winter spirits:
together through the years
december 12, 2025
PHILHARMONIA
PhilHarmonia was founded in 2013 and continues to delight audiences with its commitment to musical excellence and diverse programming. For the past eight full seasons, the ensemble has offered a free concert in a public location and regularly offers two seasonal programs: Winter Spirits and From PhilHarmonia with Love. PhilHarmonia loves to collaborate and partner with local cultural organizations and artists. Collaborations and partnerships include: The Drinker Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia Central Branch, SEPTA, The German Society of Pennsylvania, Philly Homebrew Club, Independence Seaport Museum, Chestnut Street Singers, the Museum of the American Revolution, Nashirah, Singing City, Brian Sanders’ JUNK, Melissa Dunphy, John Conahan, Ajibola Rivers and now Forbidden Fruit. PhilHarmonia is a proud recipient of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund Grant. For more information visit PhilHarmoniaSings.com
A cappella pops
A Cappella Pops is a dynamic, high-energy mixed-voice a cappella group of over 20 talented singers, offering an eclectic mix of jazz, gospel, show tunes, and contemporary hits. With intricate four-to-eight-part harmonies, their fast-paced performances are infused with engaging dialogue and movement, creating a seamless and unforgettable experience that keeps audiences hooked. Based in the Delaware Valley and founded in 2000, A Cappella Pops is directed by the talented Mitos Andaya Hart. For more information visit AcappellaPops.com
Texts and Translations
Jubilate Deo omnis terra - Giovanni Gabrieli
Jubilate Deo omnis terra,
Let the whole earth rejoice in God
quia sic benedicetur homo qui timet Dominum.
for in this way blessed is the man who fears the Lord.
Jubilate Deo omnis terra,
Let the whole earth rejoice in God
Deus Israel conjungat vos et ipse sit vobiscum,
May the God of Israel yoke you together and may he himself be with you.
Mittat vobis auxilium de sancto et de Sion tueatur vos.
May he send you help from his holiness, and from Zion may he guard you from harm.
Jubilate Deo omnis terra,
Let the whole earth rejoice in God
Benedicat vobis Dominus ex Sion, qui fecit caelum et terram.
May the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion.
Servite Domino in laetitia!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Eniyan s'oriire - Bidemi Oyesanya, arr. Adeusi
Emi a yin Jesu Oba; emi a korin s'Oba iye.
I praise Jesus the King; I sing to the King of life.
Oun l'olorun t'o f'ife Re gbawa,
He is the God who has saved us
emi a k'orin s'oba.
with His love, I sing to the King.
(Refrain:)
E lu gbe du, E lu agogo
Beat the drum, beat the bell
E gbe'rin ye Jesu Oba o
Sing to Jesus the King
Oun l'Oluwa l'ori ohun gbogbo
He is the Lord of all
Bi mo r'ijo o ma j'ijo omo
When I dance, it will be a
igbala de, Eniyan s'oriire
dance of salvation, Happy people
Eje k'a jo juba Oba;
Let us dance to worship the King;
Eje k'a jo f'ope fun o
Let us dance to praise Him
Oun l'Olorun t'o f'ife re gba wa;
He is the God who has saved us with His love;
E je k'a jo f'ope fun.
Let us dance to praise Him.
Emi yio ba Jesu j'oba;
I will reign with Jesus;
Emi yio korin l'orun rere
I will sing to the good heavens
'Gba t'o ba de lati gba wa s'odo se;
Come when He comes to take us to the land;
Emi yio korin l'orun.
I will sing to the heavens.
Fürchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir - Johann Sebastian Bach
Fürchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir;
Do not fear, I am with you;
weiche nicht, denn ich bin dein Gott!
do not recoil, for I am your God!
Ich stärke dich, ich helfe dir auch,
I will strengthen you, and help you as well,
ich erhalte dich durch die rechte Hand meiner Gerechtigkeit.
I uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
Fürchte dich nicht, denn ich habe dich erlöset;
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
ich habe dich bei deinem Namen gerufen, du bist mein!
I have called you by your name, you are mine!
Chorale:
Herr, mein Hirt, Brunn aller Freuden,
Lord, my Shepherd, fount of all joy!
du bist mein,
You are mine,
ich bin dein
I am yours,
niemand kann uns scheiden.
no one can part us.
Ich bin dein, weil du dein Leben
I am yours, since your life
und dein Blut
and your blood,
mir zu gut
for my sake,
den Tod gegeben.
you have given to death.
Du bist mein, weil ich dich fasse
You are mine, since I seize you
und dich nicht,
and do not,
o mein Licht,
O my light,
aus dem Herzen lasse!
let you out of my heart!
Laß mich hingelangen,
Let me, let me arrive there,
da du mich
where you
und ich dich
and I
lieblich werd umfangen.
will lovingly embrace each other.
Fürchte dich nicht,
Fear not,
du bist mein.
you are mine.
