Gigi Mitchell-Velasco conducts the First Church Boston Choral Ensemble in Ola Gjeilo's "Across the Vast Eternal Sky" with Robert Winkley, piano; Omar Chen Guey, 1st violin; Shaw Pong Liu, 2nd violin; Nathaniel Farny, viola; and Rafael Popper-Kaizer, cello, in the Collins Family Concert on April 30, 2023 at First Church Boston, 99 Marlborough Street, Boston MA The lyrics to this piece come from the contemporary poet Charles A. Silvestri, who “specializes in providing bespoke poetry for choral composers.” Rather like a custom tailor, I guess. He has written the lyrics for a number of pieces by the Norwegian choral composer Ola Gjeilo and says of this one that “The fiery sky at sunset was an inspiration for this poem about a phoenix preparing for rebirth.. . . Ola had asked me for several poems relating to the theme of rebirth, and I gave him this twist on the usual theme.” So what’s the twist? Actually I think there are two, with the secondary one’s being that Silvestri has the bird itself speaking. I think we’re all vaguely aware that a phoenix is a creature who dies, usually in flames, and then rises anew from its own ashes. There’s quite a variation in the stories of this ever-renewing bird, with the word “phoenix” itself being found in ancient Greek. Many other cultures have had similar tales of the reborn bird; the “firebird” appears in the Russian version of the story, for instance. Enough historical background. Let’s take a look at the actual lyrics of the piece. The phoenix’s feathers are now gray where once they were red and gold (the most common colors used in descriptions), and it knows that soon it will be “born again in flame.” But—and here’s the major twist—it is not going to die on some sort of funeral pyre and then physically rise again, as is usually the case. Instead, it is going to plunge into the sun itself. I don’t want to make the mistake of trying to pin down the meaning too strictly here; otherwise I may end up sounding like something from a Hallmark card. I’ll just say that in Silvestri’s hands the myth has become something less literal and more universal. Upon his death the phoenix will be translated, as it were, into another, much larger medium. -Debi Simmons Sunlight shines on my face; this is my grace, to be restored, born again, in flame! When I was young, I flew in the velvet night, shining by day, a fire bird bathed in light! Grey now my feathers, which once were red and gold, my destiny to soar up the sun. Do not despair that I am gone away – I will appear again when the sunset paints flames Across the vast, eternal sky.

Director of Music Gigi Mitchell-Velasco conducts Jake Runestad's "The Hope of Loving" in First Church Boston Choral Ensemble's concert TRANSCENDING THE NATURAL WORLD on April 30, 2023 at First Church Boston, 66 Marlborough Street, Boston MA The Hope of Loving – various poets translated by Daniel Ladinsky and music by Jake Runestad I. Yield to Love – lyrics by Ravia 00:10 I know about love the way the fields know about light, The way the forest shelters us. We are vulnerable like an infant. We need each other’s care or we will suffer. How will you ever find peace unless you yield to love? II. Wild Forces – lyrics by St. Francis of Assisi 02:35 Wild! Wild! There are beautiful wild forces with us! Let them turn millstones inside, Filling bushels that reach to the sky. III. Wondrous Creatures – lyrics by Hafiz 04:45 O wondrous creatures, By what strange miracle do you so often not smile? IV. The Heart’s Veil – musical interlude 05:44 V. My Soul Is a Candle – lyrics by St. John of the Cross 09:43 My soul is a candle that burned away the veil, Only the glorious duties of light I now have, The soul is a candle that will burn away the darkness. Only the glorious duties of love we will have, my love. Tenderly, I now touch all things, Knowing one day we will part. VI. The Hope of Loving – lyrics by Meister Eckhart 14:35 What keeps us alive, what allows us to endure? It is the hope of loving, of being loved. We weep when light does not reach our hearts. We wither like fields if someone close Does not rain their kindness upon us. My soul has a purpose: it is to love.

At the Festival Concert commemorating 50 years since the bold rebuilding of First Church Boston, Director of Music Gigi Mitchell-Velasco conducts the First Church Boston Choral Ensemble and Festival Brass & Percussion in John Rutter's Gloria for mixed chorus, brass, organ and percussion. April 30, 2022.