Rescued digital-audio recordings of Samohi choral concerts


On this page are digital-audio captures of music that, previously, had existed only on analog audio tape in my collection. They are from audio cassette recording of Santa Monica High School choral concerts in which I was singing.

Some of these concerts may have been recorded professionally, but others were recorded by my dad from the audience. Audio quality varies.





Santa Monica High School Spring Choral Concert 1981

June 11, 1981

This concert was recorded by my dad, with a handheld mike from the audience. These recordings lay fallow on a single cassette in my dad's collection for 41 years, until I started transferring them to digital audio in 2022.

I was one of the tenors in both the Samohi Madrigal Singers and the larger Samohi Viking Chorale. Janice Mitchell was in charge, and Anne Rogat was our accompanist.


Samohi Viking Chorale


Agnus Dei from "Missa Iste Confessor", by Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina.


Exultate Deo, by Alessandro Scarlatti.


Die Primel, by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.


Sweet Day, from "A Poem On Virtue" by George Herbert, 1633. Conducted by Ron Alatorre, student conductor from U.C.L.A.. This piece does not appear in the printed program for the concert, but does appear on the cassette recording.


Baile de Gaita, a Spanish folk song arranged by Wagner. Don't make the mistake I did, and misread the title as "Baile de Gato." This isn't the cat dance.


Shower the People, by James Taylor, arranged by Ron Alatorre. Conducted by Ron Alatorre. The soloist was not listed on the printed program.


SCVA Solo Audition semi-finalists


Morgengruss, by Robert Schumann. Soloist: Erik Filkorn. Linda Anderson, accompanist.


Non Piu Andrai, from "Le Nozzi di Figaro" by Wolfgang A. Mozart. Soloist: James Maresca. Anne Rogat, accompanist.


Seven Steeples, from "For Heaven's Sake" by Helen Kromer and Frederick Silver. Soloist: John Weideman. Janice Mitchell, accompanist.


Samohi Madrigal Singers


Der Herr segne euch, from Cantata #196 by Johann Sebastian Bach. Sung by the boys (tenors and basses).


Wir eilen mit schwachen, from Cantata #78 by Johann Sebastian Bach. Sung by the girls (sopranos and altos). Which was too bad, because I really liked this song and wanted to sing it too.


More SCVA Solo Audition bigwigs


Tenor Aria "Dein Blut", from "Jesu, der du meine Seele" by Johann Sebastian Bach. Soloist: Gregg Bruno. Linda Anderson, accompanist. The "heartbeat" heard during the first minute is an artifact of the cheap cassette recording equipment my dad was using.


Lied der Mignon, by Franz Schubert. Soloist: Adriana Mora. Linda Anderson, accompanist.


More Samohi Madrigal Singers


A song where we sing "Mille Mille Mille Poten". This appears on the recording, but not on the printed program. I can't for the life of me remember the title or the author.


Jesu Dulcis Memoria, by Tomas Luis de Victoria.


Dirmi che Piu Non Ardo, by Salomone Rossi.


Wer Leben will ohn' Schmerz, by Johann Stephani.


Ce Sont Gallans, by Clement Jannequin.


Innsbruck, ich muß dich lassen, by Heinrich Isaac.


The Swallow, a Canadian folk song arranged by William Locke.





Abendmusik

November 15, 1981

This concert took place in St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Santa Monica. It was recorded by my dad, with a handheld mike from the audience. These recordings lay fallow on a single cassette in my dad's collection for 41 years, until I started transferring them to digital audio in 2022.

I was one of the tenors in the Samohi Madrigal Singers. Janice Mitchell was in charge.

On the audio cassette, Ms. Mitchell talked a bit about each song before we sang it. Unfortunately, her voice was too faint on the recording to make out what she was saying, even when I boosted the audio, so I haven't included those segments here.


Samohi Madrigal Singers


Von Himmel hoch da komm ich her, by Johann Hermann Schein.


De la Virgen, by Antonio de Cabezón.


La Sirena, by Giovanni Gastoldi.


Il Zapaione Musicale, by Ariano Banchieri.