-Isaiah 41:10, 43:1
-Paul Gerhardt (1653)
Shchedryk/Carol of the Bells - Mykola Leontovych/Peter Wilhousky
Shchedryk shchedryk, shchedrivochka
A little swallow
Pryletila lastivochka
A little swallow flew
Stala sobi shchebetaty
And started to twitter
Hospodarya vyklykaty:
To summon the master:
"Vyydy, vyydy, hospodaryu
"Come out, come out, o master
Podyvysya na kosharu
Look at the sheep pen
Tam ovechky pokotylys’
There the ewes have stumbled
A yahnychky narodylys’
And the lambkins have been born
V tebe tovar ves’ khoroshyy
Your goods are great
Budesh’ maty mirku hroshey
You will have a lot of money
Khoch ne hroshi, to polova
If not money, then chaff:
V tebe zhinka chornobrova”.
You have a dark-eyebrowed [beautiful] wife."
Friede auf Erden - Arnold Schoenberg
Da die Hirten ihre Herde
When the shepherds left their flocks
Ließen und des Engels Worte
and carried the words of the angel’s
Trugen durch die niedre Pforte
through the lowly gate
Zu der Mutter mit dem Kind,
to the Mother and the Child.
Fuhr das himmlische Gesind
the heavenly host continued to sing
Fort im Sternenraum zu singen,
in the starry spheres,
Fuhr der Himmel fort zu klingen:
and the heavens echoed their sound:
«Friede, Friede, auf der Erde!»
“Peace, peace on Earth!”
Seit die Engel so geraten,
Since the angels thus admonished
O wie viele blut'ge Taten
o, how many bloody deeds
Hat der Streit auf wildem Pferde,
has Strife on its wild steed
Der Geharnischte vollbracht!
and in its warlike armor done!
In wie mancher heil'gen Nacht
In how many holy nights
Sang der Chor der Geister zagend,
has the chorus of spirits hesitantly sung
Dringlich flehend, leis verklagend:
with urgent prayer and mild reproach.
«Friede, Friede, auf der Erde!»
“Peace, peace on Earth!”
Doch es ist ein ew'ger Glaube,
Yet it is an eternal belief
Daß der Schwache nicht zum Raube
that the weak shall not forever
Jeder frechen Mordgebärde
to every bold murderous gesture
Werde fallen allezeit:
fall victim:
Etwas wie Gerechtigkeit
Something akin to justice
Webt und wirkt in Mord und Grauen
dwells in the midst of murder and horror,
Und ein Reich will sich erbauen,
and a kingdom shall gradually arise
Das den Frieden sucht auf der Erde.
that shall seek peace for the earth.
Mählich wird es sich gestalten,
Gradually it shall take shape
Seines heil'gen Amtes walten,
and carry out its holy task,
Waffen schmieden ohne Fährde,
shall forge weapons that are without danger,
Flammenschwerter für das Recht,
fiery swords of justice;
Und ein königlich Geschlecht
and a kingly race
Wird erblühn mit starken Söhnen,
shall flourish with strong descendants
Dessen helle Tuben dröhnen:
whose shining trumpets shall resound:
Friede, Friede, auf der Erde!
“Peace, peace on Earth!”
-Conrad Ferdinand Meyer
O nata lux - Morten Lauridsen
O nata lux de lumine,
O born light of light,
Jesu redemptor saeculi,
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
dignare clemens supplicum
mercifully deem worthy and accept
Laudes preces que sumere.
the praises and prayers of your supplicants.
Qui carne quondam contegi
thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh
dignatus es pro perditis.
for the sake of the lost ones.
Nos membra confer effici,
grant us to be made members
tui beati corporis.
of your holy body.
Dreidel Song - Traditional Jewish, arr. Guter
I have a little dreidel I made it out of clay
And when it's dry and ready, then dreidel I will play!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of wood,
And when it’s dry and ready, I play it when I could
Chorus:
Oh - dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay
dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, oh dreidel I will play!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of clay
And when it's dry and ready, then dreidel I will play!
It has a lovely body, with legs so short and thin
And when my dreidel’s tired, it drops and then I win!
Hanukkah, O Hanukkah, come light the menorah.
Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the horah!
Gather round the table, we’ll give you a treat;
S’vivon to play with and latkes to eat.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of glass
And when it is all ready, I’ll play it in the grass!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of gold,
And when it is all ready I’ll play it in the cold.
Chorus:
Oh - dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay
dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel I will play!
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Blane & Martin, arr. James
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.
Auld lang syne - Robert Burns; arr. Earley
Sunday performance only
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you'll buy your pint cup!
and surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Chorus
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
Chorus
And there's a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o' thine!
And we'll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen - Praetorius, arr. Sandström
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming
aus einer Wurzel zart,
from tender stem hath sprung!
wie uns die Alten sungen,
as men of old have sung.
von Jesse kam die Art
Of Jesse’s lineage coming,
und hat ein Blümlein bracht
It came, a floweret bright,
mitten im kalten Winter,
amid the cold of winter,
wohl zu der halben Nacht.
when half spent was the night.
Sing-along Carols
O come, all ye faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold Him, born the King of angels! O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation;
sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Hark! the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!, Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by. Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!"
Silent Night
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft, einsam wacht nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh
Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright ,
Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Saviour, is born! Christ the Saviour, is born!
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
We wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!!!
* * *
Thank you for coming to PhilHarmonia’s “Winter Spirits: Together through the Years”
Please join us for From PhilHarmonia with Love on February 21, 2026 for an evening of love, chorus, cabaret, chocolate and wine!
www.PhilharmoniaSings.com