St Patricks Cathedral, Armagh

St Peters Cathedral, Belfast

Thursday 1 November 2012
Friday 2 November 2012

Armagh & Belfast

Dies Irae
Gloria
Eternal light
Voca Me
Sanctus
I Vow To Thee My Country
Salva
Be Still My Soul
How Shall I Sing
- INTERVAL Mysterium
Orinoco Flow
Far Away
Fountain
Grateful Heart
Ave Verum
Sanctissima
Stay With Me
Glory to Thee
Exultate

PLEASE NOTE
Programme subject to change. All forms of recording, video filming, photography, use of mobile
phone cameras etc are strictly prohibited. There will be an opportunity to purchase CDs/DVDs
during the interval and at the end of the concert.

LIBERA
HENRY BARRINGTON, ANTHONY BLAKE, TIARNAN BRANSON,
CIARAN BRADBURY-HICKEY, JUDE COLLINS, LUKE COLLINS, KAVANA CROSSLEY,
THOMAS DELGADO-LITTLE, DYLAN DUFFY, BENJAMIN FAIRMAN, DANIEL FONTANNAZ,
MATTHEW JANSEN, ANTHONY KERR-MUNLEY, STEFAN LEADBEATER, ISAAC LONDON,
ALESSANDRO MACKINNON-BOTTI, JOSHUA MADINE, MATTHEW MADINE,
EOGHAN MCCARTHY, OSCAR MCFALL, MICHAEL MENEZES, SAMMY MORIARTY,
KUBA NIEDERMAIER-REED, CASSIUS OCONNELL-WHITE, MATTHEW RANGEL-ALVARES,
CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, RALPH SKAN, BERTIE SMART, MICHAEL USTYNOVYCH-REPA,
SAM WIGGIN, LUCAS WOOD
Musical director Robert Prizeman
Keyboards Robert Prizeman, Steven Geraghty, Joshua Madine, Ian Tilley
Clarinet & Recorder Steven Geraghty
Strings - Ireland String Quartet
Percussion Simon Roth
Lighting Luke Avery
Concert producer Ben Crawley
Sound mixing & production Sam Coates
Stage management Jonathan Barrington
Chaperones Barbara Geraghty, Eleanor Lewis
Management Steven Philipp & Andrew Winter

THE MUSIC OF LIBERA

Libera is true to the meaning of its Latin title, Free, and crosses many musical
boundaries. With original repertoire, innovative textures and inventive
arrangements the group brings an imaginative new perspective to the landscape
of vocal music.
The core of the sound is built around the voices of the young singers with their
clarity, enthusiasm and excitement - the haunting yet vibrant sound of the treble
voice that has long been a feature of choral music, particularly in the church.
Indeed, the defining inspiration for Libera sprang from the ancient music of the
cathedrals and monasteries from the earliest form of choral music - plainsong.
The boys robes of course retain a visual continuation of that history and quite
closely copy what the boy monks wore when they sang and were schooled in
medieval monasteries. Libera mixes the traditional chants with contemporary
instrumentation and arrangement. Hence songs like Salva me and Libera
reflect the shapes and mood of the old plainchant whilst combining it with new
lyrics and harmonies. In fact, the song Libera was the first to be written for the
group - it uses a single line of plainsong with many overlapping tunes and
harmony, which encompass the full range of the boys voices.
Some songs are arrangements of well-known classical works. Although the
originals can not be bettered, some lend themselves to the uplifting sound and
harmonies of the boys treble voices. The famous Canon by Pachelbel, for
instance, provides the basis for Sanctus and an opportunity for some of the
highest treble notes.
The lyrics of Libera songs, many of which are sung in Latin, are most frequently
drawn from a variety of contemplative and inspirational sources, both ancient
and modern, including the Mass, Requiem Mass, Stabat Mater and the Psalms.