O Lovely Nightingale, by Healey Willan. Soloist: Roger M. Wilcox.


Die Schöne Bäuerin, by Wilhelm Weismann.


At the Foot of Yon Mountain, an American folk ballad arranged by Keith Clark. Soloist: Erik Filkorn. The person speaking at the end is probably Rev. Arthur Foellner, the Interim Pastor; my dad's recording cuts off before he can make his announcements.


Cathy Muser Siuda, organ


Toccata in E Minor, by Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706).


Messe Pour les Convents, by François Couperin (1668-1733)


Prelude et Fugue in F# Minor, BuxWV 146, by Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707).


Petite Piece (PARTIAL), by Jehan Alain (d. 1940). The cassette ran out about one minute into the piece.





Santa Monica High School Holiday Concert 1981

choral portion

December 17, 1981

According to a note written on the cassette, this concert was recorded by someone named Mr. Hile. These recordings lay fallow on a single cassette in my dad's collection for 41 years, until I started transferring them to digital audio in 2022.

I was one of the tenors in both the Samohi Madrigal Singers and the larger Samohi Viking Chorale. Janice Mitchell was in charge, and Anne Rogat was our accompanist.


Samohi Madrigal Singers


Joy to the World, by Isaac Watts. The Madrigal Singers sang this while marching down the aisles through the audience toward the stage at the beginning of the concert. This is why the first verse is so much quieter than the second (distance from the recording mikes), and why you can hear footsteps during the second verse.

Each of the tenors and basses walked arm-in-arm with one or two of the sopranos or altos. This meant that I actually had a girl on my arm, which was (thus far) the closest I'd come to dating someone that school year.


Von Himmel hoch da komm ich her, by J. Hermann Schein.


De la Virgen, by Antonio de Cabezón.


Angels We Have Heard on High, a traditional French carol.


Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella, another traditional French carol.


Silent Night, by Franz Gruber.


Carol of the Bells, by Leontovich-Wilhousky.


Deck the Hall, a traditional Welsh carol; English words by Thomas Oliphant. You can hear our footsteps again during this song.


Samohi Viking Chorale


Fanfare for Christmas, by Lloyd Pfautsch. Trumpets: Mike Mullen, Dean Tidwell. Trombones: Tim Carlstedt, Chuck Hiatt.


A Child Is Born in Bethlehem, by Samuel Scheidt.


Zion hört die Wächter singen, from Cantata 140, by Johann Sebastian Bach. Roger M. Wilcox, tenor. I was going to sing this with the musical score in front of me, but I forgot to bring it to the performance and had to go from memory. I made one line up entirely out of nonsense German. As I later told my dad, "At least I didn't sing 'Der Wienerschnitzel Sauerkraut'!"


Gloria sei dir gesungen, from Cantata 140, by J.S. Bach.


Quem Vidistis Pastores Dicite, by Francis Poulenc.


Sir Christèmas, by William Mathias.


Good Christian Men, Rejoice, arranged by Parker-Shaw.


Combined groups and alumni


Hallelujah chorus from The Messiah, by George Frederic Handel





Santa Monica High School Spring Choral Concert 1982

June 3, 1982

This concert was recorded by my dad, with a handheld mike from the audience. These recordings lay fallow on a single cassette in my dad's collection for 38 years, until I started transferring them to digital audio in 2020.

I was one of the tenors in both the Samohi Madrigal Singers and the larger Samohi Viking Chorale. Janice Mitchell was in charge, and Anne Rogat was our accompanist.


Samohi Viking Chorale


Farewell, My Love, by Anonymous-Hirt.


Ah, Dear Heart, by Orlando Gibbons. Guest solo by what sounds like one small baby in the audience.


Im kühlen Maien, by Hans Leo Hassler.


Laudate Dominum, by Wolfgang A. Mozart. Beth Haygood, Soprano Soloist.


She's Like the Swallow, arranged by William Lock[e].


Solos and Duets


Les Berceaux, by Gabriel Fauré. Performed by Julie Randall.


