Programme Note

The Dream of Herod traces an evolution from dark, brooding introspection to dawning effulgence. Torment and inner violence make way for the mystery of forgiveness and hope in a succession of six brief scenes. Herod, a ruthless, blood-stained king is condemned to restless reflection on the genocide he has inflicted on his own people. Uncertain whether he is lost in sleep or wakefulness, he witnesses a procession of figures that distil the essence of his branded conscience. Imprisoned by the horror of his deeds, he sees his pathway to release, illuminated by the very voices of those he most feared.

Texts

1. Alleluia

Words Anon
Music Peter Wishart

Alleluya,
A new work is come on hand
Through might and grace of Gode's son
To save the lost of every land. Alleluya.
For now is free that erst was bound we may well sing
Alleluya.
Now is fulfilled the prophecy
Of David and of Jeremy
And also of Isaiah
Alleluya.
Sing we therefore both loud and high Alleluya.
Alleluya,
This sweete song
Out of a green branch it sprung
God send us the life that lasteth long
Alleluya.
Now joy and bliss be him among
That thus can sing
Alleluya.

2. O Radix Jesse

O radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum
Super quem continebunt Reges os suum
Quem gentes deprecabuntur
Veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.

Root of Jesse, you who stand as a sign for the people
Over whom kings hold their tongue
Whom the nations implore
Come to free us, do not now delay.

3. A Spotless Rose

Words 14th Century
Music Herbert Howells
Soloist Matthew Brook

A Spotless Rose is blowing,
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers' foreshowing,
Of Jesse promised fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
Amid the cold, cold winter,
And in the dark midnight.

The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest Maid;
For through our God's great love and might,
The Blessed Babe she bare us
In a cold, cold winter's night.

4. Rorate Coeli

Respond: Rorate Coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum

Ne irascaris Domine, ne ultra memineris iniquitatis
Ecce civitas Sancti facta est deserta
Sion deserta facta est: Jerusalem desolata est
Domus sanctificationis tuae et gloriae tuae
Ubi laudaverunt te patres nostri.

Respond: Rorate Coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum

Peccavimus, et facti sumus tamquam immundus nos
Et cecidimus, quasi folium universi
Et iniquitates nostrae quasi ventus abstulerunt nos
Abscondisti faciem tuam a nobis
Et allisisti nos in manu iniquitatis nostrae.

Respond: Rorate Coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum

Vide Domine afflictionem populi tui
Et mitte quem missurus es
Emitte Agnum dominatorem terrae
De petra deserti ad montem filiae Sion
Ut auferat ipse jugum captivitatis nostrae.

Respond: Rorate Coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum

Consolamini, consolamini, popule meus
Cito veniet salus tua: Quare moerore consumeris
Quia innovavit te dolor? Salvabo te,noli timere
Ego enim sum Dominus Deus tuus,
Sanctus Israel, redemptor.

Respond: Rorate Coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum

Respond: Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness

Be not angry Lord neither remember iniquity forever
thy holy cities are a wilderness
Sion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation
our holy and our beautiful house
where our fathers praised thee.

Respond: Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness

We have sinned and are unclean
and we all fade like a leaf
and our iniquities have taken us away like the wind
you have hidden your face from us
and have consumed us because of our iniquities

Respond: Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness

Behold, O Lord, the affliction of thy people
and send forth Him who is to come
send forth the Lamb, the ruler of the earth from Petra of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion
that He may take away the yoke of our captivity

Respond: Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people
my salvation shall come quickly: I have blotted out
as a thick cloud my transgressions. Fear not for I will save you
for I am the lord your God
the Holy One of Israel, your redeemer.

Respond: Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness

5. Of the Father's Heart Begotten

Words Prudentius
Music from Piae Cantiones
Arrangement Sir David Willcocks

Of the Father's heart begotten, Ere the world from chaos rose,
He is Alpha: from that fountain All that is and hath been flows;
He is Omega, of all things Yet to come the mystic close,
Evermore and evermore.

By his word was all created; He commanded and 'twas done;
Earth and sky and boundless ocean, Universe of three in one,
All that sees the moon's soft radiance, All that breathes beneath the sun,
Evermore and evermore.

He assumed this mortal body, Frail and feeble doomed to die,
That the race from dust created Might not perish utterly,
Which the dreadful Law had sentenced In the depths of hell to lie,
Evermore and evermore.

Sing, ye heights of heav'n his praises; Angels and Archangels, sing!
Where so e'er ye be, ye faithful, Let your joyous anthems ring,
Ev'ry tongue his name confessing, Countless voices answering,
Evermore and evermore.

6. Ave Maria

Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus.

Hail Mary
Full of grace
The lord is with thee
Blessed art thou among women.

7. I Sing of a Maiden

Words Traditional
Music Patrick Hadley

I sing of a maiden that is makeless;
King of all kings to her son she ches.
He came all so still where his mother was,
As dew in April that falleth on the grass.
He came all so still to his mother s bower,
As dew in April that falleth on the flower.
He came all so still where his mother lay,
As dew in April that falleth on the spray.
Mother and maiden was never none but she:
Well may such a lady God s mother be.
The Angel of great wisdom.

8. Puer Natus Est

Puer natus est nobis
Et filius datus est nobis
Cuius imperium super humerum eius
Et vocabitur nomen eius
Magni consilii angelus.