LIBERA
If you have never heard the unique, heavenly sound of LIBERA, then prepare
yourself for something very special indeed.
The boys who make up the South London based vocal band Libera have been
described as normal and ordinary. However, as their recordings and
performances demonstrate, the music they produce is anything but. With
shimmering, mystical chords and ecstatic harmonies they are unlike any other
group you have ever heard. These are truly sounds to lift the soul.
Familiar to audiences across the world, the boys have a stunningly original
sound, which is at once both ancient and modern. Their distinctive flowing white
robes symbolise the traditional origins of their style - yet their music reaches
across the generations to a new mainstream audience. Liberas success in album
charts around the world bears witness to the extraordinary appeal of this unique
boy band. Enchanting audiences wherever they go, they have attracted an
enthusiastic fan base in many countries, particularly the US, UK, Japan, the
Philippines and South Korea.
The group is well known to British audiences through TV appearances and staged
concerts at venues as diverse as the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, the
Grassington Festival, Abbey Road Studios and Arundel Cathedral. Recent
appearances have included the Edinburgh Fringe festival, the National Concert
Hall in Dublin and at St Peters Cathedral in Belfast. Libera have made many TV
appearances including BBC-TVs Last Choir Standing, on which the Libera boys
were featured as guests. They were winners of the Saturday night show When
Will I Be Famous and had a whole documentary devoted to them on BBC-TVs
Songs of Praise. Other TV/Radio appearances have included BBC Breakfast and

the Chris Evans Show. The boys are regularly to be heard on Classic FM, and last
Christmas scored the top classical song download at iTunes. Libera regularly sing
at events and services in cathedrals and churches like Buckfast Abbey and
Westminster Cathedral.
In the US & Canada, Libera are known through their concert tours and TV
appearances including a nationwide PBS special, which was filmed in Holland.
The boys had their debut at the Kennedy Center Honors, where they performed
in front of the President and a hall full of celebrities - including Robert de Niro,
Cameron Diaz, Diana Ross and Steve Martin. The boys were privileged to close
the Kennedy Center Honours with a moving tribute to honoree Brian Wilson of
the Beach Boys. This was followed by Liberas participation in the Papal Mass at
the climax of Pope Benedict XVIs first visit to the USA. Performing to a capacity
congregation of 65,000 at New Yorks Yankee Stadium, Libera were the only
British artists to take part in this historical event.
Libera have travelled across North America several times, appearing in venues as
diverse as the Crystal Cathedral in California, the St Louis Basilica, St Paul and
Minneapolis cathedrals, the Moody church in Chicago, the Riverside Church in NYC
and other venues both secular and sacred from Texas to Toronto. Just recently
they opened the annual Starkey Awards Gala in the Twin Cities, where they
were featured artists on the same programme as Miley Cyrus and Meat Loaf.
In East Asia, the sounds of Libera are frequently heard in mainstream TV and
radio programmes and their CDs ride high in the classical and pop charts of
countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore and the Philippines. The boys have
sung the music for several feature films and television programmes. The most
recent tour packed out the major concert venues in Tokyo for 3 nights and the
boys were feted by thousands of enthusiastic fans who queued for hours to meet
the boys and collect autographs. During the recent tour in the Philippines, Libera
topped the main album charts and sung to the major concert halls in Manila and
Cebu crammed full with excitable fans.
Through their involvement in Libera, the boys have travelled the world, recorded
movie soundtracks and CDs and served as backing singers to mega-stars. But, as
one of the boys said, The travelling and filming is fun but even if we didnt go
anywhere Id still want to do it because I just love singing.

Dies Irae
Rex tremendae majestatis
salva me
Confutatis maledictis voca me
Kyrie eleison
Can you tell me if therell be
One day when well wake and see
How to right the things gone by
Kyrie eleison
Dies irae, dies illa
solvet saeclum in favilla
cum resurget creatura
judex est venturus
Kyrie eleison
Through the dark and fearful night
Help us bring a healing light
Reaching out to those who cry
Kyrie eleison

Music: Robert Prizeman based

on traditional chant
Words: trad adapted and by Ian
Tilley & Robert Prizeman

Rex tremendae majestatis

salva me
Confutatis maledictis
voca me
Finally we can see the way
how to make a brighter day
You can turn the darkness round
Kyrie eleison

Gloria

Music: Camille Saint-Sans based on 3rd movement of

Symphony No. 3 in C minor,
"Organ Symphony
Arranged Robert Prizeman
Words: trad

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Et in terra pax hominibus
Benedicimus te laudamus
Adoramus te Gloria

Qui tolis peccata mundi

miserere nobis
Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris
miserere nobis

Gracias agimus Propter magnam

gloriam tuam
Quoniam tu solus sanctus
Dominus tu solus altissimus

Omnipotens Deus Pater

Agnus Dei
Rex coelestis Deus Pater

Eternal Light
Thoughts of love surround you
everywhere around you
may your heart discover
all the magic and the wonder
Inside every moment
deeper than the ocean
I just want to show you
all the beauty and the glory
In this clear
eternal
light, this
miracle of
light
you will
never lose
your way
this eternal
light will
find you and guide
you ----

