Columbia's premier chamber choir

• Coming Up: 10/17/26

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Musica Universalis

Join us at Christus Victor Lutheran Church (400 Harbison Blvd; Columbia, SC 29212) on Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 PM for an evening of choral music paying homage to Earth and the night sky. The first half of this concert, conducted by our own Will Cosper, is given in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.M. in Choral Conducting.

Program

Frank Ticheli (b. 1958)
     Earth Song (2006)Dominick DiOrio (b. 1984)
     Day of Fire and Sun (2018)Eric Whitacre (b. 1970)
     Goodnight Moon (2012)Elaine Hagenberg (b. 1979)
     The Music of Stillness (2017)

INTERMISSION (15 mins.)

Jesse Kaiser (b. 2000)
     Musica universalis (2025)
          1. The Embankment
          2. The Birthnight
          3. Stars
          4. The Universe
          5. As winds that blow against a star

• TEXTS

Musicians

Jesse Kaiser, artistic director
Will Cosper, guest conductor

Soprano:
Emma Swire-Clark
Desirée Richardson
Sarah Ochoa-Hughey
Alyssa AnsteyAlto:
Brittnee Siemon
Kate Murray
Rachel Kaiser
Amanda WalkerTenor:
Paul Malina
Eric Ochoa-Hughey
Will CosperBass:
James Gragg
Judah Rendelman
Eugene Rowell
Jesse KaiserPiano:
Brett Lindler

Etiquette

Please silence your devices and turn off any alarms to minimize the risk of any disruptions. If you must leave the venue, please do not return until the next convenient pause in the program. If you have a small child who becomes restless, please remove yourself and your child from the venue as soon as possible. Please do not make any audio or video recordings.

Earth Song

Sing, Be, Live, See…This dark stormy hour,
The wind, it stirs.
The scorched earth
cries out in vain:O war and power,
You blind and blur.
The torn heart
cries out in pain.But music and singing
Have been my refuge,
And music and singing
Shall be my light.A light of song
Shining strong: Alleluia!
Through darkness, pain and strife, I'll
Sing, Be, Live, See...Peace.

– Frank Ticheli

Day of Fire and Sun

Oh day of fire and sun,
Pure as a naked flame,
Blue sea, blue sky and dun
Sands where he spoke my name;Laughter and hearts so high
That the spirit flew off free,
Lifting into the sky
Diving into the sea;Oh day of fire and sun
Like a crystal burning,
Slow days go one by one,
But you have no returning.

– Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)

Goodnight Moon

In the great green room
There was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of–The cow jumping over the moonAnd there were three little bears sitting on chairsAnd two little kittens
And a pair of mittensAnd a little toyhouse
And a young mouseAnd a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mushAnd a quiet old lady who was whispering "hush"Goodnight roomGoodnight moonGoodnight cow jumping over the moonGoodnight light
And the red balloonGoodnight bears
Goodnight chairsGoodnight kittensAnd goodnight mittensGoodnight clocks
And goodnight socksGoodnight little houseAnd goodnight mouseGoodnight comb
And goodnight brushGoodnight nobodyGoodnight mushAnd goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush"Goodnight starsGoodnight airGoodnight noises everywhere

– Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)

The Music of Stillness

There will be rest, and sure stars shining
Over the roof-tops crowned with snow,
A reign of rest, serene forgetting,
The music of stillness holy and low.I will make this world of my devising
Out of a dream in my lonely mind.
I shall find the crystal of peace, – above me
Stars I shall find.

– Sara Teasdale

The Embankment

Once, in finesse of fiddles found I ecstasy,
In the flash of gold heels on the hard pavement.
Now see I
That warmth's the very stuff of poesy.
Oh, God, make small
The old star-eaten blanket of the sky,
That I may fold it round me and in comfort lie.