Seligkeit, by Franz Schubert. Performed by Sarah Adams.


Nuit d'Étoiles, by Claude Debussy. Performed by Flannery Hauck.


An des lust'gen Brunnens Rand, by Felix Mendelssohn. Performed by Sarah Adams and Erik Filkorn.


Non Posso Disperar, by S. DeLuca. Performed by Erik Filkorn.


Duetto Buffo di Due Gatti (Comic Duet of Two Cats), by Gioachino Rossini. Todd Williams, baritone soloist. Roger M. Wilcox, tenor soloist.


Samohi Madrigal Singers


La Sirena, by Giovanni Gastoldi.


O Occhi, Manza Mia, by Orlando di Lasso.


Das Herz tut mir aufspringen, by Hans Leo Hassler.


Au Verd Boys, by Clement Jannequin.


Madrigale a un Dolce Usignolo, by Ariano Banchieri.


Il Zapaione Musicale (PARTIAL), by Ariano Banchieri. Side 1 of the cassette ran out less than half a minute before the end of this song. Side 2 picked up with the next song.


It Was A Lover and His Lass, by Thomas Morley.


It Was a Lover and His Lass, by P.D.Q. Bach. Conducted by Brian Garner. The burst of audience laughter that occurs at 2:11 was because the conductor briefly turned around and sang one of the lines solo.


Wohlauf, ihr Gäste, by Erasmus Widmann. Conducted by Brian Garner.


Le Moi de Mai, by Halsey Stevens.

This piece was listed in the programme for the concert, but does not appear on the audio recording. Given the lack of a gap at this point in the recording, I'm betting we just didn't perform it at the concert.


Art Thou That She, by Jean Berger.


Samohi Viking Chorale (again)


Medley from "Fame", arranged by Ed Lojeski. Soloists: Michelle Breslin, and an annoying baby in the audience.





Santa Monica High School Spring Choral Concert 1983

June 2, 1983

I'm not sure whether this concert was recorded by my dad, or whether it was recorded professionally and then copies were made for the parents. Nevertheless, these recordings lay fallow on a single cassette in my dad's collection for 36 years, until I transferred them to digital audio in 2019.

I was one of the tenors in both the Samohi Madrigal Singers and the larger Samohi Viking Chorale. Janice Mitchell was in charge, and Anne Rogat was our accompanist.


Samohi Madrigal Singers under Janice Mitchell


All At Once Well Met Fair Ladies, by Thomas Weelkes.


Hor Chi Clori Beata, by Luca Marenzo.


I Go Before My Charmer, by Thomas Morley.


Frischauf und laßt uns singen, by Paul Peuerl. Conducted by Brian Garner.


Adoramus Te, by Antonio Lotti.


I Saw Lovely Phillis, by R.L. de Pearsall.


Un Cygne, by Paul Hindemith.


Winds of May, by Williamette Spencer.


Gloreya In Excelsis, by Roger M. Wilcox

In my Junior High and High School years, I got to perform several songs by P.D.Q. Bach, "The oddest of J.S. Bach's 20-odd children." I also performed several settings of Gloria In Excelsis from the ordinary of the Mass. But I was surprised and dismayed to learn that there had never been an intersection of the two: P.D.Q. Bach had never written a Gloria setting.

So, I set out to fill this void, and the result was this song. I was lucky enough to get this performed in Santa Monica High School's 2-June-1983 choral concert, by the Madrigal Singers (of which I was a member). Those of you who are familiar with John Rutter's Gloria might recognize a measure or two.

MEN AND WOMEN: Gloreya!
I say, Gloreya!
Gloreya (Gloreya), Gloreya (Gloreya), Gloreya (Gloreya)
In ...
Excelsis!
BASSES: Whoa, yeah, Excelsis!

MEN AND WOMEN: Gloreya!
I say, Gloreya!
Gloreya (Gloreya), Gloreya (Gloreya), Gloreya (Gloreya)
In ...
Excelsis!
BASSES: Whoa, yeah, Excelsis!