Music: Akira Senju

Chorus arrangement Robert
Prizeman
Words: Terry Cox

Life is but a
journey
tides are always turning
seasons come and go here
but youll never be alone here

In this clear eternal light, this

miracle of light
you will never lose your way
this eternal light will find you - and
guide you...
Everyday
There are times of long and
sleepless nights
but I will
bring you
peace and
hope
shining like
a rainbow
In this clear
eternal
light, this
miracle of
light
you will
never lose
your way
this eternal
light will
find you
to shine its guiding light in you

Voca Me

Music: Robert Prizeman based

on part of Stabat Mater by
Pergolesi & including a fragment
of chant by Hildegard Von
Bingen
Words: trad and Robert

As secret as a dream you call

As silent as the night
for all you cry
Lacrymosa

You whisper in my silent sleep

You answer to my call
when lost I cry
Lacrymosa

Lacrymosa dies illa

Dolorosa Domine
Voca - Voca Me

Lacrymosa, dolorosa
Dies illa dolorosa
Voca me domine lacrymosa,
dolorosa, voca me

Lacrymosa, dolorosa
Dies illa dolorosa
Voca me domine lacrymosa,
dolorosa, voca me

Lacrymosa dies illa

Dolorosa Domine
Voca
Voca Me

Sanctus
Sanctus
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini

Music: Robert Prizeman based

on Canon by Pachelbel
Words: trad

Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabbaoth,

Pleni sunt coeli et terra Gloria
Sanctus

I Vow To Thee
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love:
the love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
that lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
the love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
the love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

Music: Gustav Holst part of

Jupiter from Planets suite
Arranged Robert Prizeman
Words: Cecil Spring-Rice

And theres another country, Ive heard of long ago,

most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
we may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
and soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
and her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.

Salva

Domine deus
miserere mei
Carry me away
From the dark I fear
When the storm is near
From the endless night
From my blinded sight
To a sky of light
Free me to fly away
Salva me
Carry me away
From the things that harm
On a sea of calm
From the endless night
From my blinded sight
To a sky of light
Music: Robert Prizeman
Words: trad and Robert
Prizeman

Be Still My Soul

Be still my soul,
the Lord is on thy side
bear patiently
the cross of grief or pain
leave to thy God
to order and provide
in every change
he faithful will remain
Be still my soul,
thy best thy heavenly Friend
through thorny ways
leads to a joyful end

Music: Jean Sibelius - part of

Finlandia
Arranged Robert Prizeman
Words: Katharina Von Schlegel
translated Jane Laurie Borthwick

How Shall I Sing

That Majesty

Music: Robert Prizeman

Words: John Mason

Be still my soul,
when dearest friends depart
and all is darkened
in the vale of tears
then shalt thou better
know his love, his heart
who comes to soothe
thy sorrow and thy fears

Be still my soul,
the waves and winds still know
his voice who ruled them
while he dwelt below
Be still my soul
the hour is hastening on
when we shall be
forever with the Lord
when disappointment,
grief and fear are gone
sorrow forgot,
loves purest joys restored
Be still my soul,
when change and tears are past
all safe and blessed we shall meet
at last

How great a being

which doth all beings keep
Thy knowledge is the only line
to sound so vast a deep

How shall I sing that majesty

which angels do admire?
Let dust in dust and silence lie
Sing, sing ye heavenly choir

Thou art a sea without a shore

a sun without a sphere
Thy time is now and evermore
Thy place is everywhere

Enlighten with faith my heart,

inflame it with loves fire
then shall I bear a part with that
celestial choir

Mysterium
Let all mortal flesh keep silence
And with fear and trembling stand
As the light of light descendeth
from the realms of endless day
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clear away
Alleluia
Music: Robert Prizeman
Words: from the hymn Let all
mortal flesh keep silence

Orinoco Flow
Let me sail, let me sail, let the Orinoco flow
Let me reach, let me beach on the shores of Tripoli
Let me sail, let me sail, let me crash upon your shore
Let me reach, let me beach far beyond the yellow sea
Sail away
From Bissau to Palau in the shade of Avalon
From Fiji to Tiree and the Isles of Ebony
From Peru to Cebu, feel the power of Babylon
From Bali to Cali far beneath the Coral Sea
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up, up - Adieu
From the North to the South, Ebudae unto Khartoum
From the deep Sea of Clouds to the Island of the Moon
Carry me on the waves to the lands Ive never been
Carry me on the waves to the lands Ive never seen
Music: Enya
Words: Roma Ryan

