Shephard - "GOOD KING WENCESLAS" (St. John's Methodist - Kansas City, MO)

St. John's Methodist - Kansas City, MO
December 15, 2024
Stephen the page……..Grace Mott, soprano
Mother……..Tiffany Hoffman, soprano
Chancellor……..David Wallace, tenor
Good King Wenceslas……..Josh Markley, baritone
Angel……..Tara Curtis, mezzo soprano
Shepherd Girl……..Stella Roden, soprano
Kaspar……..Aaron Bunnell, tenor
Balthazar……..Jason Sickel, bass-baritone
Melchior……..Sam Enriquez, bass-baritone
Dale Morehouse, pianist and conductor
This chancel opera is based on the well-known text by John Mason Neale (1818-1866). This favorite carol is set to the 14th century tune “Tempus adest floridum,” found in Piae Cantiones (1582). King Wenceslas (Vaclav the Good) reigned in Bohemia from 922 to 929 and eventually became the Czech Republic’s patron saint. Neale’s carol is not based on any known incident in the saint’s life, but serves as an illustration of charity. St. Stephen’s Day (December 26) is a traditional day for giving to the poor.
The other carol incorporated here is “Thus angels sung,” text by George Wither (1588-1667) and set to Song 34 by Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625).
"Good King Wenceslas" by British composer Richard Shephard (1949-2021) tells the story of a Bohemian king who goes on a journey, braving harsh winter weather, to give alms to a poor peasant on December 26 (the Second Day of Christmas). During the journey, his page Stephen is about to give up the struggle against the cold weather but is enabled to continue by following the king's footprints, step for step, through the deep snow. When the king falls asleep, the page is visited by an angel, who tells him a story of a shepherd girl meeting three kings and reveals to him that the page has a special gift to offer.