broadway Presbyterian Church

PROGRAM ORDER & LYRICS
Subject to change

Music as the Message Theme Song**
by Drew Hemenger
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Drew Hemenger, piano

Stand By Me
by Ben E. King; arr. Paul Greenwood
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Gary Mitchell, Jr., piano
Alexis Gerlach, cello

Lyrics:

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we’ll see
No, I won’t be afraid
No, I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me

So darlin’, darlin’, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand
Stand by me, stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me

And darlin’, darlin’, stand 
Oh, stand 
Oh, stand 
Stand by me, stand by me

Whenever you’re in trouble
I’ll be standing right next to you
And you’ll  stand by me
Oh, stand 
Stand by me, stand by me

Welcome
Adrienne Danrich

Medley in Three Parts
arr. by Patrick Dailey
Patrick Dailey, countertenor
Violetta Zabbi, piano

1. All Night, All Day
Traditional spiritual; Otis L. McCoy

Lyrics: 

All night, all day.
the Angels watching over me, my Lord.
All night, all day.
the Angels watching over me, my lord

2. There Are Angels Hoverin’ Roun’
arr. by Uzee Brown, Jr.

Lyrics:

There are angels hoverin roun’
There are angels hoverin roun’
There are angels, angels hovering round.

In the new Jerusalem,
In the new Jerusalem,
In the new Jerusalem,

The angels came to tell of the King
To tell of the hope as the joy He’d bring
Listen, chillun to the angels sing
There are angels hoverin roun’

Do you know Him Christ the Lord
Do you know Him Christ the Lord
Do you know Him know Him, Christ the Lord

Let us praise Him, Christ the King
Let us praise Him, Christ the King
Let us praise Him, praise Him, Christ the King

There are angels hoverin roun’

3. God of Our Weary Years, verse 3 of Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing
by J. Rosamond and James Weldon Johnson

Lyrics:

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray

Grateful
by John Bucchino
Adam Richardson, baritone
Gary Mitchell, Jr., piano

Lyrics:

I’ve got a roof over my head
I’ve got a warm place to sleep
Some nights I lie awake counting gifts
Instead of counting sheep

I’ve got a heart that can hold love
I’ve got a mind that can think
There may be times when I lose the light
And let my spirits sink
But I can’t stay depressed
When I remember how I’m blessed

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful

In a city of strangers
I’ve got a family of friends
No matter what rocks and brambles fill the way
I know that they will stay until the end

I feel a hand holding my hand
It’s not a hand you can see
But on the road to some promised land
This hand will shepherd me
Through delight and despair
Holding tight and always there

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful

It’s not that I don’t want a lot
Or hope for more, or dream of more
But giving thanks for what I’ve got
Makes me so much happier than keeping score

In a world that can bring pain
I will still take each chance
For I believe that whatever the terrain
Our feet can learn to dance
Whatever stone life may sling
We can moan or we can sing

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful

I’ll Be There
by The Jackson 5, Berry Gordy, Hal Davis, Willie Hutch, & Bob West
Tesia Kwarteng, mezzo-soprano
Gary Mitchell, Jr., piano

Lyrics:

You and I must make a pact
We must bring salvation back
Where there is love
I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

I’ll reach out my hand to you
I’ll have faith in all you do
Just call my name and I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

I’ll be there to comfort you
Build my world of dreams around you
I’m so glad that I found you
I’ll be there with a love that’s strong
I’ll be your strength
I’ll keep holding on

Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter
Togetherness, girl, is all I’m after
Whenever you need me
I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

I’ll be there to protect you, (yeah baby)
With an unselfish love that respects you
Just call my name
And I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

You know
I’ll be there to comfort you
Build my world of dreams around you

Grandma’s Hands
by Bill Withers
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Gary Mitchell, Jr., piano

Lyrics:

Grandma’s hands
Clapped in church on Sunday morning
Grandma’s hands
Played a tambourine so well
Grandma’s hands
Used to issue out a warning
She’d say, Addy don’t you run so fast
Might fall on a piece of glass
Might be snakes there in that grass
Grandma’s hands