WOMEN: I don't wanna harm your ego, but
Gloreya in Excelsis what?
Gloreya in Excelsis what?
MEN: You don't know, because we haven't told you yet.
WOMEN: Have you?
MEN: No, and that's all you'll ever know is
Gloreya in excelsis
With nothing coming after it!

TENORS: Say, who's this Gloria anyway?
I might want to meet her someday.
EVERYONE ELSE: Oh, shut up!

MEN: Gloreya
In excelsis,
I say, Gloreya!
In excelsis!
WOMEN: Please tell us what comes next,
We are simply dying to know!
MEN: Curiosity killed the cat.
Take it, Ann!  
(Ann was the name of our pianist)

Gloreya in excelsis, woo!
Gloreya in excelsis, yeah.
Gloreya in excelsis
WOMEN: Stop!
If you don't tell us what comes next
We'll sing a clashing chord...
MEN: No! No!
No, don't do it, anything but that,
We'll tell you what comes next,
Just start along with us!
WOMEN: Okay.
MEN AND WOMEN: Gloreya in excelsis...

(At this point, the pianist makes a mistake, fails to correct it, and shuns the piano in disgust. Then the choir, slapping their palms to their foreheads, exclaims:)

Day-oh!


Solos


Dove Sei, Amato Bene?, by George F Händel. Performed by Zoran Zivkovic.

I've heard that Zoran died in the 1990s, while he was only 26 years old. Rumor has it that he took his own life, because others couldn't accept his lifestyle choices. If someone has more details about what happened to Zoran, please e-mail me.


A Shepherd in a Shade, by John Dowland. Performed by Martina Algin.


Gia il Sole dal Gange, by Alessandro Scarlatti. Performed by Kevin Feldman.


Danza, Danza, Fanciulla Gentile, by Francesco Durante. Performed by Inger Ostrom.


Zueignung, by Richard Strauss. Performed by Julie Randall.


Ah, Mio Cor!, by George F. Händel. Performed by Erik Filkorn.


Samohi Viking Chorale


Lobe den Herren, meine Seele, by Heinrich Schütz.

This piece was listed in the programme for the concert, but does not appear on the audio recording. Perhaps it was omitted from the recording, or perhaps we just didn't perform it at the concert. I honestly don't remember.


Basket (from Four Pastorales), by Cecil Effinger. Conducted by Janice Mitchell or Cheryl Eshoff. Katie Wolff, oboist.


Alleluia, by Randall Thompson. Conducted by Janice Mitchell or Cheryl Eshoff.


I'm Goin' To Sing, arranged by Shaw-Parker. Conducted by Janice Mitchell or Cheryl Eshoff.


Combined Samohi Viking Chorale and Samohi Madrigal Singers


Missa Brevis (St. Joannis de Deo), by Joseph Haydn. Conducted by Janice Mitchell.

Solo quartet consisted of Shanti Pillai, Cyndi Cable, Roger [M.] Wilcox, and Rick Piersall. Soprano soloist for the "Benedictus" movement was Sarah Adams. Accompanist was Ann Rogat.


Samohi Madrigal Singers, conducted by Brian Garner


Of Love, by Dede Duson.

This was one of the many published songs sung by the Santa Monica High School Madrigal Singers under Janice Mitchell, in the three years that I was with them.

What makes this particular performance special, and worth saving, is that it was conducted by Brian Garner, a fellow high school senior. Mrs. Mitchell was retiring from choral directing at the end of June 1983, and we Madrigal Singers put this song together on our own as a little farewell to her. We performed it at the very end of the same 2-June-1983 choral concert in which we performed the other songs (including my Gloreya) above.

Sit down and rest
Life will wait for a few moments
There’s still time to practice love for a little while
Time to let the fresh air of real peace into your life
Be still
Be still
And learn again how to live
Raise your eyes and see beyond this narrow life
Learn to love
Learn to love
And fill your heart with sunshine
Be still.





Click here to go to Roger M. Wilcox's main digital audio page.
Click here to go to Roger M. Wilcox's home page.
Send comments regarding this Web page to: Roger M. Wilcox.