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Voices of the Land

Sunday, April 12 at 3:00 PM
Program
Dr. Stuart Sladden, Artistic Director
Ruth Denton, Assistant Conductor
Charmaine Bacon, Pianist
Emily Adams, 
Apprentice Conductor
Katie Ostapyk, Percussion
Aaron Addorisi, Percussion

Jewel Casselman, Recorder

Away from the Roll of the Sea
Allister MacGillivray (b. 1948)


Small craft in a harbour that's still and serene
give no indication what their ways have been.
They rock at their moorings all nestled in dreams,
away from the roll of the sea.

Their stern lines are groaning a lullaby air,
a ghost in the muddy, a gull on the spar.
But never they whisper of journeys afar,
away from the roll of the sea.

Chorus
Oh, had they the tongues for to speak,
what takes of adventure they'd weave,
but now they are anchored to sleep and slumber a-lee.


Come fair winds to wake them tomorrow we pray.
Come harvest a-plenty to them every day
till guided by harbour lights they're home to stay,
away from the roll of the sea.

Chorus

Woodsmoke and Oranges
Ian Tamblyn (b. 1963)
arr. Rebecca Campbell (b. 1963)


By woodsmoke and oranges, path of old canoe,
I would course the inland ocean to be back to you.
No matter where I go to, it’s always home again
To the rugged northern shore and the days of sun and wind.

Chorus
In the land of the silver birch, cry of the loon,
There’s something in this country that’s a part of me and you.


We nosed her in by Pukaskwa, out for fifteen days,
To set paddle and the spirit at the mercy of the waves.
The wanigans were loaded down and a gift left on the shore,
For it’s best if we surrender to the rugged northern shore.

Chorus

The waves smashed the smoky cliffs of Old Woman Bay,
Where we fought against the back-swell and then were on our way.
I would talk with you of spirits by the vision pits we saw them
Walk the agate beaches of the mighty Gargantua.

Chorus

I've turned my back upon this thing tried to deny
The coastline of my dreams, but it turns me by and by.
It tossed the mighty ship around, smashed the lighthouse door,
Sent shivers up my spine. oh, the rugged northern shore.

Chorus

Wood River
Connie Kaldor (b. 1953)
arr. Willi Zwozdesky (b. 1955)


Oh won't you come with me where the Wood River flows?
We'll watch it meander slowly as the sky turns from red to dark
And as that sun goes down, we'll throw our arms around
Each other and tell the dreams that are deep in the heart.

Chorus

'Cause the heart is bigger than trouble 
And the heart is bigger than doubt,
But the heart sometimes needs a little help

To figure that out.

So won't you come with me  where the Wood River flows? 
The little Wood River knows that it goes to nowhere, but
That doesn't stop it going or them willows growing
Or all the lovers showing their hearts to each other there.

Chorus

The Log Driver's Waltz
Wade Hemsworth (1916-2002)
arr. Ron Smail 


If you ask any girl from the parish around
What pleases her most from her head to her toes,
She'll say I'm not sure that it's business of yours,
But I do like to waltz with a log driver.

Chorus
For he goes birling down and down white water
That's where the log driver learns to step lightly
Yes, birling down and down white water
The log driver's waltz pleases girls completely.


When the drive's nearly over I like to go down
And watch all the lads as they work on the river.
I know that come evening they'll be in the town
And we all like to waltz with the log driver.

Chorus

To please both my parents, I've had to give way
And dance with the doctors and merchants and lawyers.
Their manners are fine, but their feet are of clay
And there's none with the style of my log driver.

Chorus

I've had my chances with all sorts of men
But none as so fine as my lad on the river.
So when the drive's over, if he asks me again,
I think I will marry my log driver.

Chorus

Four Strong Winds
Ian Tyson (1933-2022)
arr. Larry Nickel  (b. 1952)


Chorus
Four strong winds that blow lonely,
Seven seas that run high,
All those things that don't change, come what may.
But our good times are all gone,
And I'm bound for moving on;

I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.

