with ADeC and Ely Sinfonia

present

The Snowman

A family concert

with

Ely Sinfonia

Conducted by Steve Bingham

Narrator Jeremy Harmer

Soprano Jenny Bingham

PROGRAMME

Howard Blake The Snowman (words by Raymond Briggs)

Christmas Carols (see separate sheet for words)

When a young boy’s snowman comes to life on Christmas Eve the two set off on a night time quest for adventure. On their travels they meet dancing penguins, reindeer and crowds of the Snowman’s friends. Will the Snowman escape the clutches of the evil Jack Frost as he soars through the night sky? And will he get his new friend back home before Christmas morning?

Members of the orchestra:

Violin 1 Roz Chalmers (leader), Ann Claydon, Fiona Dagg, Mark Webb

Violin 2 Chris Moule, Donna Allum, Ian Claydon, Clare Hambling

Viola Katy Baker, Patricia Mathieson, Marlen Moss-Eccardt

Cello Rachel Mycock, April Bowman, Roger Lunn

Double Bass John Chalmers

Flute Susan Gattell, Jean Swift

Oboe Helen Hambling

Clarinet Peter Fisher, Phylllis Champion

Bassoon Simon Bond

Horn John Cronin, Owen Rose

Percussion Alan Silverstein, Sheri Rutland

Piano Clare Coulson

Our grateful thanks to The Maltings, Ely Rotary Club and Ely Hereward Rotary Club for their generous support for this fundraising charity for the Mayor’s charity, ADeC and Ely Sinfonia.

Thanks, to, to our generous sponsors: Alan's Fish Bar, Atom Media PR, Atrium Club, Bardwyck Ltd, David Green Hairdressers, Daybreaks, Ely Computer Services, Ely Estates, Ely Standard, The Gingerbread Man, Neaves & Neat, Pocock & Shaw, Ely Pound Superstore, St Peter's Garage, Waterside Antiques.

If you’ve enjoyed this event, why not come along to Ely Sinfonia’s next concert – “A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” in Ely Cathedral on Saturday 3rd March 2012? We’ll be playing a fabulous programme – Ravel’s "Bolero" (for those of you old enough to remember, it was made famous by ice-skating champions Torvill and Dean), Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony and Benjamin Britten’s "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra", with poems by Richard Stilgoe.

Walking in the Air

We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I'm holding very tight
I'm riding in the midnight blue
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you
Far across the world
The villages go by like dreams
The rivers and the hills, the forests and the streams
Children gaze open mouthed
Taken by surprise
Nobody down below believes their eyes
We're surfing in the air
We're swimming in the frozen sky
We're drifting over icy mountains floating by
Suddenly swooping low
On an ocean deep
Rousing up a mighty monster from his sleep
And walking in the air
We're dancing in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly
We're walking in the air
We're walking in the air

God rest you merry, gentlemen

God rest you merry, gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember, Christ, our Saviour

Was born on Christmas day

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Jewry,

This blessed Babe was born

And laid within a manger

Upon this blessed morn

The which His Mother Mary

Did nothing take in scorn

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father

A blessed Angel came;

And unto certain Shepherds

Brought tidings of the same:

How that in Bethlehem was born

The Son of God by Name.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

"Fear not then," said the Angel,

"Let nothing you affright,

This day is born a Saviour

Of a pure Virgin bright,

To free all those who trust in Him

From Satan's power and might."

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings

Rejoiced much in mind,

And left their flocks a-feeding

In tempest, storm and wind:

And went to Bethlehem straightway

The Son of God to find.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

And when they came to Bethlehem

Where our dear Saviour lay,

They found Him in a manger,

Where oxen feed on hay;

His Mother Mary kneeling down,

Unto the Lord did pray.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,

All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas

All other doth deface.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

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.
O Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.
Give to our Father 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.
All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
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.

Unto us is born a son,

King of choirs supernal:

See on earth his life begun,

Of lords the Lord eternal.

Christ, from heav'n descending low,

Comes on earth a stranger;

Ox and ass their Owner know

Now cradled in a manger.

This did Herod sore affray,

And did him bewilder,

So he gave the word to slay,

And slew the little childer.

Of his love and mercy mild

Hear the Christmas story:

O that Mary's gentle Child

Might lead us up to glory!

O and A and A and O,

Cantemus in choro,

Voice and organ, sing we so,

Benedicamus Domino.Hark the herald angels sing

The First Nowell

The first Nowel that the Angel did say

Was to certain poor Shepherds in fields where they lay;

In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep,

In a cold Winter's night that was so deep.

Nowel, Nowel, Nowel, Nowel,

Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a Star

Shining in the East beyond them far,

And to the earth it gave great light,

And so it continued both day and night. [Chorus].

And by the lightning of that Star

There came three Wise Men from countries far,

To seek a King was their intent,

And to follow the Star wheresoever it went. [Chorus].

This Star drew nigh to the North West,

And at Bethlehem Jury she took up her rest,

And there she did both stop and stay,

Right over the house where the King did lay. [Chorus].

Then entered in these Wise Men three,

Most reverently upon their knee,

And offered there in his presence

Both gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. [Chorus].

Now let us all with one accord

Sing praises to our Heavenly Lord,

The which hath made Heaven and Earth of nought,

And by his blood Mankind hath bought. [Chorus].

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!"

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow

In a one horse open sleigh

O'er the fields we go

Laughing all the way

Bells on bob tails ring

Making spirits bright

What fun it is to laugh and sing

A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

A day or two ago

I thought I'd take a ride

And soon Miss Fanny Bright

Was seated by my side

The horse was lean and lank

Misfortune seemed his lot

We got into a drifted bank

And then we got upsot

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh yeah

(Repeat last verse)