Far Away
Wherever I go
Far away and anywhere
Time after time you always shine
through dark of night
calling after me

Whenever I cry
Far away and anywhere
You hear me call when shadows fall
your light of hope showing me the
way

And wherever I climb

Far away and anywhere
You raise me high beyond the sky
through stormy night lifting me
above
Venite Spiritu et emitte caelitus
Music: Takatsugu Muramatsu
Arranged Robert Prizeman
Words: Robert Prizeman

Fountain

Music: Frederic Chopin - based

on Prelude in C minor
Arranged Robert Prizeman
Words: Robert Prizeman and
Ben Crawley

Grateful Heart

Dolorosa, flumenosa, desolata, lacrimabila

Dolorosa, flumenosa, plorata
The water sighs for me through teardrops now I see
The streaming water knows the fountain overflows
To cry for all, to wash all sorrow in waves of peace and love
Free my thirsty soul again O living fountain

Thou that has given so much to me

Give one thing more,
A grateful heart.
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may
be thy praise.

Music: Mary Plumstead

Words: George Herbert

Ave Verum

Ave verum corpus natum

De maria virgine
Attende Domini et Miserere
Quia peccavimus tibi

A silent mystery
The break of day
A moment shines across eternity
A silent harmony
The sounds of hope
A moment echoes through eternity

Music: Robert Prizeman

Words: trad & by Robert
Prizeman & Ian Tilley

Sanctissima
O sanctissima, O piissima,
dulcis virgo Maria
Mater amata, intemerata
Ora pro nobis
Virgo respice, Mater adspice
audi nos O Maria
Sicut liliam inter spinas
Sic Maria inter filias
Jubilate Cherubim
Exultate Seraphim
Consonante perpitim
Salve, salve Regina
Sancta Maria Mater Dei
Music: Robert Prizeman
Words: trad

Stay With Me

You are everything I know

Which ever way I go
For ever stay with me
Venite angeli
Cantate domino
Laudate
Music: Robert Prizeman
Words: Robert Prizeman

You see me through

when ever Im afraid
However far away
For ever comfort me
Youre on my side
whichever way I choose
In everything I do
For ever stay with me

Glory To Thee
Glory to Thee, my God this night
For all the blessing of the light
Keep me O keep me King of Kings
Beneath thine own almighty wings.
Forgive me Lord for thy dear Son
The ill that I this day have done,
That with the world, myself and thee
I ere I sleep at peace may be.
Praise
Praise
Praise
Praise
Music: Thomas Tallis
Arranged Robert Prizeman
Words: Thomas Ken

God from whom all blessings flow

him all creatures here below
him above angelic host
Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Exsultate
Theres a light upon the mountains and the day is at the spring
When our eyes shall see the wonder and the glory it will bring
Et laudate Domino in laetitia
et cantate Domino gloria
Saecula et saeculorum
Alleluia
Hark, we hear a distant music and it comes with fuller swell
tis the glorious song of heaven and our fears it will dispel
Exsultate Domino omnis populi
Jubilate Domino omnis terra
Alleluia
Angeli et archangeli,
psallite et laudate
in hymnis et psalmis et canticis

Music: Robert Prizeman

English Words: Henry Burton

We hear a distant music

it comes with fuller swell
for the angels here are human,
not the shining hosts above
for the drumbeats of the army
are the heartbeats of our love

Libera Round The World

Cebu, Philippines | Clifton Cathedral, Bristol, UK | Moody Church, Chicago, USA
Holywood, California, USA | Toronto, Canada | Seoul, South Korea
Tokyo, Japan | Singapore

Libera is a non-profit charity registered in the United Kingdom, and as such is dependent on the
generous financial support of its private listeners around the world. Without this support we
would be unable to hold public concerts of this nature. The cost of training and touring is close to
5,000 per chorister per year, much of which is not recovered through royalties, ticket or album
sales. If you wish to consider supporting Libera, or know of someone who might, we would be
delighted to hear from you at office@libera.org.uk

To make a donation of 10 to Libera text LBRA01 10 to 70070

Thank you.