A child is born for us
A son is given to us
The power shall rest on his shoulders
And his name shall be

9. A Flower given to my Daughter

Words James Joyce
Music Bob Chilcott

Frail the white rose and frail are her hands that gave
Whose soul is sere and paler than time s wan wave.
Rosefrail and fair yet frailest a wonder wild
In gentle eyes thou veilest,
My blue veined child. Rod

10. Silent Night

Words J Mohl
Music Franz Gruber
Arrangement Barry Rose

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.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glory streams from heaven afar,
Heavenly host sing ’Alleluya,’
Christ the Saviour is born.

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love s pure light,
Radiant beams thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

11. Sussex Carol

Words Traditional
Music Traditional
Arrangement Sir David Willcocks

On Christmas night all Christians sing,
To hear the news the angels bring,
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King s birth.

Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our redeemer made us glad,
When from our sin he set us free,
All for to gain our liberty?

When sin departs before his grace,
Then life and health come in its place;
Angels and men with joy may sing,
All for to see the new-born king.

All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night:
Glory to God and peace to men,
Now and for evermore. Amen.

12. Away in a Manger

Words Anon
Music Kirkpatrick
Arrangement Nigel Short

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head,
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
The little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
Close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.

13. Adeste Fidelis

Adeste fideles
Laeti triumphantes
Venite in Bethlehem
Natum videte, regem angelorum
Venite adoremus Dominum.

O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, to Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels
O come, let us adore him
Christ the Lord.

14. O Come all ye Faithful

Words Anon
Music Anon
Arrangement Sir David Willcocks

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,
Christ the lord!

God of God,
Light of light,
Lo! He abhors not the virgin s womb;
Very God, begotten not created:
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 in the highest:
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

Yea, Lord we greet thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesu to thee be glory giv’n,
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

THE DREAM OF HEROD

15. Herod's Despair

Herod: My world is one of glory, darkened.
All kneel, save I.
My gaze is ever downward,
And my path is eternally crimsoned.
A king may master, and know not mastery.
A ruler orders, and forfeits order.
A leader lives, but borrows life from souls not his.
Sleep, I know not now;
For this is wrest from by endless apparitions.
I turn, I turn, eternally.
And who are these visitors?
First-born, like me, or voiceless infants,
Or parents, a whole people in lament;
Or those who saw the object of my quest,
And knew too well how fear reaps innocence
In sheaves too broad to embrace.
Dark or light, I know no rest from nocturnal vision.
And all these voices, so gentle, so gentle.

16. The Visit of the Magi

Herod: Three men made straight the way for my perdition,
Turning vanity and terror to ruthlessness.

Melchior: Great Herod, glory to you.
Balthasar: Great Herod, may every subject know your worth.
Caspar: Great Herod, may your name resonate for ever.

Herod: How could I know that these men had come to curse me?

Melchior: We come in search of light, and that light will be a man.
A child unimagined, inconceivable;
His infancy a miracle, his adulthood supreme;
His death? Wise Herod can, perhaps, divine.

Balthasar: We come in search of hope, and that hope will be a man.
A teacher, healer, shepherd,
Raising those that others lower,
Knowing, giving, loving.
Know you, Herod, such a one?

Caspar: We come in search of peace, and that peace shall be a man.
Born in your land, but heir to kingdoms greater,
Monarch to the children we must all become
To know eternity.

Herod: Were these seers, even then,
prescient of my people’s woe to come,
Of a carnage, mine to start or stay?

17. The Chorus of the voiceless Infants

Herod: We slay, to preserve ourselves, in fear.
We slay that purest part
To leave no contrast to our voided heart.

These infants hail me, voiceless, kind.
We slay that purest part
To leave no lustre in our darkened heart.

Blameless lives make no reproach.
To leave no fearing in our craven heart
We slay that purest part.

18. The Chorus of the Parents of Judaea

Chorus of the parents of Judaea: Herod! Herod!
Rest you shall not yet,
Herod! Herod!

Below the waxing moon of nightfall
Our first-born shed their blood
Upon your hands with open hearts!

Herod! Herod!
Rest you shall not yet,
Herod! Herod!

Below the waning moon of nightfall
Our second-born shed their tears
Upon your land with open eyes!

Herod! Herod!
Rest you shall not yet,
Herod! Herod!

Below the rising sun of daybreak
All generations will shed their hatred
And enfold you in their open arms!

Herod! Herod!

19. Mary and Joseph Appear to Herod

Mary: I kneel before you, Herod.
My gaze is ever upward,
My world is one of humility, brightened
By an unchosen path of light.
I knelt before my son, and not alone.
Others knelt , and knew.

Joseph: A monarch you were, a ruler over death and life.
A knig you were not.
Dominion you would not truly know,
Save in darkness.
I knelt before my son, and not alone,
Others knelt, and knew.

Herod: And I, who never knelt,
How could I know?
How can I now?

Mary & Joseph: Herod, dream
A thousand nights or one,
But dream in hope to find,
The child you never found.
Kneel before our son, and be no more alone.

20. Jesus Appears to Herod

Herod: Eternal rest is mine to give,
But not to take.
My crown of searing shame
I would surrender in an instant
For a crown of thorns,
If thus I could sleep;
With blood, not tears, in streams upon my face.

Jesus: Herod!

Herod: I hear a voice of stillness,
And fear that only in a dream
Could such a voice address me thus.

Jesus: Herod! You beg to rest, yet till now
You have known none other than sleep.
Your wakening will be one of wonder.
I pass the last through your unwakened world;
I enter first in you temple of redemption.
Rise, shed your images of the night.
Close your eyes and find unhindered sight.

Full chorus: Herod’s body lies, his spirit free to fly.
Rise, shed your images of the night.
Rise, live in rekindled light!
Rise, live in rekindled light!