Think I'll go out to Alberta,
Weather's good there in the fall;
I got some friends that I could go to working for.
Still I wish you'd change your mind
If I ask you one more time;
But we've been through that a hundred times or more.

Chorus


If I get there before the snow flies,
And if things are going good,
You could meet me if I sent you down the fare.
But by then it would be winter
There ain't too much for you to do,
And those winds sure can blow cold way out there.

Chorus

Voice on the Wind
Sarah Quartel (b. 1982)

I heard a voice on the summer wind,
Hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo.
Who she is I can't explain.
Hoo wah, hoo, wah, hoo.

I heard a voice on the summer wind,
Hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo.
Blowing free and blowing wild.
Hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo.

I heard a voice on the summer wind,
Hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo.
Strength and spirit in her song.

Hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo.

I heard a voice on the summer wind,
Hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo.
With a song I seem to know.
Hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo.

I heard a voice on the summer wind,
Hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo.
Sounds familiar like my own.
Hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo.

I heard a voice on the summer wind,
Moves me like she knows me well.

I heard a voice on the summer wind,
Sounds familiar like my own.

I am the voice on the summer wind, 
Hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo.
​Strong and sure wherever I stand.
Hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo wah, hoo.

V'la l'bon vent
trad. French Canadian Folk Song
arr. Allison Girvan (b. 1967)


Behind our home there is a pond,
Three beautiful ducks are going to bathe.

Chorus
Here comes the good wind, here comes the nice wind,
Here comes the good wind, my lady is calling me,
Here comes the good wind, here comes the nice wind,
Here comes the good wind, my lady awaits me.


Three beautiful ducks are going to bathe,
The king's son is going off hunting.

Chorus

The king's son is going off hunting,
With his long silver rifle.

Chorus

With his long silver rifle,
He points out the black one but shoots the white.

Chorus

He points out the black one but shoots the white,
O king's sone, you are mean!

Chorus

I king's son, you are mean,
To have killed my white duck!

She's Like the Swallow
trad. Newfoundland Folk Song
arr. Stuart Calvert


She's like the swallow that flies so high.
She's like the river that never runs dry.
She's like the sunshine on the lee shore.
I love my love and love is no more.

'Twas out in the garden this fair maid did go,
picking the beautiful primrose. 
The more she pluck'd the more she pulled
Until she got her apron full.

It's out of these roses she made a bed,
A stony pillow for her head.
She laid her down, no word she spoke,
Until this poor maid's heart was broke.

She's like the swallow that flies so high.
She's like the river that never runs dry.
She's like the sunshine on the lee shore.
I love my love and love is no more.​​
​
Alberta Homesteader
trad. Canadian Folk Song
arr. Trent Worthington (b. 1963)


It was way out west in Alberta
where the coyotes howl and sing;
where it rained and hailed all summer
and we never raised a thing.

Oh I came out here one summer;
away out in the west;
I think I’ll turn 'round and go back;
or I will starve to death.

We traveled through Battle Lake Valley
through muskeg, mud and mire;
‘till we came where they were surveying
a road for the C.P.R

Well, he built a little log cabin
with a roof of natural clay;
Dear friends I’m sorry to tell you:
"I’m bound for the Georgian Bay."
​
Farewell to the poor homesteader;
farewell to the land so free;
Farewell to sunny Alberta;
It’s too darn cold for me.
​
Summer Is No More
Ruth Denton (b. )
World Premiere

Skies turn from blue to grey,
“Hay! Hoe! Farmer Jo!”
Squirrels hide their nuts away,
summer is no more.

Chorus:
Hey! Ho! Farmer Jo!
A cold wind blows and it’s time to go!
Hay! Hoe! Farmer Jo!
Summer is no more.


Northern birds fly south tonight,
“Hay! Hoe! Farmer Jo!”
The prairie sky is losing light,
summer is no more.

Chorus

Leaves turn and change their face,
“Hay! Hoe! Farmer Jo!”
Colours paint this glorious place,
summer is no more.

Chorus

Frost is moving ‘cross the land,
“Hay! Hoe! Farmer Jo!”
Harvest time is now at hand,
summer is no more.