– T.E. Hulme (1883-1917)

The Birthnight

Dearest, it was a night
That in its darkness rocked Orion's stars;
A sighing wind ran faintly white
Along the willows, and the cedar boughs
Laid their wide hands in stealthy peace across
The starry silence of their antique moss:
No sound save rushing air
Cold, yet all sweet with Spring,
And in thy mother's arms, couched weeping there,
Thou, lovely thing.

– Walter de la Mare (1873-1956)

Stars

Alone in the night
On a dark hill
With pines around me
Spicy and still,And a heaven full of stars
Over my head,
White and topaz
And misty red;Myriads with beating
Hearts of fire
That aeons
Cannot vex or tire;Up the dome of heaven
Like a great hill,
I watch them marching
Stately and still,
And I know that I
Am honored to be
Witness
Of so much majesty.

– Sara Teasdale

The Universe

Count o'er the million leagues from here to yonder star.
On then. On to the next count of a million more.
Sum up the myriad gleams that light the night;
Add too, the orbit where the cold bright moon doth soar.
That done, return to earth and with thy mind outline
That huge expanse called space; and then out from our Hearse
Of changing dust dream out the words—The Universe.

– Joshua Henry Jones (d. 1955)

As winds that blow against a star

Now by what whim of wanton chance
Do radiant eyes know sombre days?
And feet that shod in light should dance
Walk weary and laborious ways?But rays from Heaven, white and whole,
May penetrate the gloom of earth;
And tears but nourish, in your soul,
The glory of celestial mirth.The darts of toil and sorrow, sent
Against your peaceful beauty, are
As foolish and as impotent
As winds that blow against a star.

– Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

Lux æterna

Latin (Original):
Lux æterna luceat eis, Domine:
Cum sanctis tuis in æternum, quia pius es.Requiem æternam dona eis Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.English:
May light eternal shine upon them, O Lord:
With thy saints for evermore, for thou art gracious.Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

– Mass for the Dead, Communion

About

The Jesse Kaiser Ensemble is a professional choir founded and directed by composer Jesse Kaiser, primarily focused on the performance and dissemination of his choral works. Despite this primary goal, the group is also interested in the performance of early music (Medieval era to the Renaissance) and works by other living composers.The initial ensemble consisted of just four singers, giving its first concert in 2022 at the Basilica of St. Peter in Columbia, South Carolina. Since then, the ensemble has grown to continue its mission by tackling larger, more substantial works. They are committed to providing exemplary performances of advanced choral literature, abiding by the highest standards of musical excellence.

FAQs

Q: What should I wear?
A: Come as you are! Some people like to dress up and make an occasion out of it, but it's more relaxed than you might think. If you're not sure or just want to blend in, business casual is always a safe bet.Q: When should I clap?
A: Standard practice dictates that you should clap after the end of an entire piece of music. That being said, however, we tend to be more relaxed on this kind of thing. Clap whenever you feel like it!Q: How long is the concert?
A: It depends on the music we're performing, but our concerts are usually on the shorter side: about 1 hour with a 15-minute intermission at the halfway point.Q: How much is admission?
A: Admission is $15 at the door. We accept cash, card, and most forms of contactless payment.Q: When should I arrive?
A: You should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the concert. That way, you'll have time to park, enter the venue, find your seat, and settle in before the concert begins.Q: Do I need to know the music beforehand?
A: Not at all! Again, some people do because it enhances the experience for them, but there's also something to be said about hearing it for the first time in a live setting. Rest assured, the music will speak for itself.Q: Can I bring my kids?
A: Yes, but kids should be old enough to be able to sit quietly for a while (8+ years old is usually recommended). You can bring your younger children, but you will be expected to remove yourself and your child from the venue if they become restless.Q: Can I take pictures or record the performance?
A: Unfortunately, no. Taking pictures can be distracting to fellow concertgoers, and we don't want anyone posting homemade recordings to social media, which violates copyright law. Please just don’t do it.Q: Can I check my phone?
A: Well, many of our audience resources are online (as is evident by what you’re reading right now). As long as you’re here on the website, we don’t mind. Just don’t start scrolling social media.