Songs for a Small Planet (May 2009) - Madison Youth Choirs

CANTILENA AND CANTABILE
Michael Ross and Lisa Shimon, conductors
Largo (from the “New World Symphony”)
Antonin Dvorák
Arranged by Margaret Dryburgh
During World War II, Dutch and British missionaries working in Singapore were captured
and interned in Sumatra by Japanese forces. This group of women endured horrible
conditions, seeing their colleagues die daily from malnutrition and disease. Margaret
Dryburgh, one of the missionaries, started a choir in the midst of the internment camp. She
remembered instrumental masterpieces and taught them by rote (no written music) to her
singers. One of the pieces they learned and performed in a concert in the camp was
the famous Largo from Dvorak’s New World Symphony (which was written in the late 19 th
century during the composer’s visit to the United States).
CANTABILE
Michael Ross, conductor
The Parting Glass
Traditional Irish
as recorded by the Wailin’ Jennys
A traditional song from Scotland and Ireland that dates to the 18 th century, it is often sung
at a gathering at friends. Here, we present a version sung by the Wailin’ Jennys, a popular
trio of singer-songwriters based in Canada.