Chorus

Un Canadien errant
trad. French Canadian Folk Song
arr.  Mark Sirett (b. 1952)


A Canadian banished from his homeland
wandered in tears through foreign lands.
One day, sad and reflective, sitting beside the river,
he watched the stream rush by and said these words:

If you see my homeland, my sad homeland,
say to my friends that I will remember them.
O days full of happiness you are gone,
and my homeland, alas I will never see again.

No, while dying, O my dear Canada,
my fading thought will be of you.

kahkiyaw oskâyak
Sherryl Sewepagaham 

All the young people
On this earth
Sing together
Special Thanks To: 
The parish church of St. John Brebeuf and Father Patrick Neufeld
for allowing us use of this wonderful space to both rehearsals and performances.
Members of the Choir
​Soprano
Kathleen Bell
Heather Boyd
Jill Brandes
​Paula Burke

Joyce Burns
Marianne Clipsham
Ruth Denton
Linda Dooley
Beth Helliar
Julie Helliar
Donna Jones
Gayle Kolson

Joanne Kusiak
Michelle Larose-Kuzenko 
Allery Lavitt
Charlotte Lazaruk
Lois Litz
Marguerite Massicotte

Roxanna Perillo
Diane Prescott
Susan Sadowski
Jill Scott
Donna Stone

Susan Thorpe
Susan Turner

Gaynor Williams
Stevi Wood 
​Trish Wood
Janice Yon

Debra Young
Alto
Maria Arruda
​Liz Barker
Jewel Casselman
Luanne Christensen

Heather Gerardy
​Crystal Hood 
Kathy Hornshaw
Sandie Isaac 
Judith Kerr
Dawn Lazar
Susan Leeson
Teresa Martin
Judith MacKay 
Lynne Mitchell-Pedersen
Maureen Morrison

Judy Neufeld
Janis Prochera 
Julie Schmidt
Catherine Skinner
Lesley Summers 
Suzanne Thille

​Katherine Woodward
Tenor 
Ashley Addison
Gordon Hart
William Helgason
Pamela Jeffrey
​Kat Kettner
Mark Raho
​David Tafelmeyer
John Tanner
​Robin Wiens
Bass
Enoch Akosile
Neil Arnason
Roy Halstead
Ramon Khan
Laurent Vouriot
​

Artistic Director
Dr. Stuart Sladden
Pianist
Charmaine Bacon
Assistant  Conductor
​Ruth Denton
​Joie de Vivre Community Choir (JDV) was founded in 2002 by Helga Anderson and Ann Lugsden as a program within the Division of Preparatory Studies at the Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music, University of Manitoba. In 2014 JDV established itself as a mainstay in the Winnipeg community choral landscape under the direction of John Tanner and since then the choir has been fortunate to call the Parish of St. John Brebeuf home. In 2018, Dr. Stuart Sladden began his tenure as the choir’s music director and in 2019 our apprentice conductor program was established. Ruth Denton, our Assistant Conductor, joined the artistic team through that program in the fall of 2022. JDV is a non-auditioned community choir that welcomes singers of all experience levels, so if you are interested in joining the choir please do not hesitate to be in touch with us, by speaking with Dr. Sladden or by sending us an email at [email protected]. Thank you so much for joining us today for our Spring 2026 program, Voices of the Land. We hope you have enjoyed the program as much as we have enjoyed sharing it with you. Stay tuned to our website, joiedevivrechoir.ca, for some exciting announcements about our coming seasons.
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  • Joie de Vivre Choir
  • About
    • History
    • Artistic Team
    • Board
    • By-Laws
  • Choir Members
  • Choir Loft
    • Join the Choir
  • Support
  • Concerts
    • 2025-26 Season
    • Past Events >
      • 2024-25 Season
      • 2023-24 Season
      • 2022-23 Season
      • 2021-22 Season
      • 2020-21 Season
      • 2019-20 Season
      • 2018-19 Season
      • 2017-18 Season
  • Contact