Grandma’s hands
Soothed a local unwed mother
Grandma’s hands
Used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma’s hands
Used to lift her face and tell her
She’d say, Baby, grandma understands
That you really love that man
Put yourself in Jesus’ hands
Grandma’s hands

Grandma’s hands
Used to hand me piece of candy
Grandma’s hands
Picked me up each time I fell
Grandma’s hands
Chile, they really came in handy
She’d say, Sharon don’ you whip that gal
What you want to spank him for?
She didn’ drop no apple core
But I don’t have grandma anymore
If I get to heaven I’ll look for
Grandma’s hands

Duetto Buffo di due Gatti (Cat Duet)
by Gioacchino Rossini
Tesia Kwarteng, mezzo-soprano
Patrick Dailey, countertenor
Violetta Zabbi, piano

Lyrics:

Meow!

Mama Bear**
by Ovya Diwakaran
Ovya Diwakaran, vocals
Gary Mitchell, Jr., piano
Alexis Gerlach, cello

Lyrics:

High school always comes with a rough couple of months
But there’s always someone to remind me I am enough
when my eyes are blurred with tears
you’ll wipe them away remind me how its not the end
I’ll learn from my mistakes

When you’re sixteen there aren’t always friends you can trust
but there’s always someone with her arms open for a hug
When I’m heart-broken or scared I see my Mama bear run
no other motive than that of protecting her baby cub

Sometimes I don’t say thank you
Sometimes I walk away, slam the door fight some more
but in the end, I always say, friends will come and go
People don’t always stay but my Mama bear

Is always there to chase the demons away
I don’t make the best decisions but my mama bear is smart
My mama bear is always there with her huge loving heart

There are doctors, there are lawyers, some even do it all
But my Mama Bear’s loving care does just as much as them all 
she’s my number one supporter 
The one who catches me if I fall
As I stand here singing these lyrics today
She’s the reason I stand so tall

Oh sometimes I don’t say thank you
Sometimes I walk away
Slam the door fight some more but in the end
I always say friends will come and go 
People dont always stay but my Mama bear
Is always there to chase the demons away
I don’t make the best decisions but my mama bear is smart
My mama bear is always there with her huge loving heart
In ten years most everyone I know will have their lives moved on
but I’ll never drift from you, I always say I love you mom

Child-Like Moment of Joy: Sing!
by Joe Rapaso (Carpenters)
Chris Shelton, tenor
Violetta Zabbi, piano

Lyrics:

Sing, sing a song
Sing out loud
Sing out strong
Sing of good things not bad
Sing of happy not sad.

Sing, sing a song
Make it simple to last
Your whole life long
Don’t worry that it’s not
Good enough for anyone
Else to hear
Sing, sing a song.

La la do la da

Sing, sing a song
Let the world sing along
Sing of love there could be
Sing for you and for me.

Sing, sing a song
Make it simple to last
Your whole life long
Don’t worry that it’s not

Good enough for anyone
Else to hear
Just sing, sing a song. La la do la da

A Word About Our Charity Partner, Broadway Community
Chris Shelton

Russian Lullaby
by Irving Berlin
Amy Burton, soprano
John Musto, piano

Lyrics:

Where the dreamy volga flows
There’s a lonely Russian Rose
Gazing tenderly
Down upon her knee,
Where a baby’s brown eyes glisten
Listen

Every night you’ll hear her croon
A Russian lullaby

Just a little plaintive tune
When baby starts to cry

Rock-a-bye my baby
Somewhere there may be

A land that’s free for you and me
And a Russian lullaby

Rock-a-bye my baby
Somewhere there may be

A land that’s free for you and me
And a Russian lullaby

Laura’s Song
by John Musto
Includes dance duet “With Care and Capacity” by Kinesis Project dance theatre, created in collaboration with the dancers
John Musto, piano
Bree Breeden, dancer
Madeline Hoak, dancer

My Lady, from Love & Trouble 
by Adrienne Danrich & Dave Hall
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Violetta Zabbi, piano

Lyrics:

Blessings come in many guises 
and you are the most precious of all.
How I long to hear the sweet smile in your voice 
as we talk together across the miles 
About Life, About Love, And God and Gratitude

You are a Golden Bright Shining Star!
Illuminating what it means to be gracious
What it means to be a Lady.

One must be taught and guided
On the road to ladyhood.
I am so blest I have you as my guide
You are a blessing to all who come into your presence.
Touching the hearts of all in your quiet, gentle way.

You are a Golden Bright Shining Star!
You are a Lady.

The Lord is My Light ✢
by Lillian Bouknight; arr. Paul Gainer
Kagera Bucker, mezzo-soprano
Kwamina Walker-Williams, soprano

Lyrics:

The Lord is my Light And my salvation
The Lord is my Light And my salvation
The Lord is my Light And my salvation

Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear Whom shall I fear
The Lord is the strength of my life
Whom shall I fear

In the time of trouble, He shall hide me
O, in the time of trouble, He shall hide me
In the time of trouble, He shall hide me
Whom shall I fear

You’ll Never Walk Alone, from Carousel 
by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Violetta Zabbi, piano

Lyrics:

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark
At the end of a storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Tho’ your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone

Remind Me, Beloved
by Anu French
Anu French, vocals & harmonium
Ovya Diwakaran, vocals

(Attendees are invited to speak along, as indicated below)

Lyrics:

Anu sings:
Ananda Swarupa Prema Swarupa Bhagavan
Shanthi Swarupa Sathya Swarupa Bhagavan
Jai Sairam Jai Jai Sairam
Remind me Beloved who I am, really am
Divine Beloved, who I am really am
Remind me Beloved who I am, who I am

Anu and Ovya sing:
I am love love love x3 
I am Peace Peace Peace 
I am joy joy joy
I am light light light
I am life life life 
I am you you you
And you are me me me
We are one one one
All one one one

Anu sings:
Ananda Swarupa Prema Swarupa Bhagavan 
Shanthi Swarupa Sathya Swarupa Bhagavan 
Remind me beloved who I am,
Jai Sairam

Attendees are invited to sing along with Anu and Ovya: 
I am love love love x 3
I am Peace Peace Peace 
I am joy joy joy
I am light light light
I am life life life
I am you you you
And you are me me me
We are one one one
All one one one one one

Anu sings:
Ananda Swarupa Prema Swarupa Bhagavan 
Shanthi Swarupa Sathya Swarupa Bhagavan
Remind me beloved who I am,
Jai Sairam

Attendees are invited to sing along with Anu and Ovya: 
I am love love love x 3
I am Peace Peace Peace 
I am joy joy joy
I am light light light
I am life life life 
I am you you you
And you are me me me
We are one one one
All one one one one one

Anu ends with:
Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi 
Om peace peace eternal peace

Closing remarks
Adrienne Danrich

Human Heart, from Once on this Island
by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty
Anu French, vocals
Ovya Diwakaran, vocals
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Amy Burton, soprano
Tesia Kwarteng, mezzo-soprano
Patrick Dailey, countertenor
Chris Shelton, tenor
Gary Mitchell, Jr., piano

Lyrics:

The courage of a dreamer
The innocence of youth
The failures and the foolishness
That lead us to the truth

The hopes that
Make us happy
The hopes that
Don’t come true

And all the love
There ever was
I see this all
In you

You are part,
Part of the
Human heart
You are part.

Of all who took the journey
And managed to endure
The ones who knew such tenderness
The ones who felt so sure

The ones who
Came before you
The others yet
To come

And those who
You will teach it to
And those you
Learned it from

You are part
Part of the
Human heart
You are part

This is the gift I give
Through your love you’ll live

Forever…

You are part
Part of the
Human heart

Forever…
You are part
Tonight
Tonight

Part of the Human Heart.

****

This is the end of the program. Have a wonderful rest of your evening!

Blessings and Peace,
Adrienne Danrich and the Music as the Message Team

✢Zoom Performance
**Commissioned by AOP for Music as the Message