(intense music begins) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) ♪ Fields beneath a quilt of snow ♪ ♪ From which the rocks and stubble peep ♪ ♪ Fields beneath a quilt of snow ♪ ♪ From which the rocks and stubble peep ♪ ♪ And in the west a shy white star ♪ ♪ That shivers as it wakes from sleep ♪ ♪ Shivers as it wakes from sleep ♪ ♪ Shivers as it wakes from sleep ♪ (gentle music continues) (gentle music begins) ♪ Above the marge of night a star still shines ♪ ♪ A star still shines ♪ And on the frosty hills the somber pines ♪ ♪ Harbor an eerie wind that crooneth low ♪ ♪ Over the glimmering wastes of virgin snow ♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ Above the marge of night a star still shines ♪ ♪ A star still shines ♪ And on the frosty hills the somber pines ♪ ♪ Harbor an eerie wind that crooneth low ♪ ♪ Over the glimmering wastes of virgin snow ♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ Through the pale arch of orient the moon ♪ ♪ Comes in a milk-white splendor newly-born ♪ ♪ A sword of crimson cuts in twain the gray ♪ ♪ Banners of shadow hosts, and lo, the day ♪ ♪ And lo, the day ♪ And lo, the day (dramatic music continues) (dramatic music continues) (upbeat music begins) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (dramatic music continues) (dramatic music continues) ♪ Ooh, oh, oh ♪ Ooh, oh, oh ♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪ Ah, ah ♪ Ah, ah ♪ Ah, ah, ah, ♪ Ah, ah ♪ Ah, ah ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ Ah, ah ♪ Ah, ah ♪ Ah, ah ♪ Ah, ah ♪ Ah (gentle music begins) ♪ Wide, sparkling fields snow-vestured lie ♪ ♪ Beneath a blue, unshadowed sky ♪ ♪ Wide, sparkling fields snow-vestured lie ♪ ♪ Beneath a blue, unshadowed sky ♪ ♪ Life hath a jollity and zest ♪ A poignancy made manifest ♪ Laughter and courage have their way ♪ ♪ At noontide of a winter's day ♪ ♪ A glistening splendor crowns the woods ♪ ♪ And bosky, whistling solitudes ♪ ♪ In hemlock glen and reedy mere ♪ ♪ The tang of frost is sharp and clear ♪ ♪ The tang of frost is sharp and clear ♪ ♪ Life, life hath a jollity and zest ♪ ♪ A poignancy made manifest ♪ Laughter and courage have their way ♪ ♪ At noontide of a winter's day ♪ ♪ Faint music rings in wold and dell ♪ ♪ The tinkling of a distant bell ♪ ♪ Where homestead lights with friendly glow ♪ ♪ Glimmer across the drifted snow ♪ ♪ Glimmer across the drifted snow ♪ ♪ Life, life hath a jollity and zest ♪ ♪ A poignancy made manifest ♪ Laughter and courage have their way ♪ ♪ At noontide of a winter's day ♪ ♪ At noontide of a winter's day ♪ ♪ Wide, sparkling fields ♪ Wide, sparkling fields ♪ Wide, sparkling fields (audience applauds) (dramatic music begins) ♪ Two roads diverged in a yellow wood ♪ ♪ And sorry I could not travel both ♪ ♪ And be one traveler, long I stood ♪ ♪ And looked down one as far as I could ♪ ♪ To where it bent in the undergrowth ♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ Then took the other as just as fair ♪ ♪ And having perhaps the better claim ♪ ♪ Because it was grassy and wanted wear ♪ ♪ Though as for that the passing there ♪ ♪ Had worn them really about the same ♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ And both that morning equally lay ♪ ♪ In leaves no step had trodden black ♪ ♪ Oh, I kept the first for another day ♪ ♪ Yet knowing how way leads on to way ♪ ♪ I doubted if I should ever come back ♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ I shall be telling this with a sigh ♪ ♪ Somewhere ages and ages hence ♪ ♪ Two roads diverged in a wood, and I ♪ ♪ I took the one less traveled by ♪ ♪ And that has made all the difference ♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ And that has made all the difference ♪ (dramatic music continues) (upbeat music begins) ♪ I'm going out to clean the pasture spring ♪ ♪ I'll only stop to rake the leaves away ♪ ♪ And wait to watch the water clear, I may ♪ ♪ I shan't be gone long ♪ I shan't be gone long ♪ You come too (upbeat music continues) ♪ I'm going out to fetch the little calf ♪ ♪ That's standing by the mother ♪ ♪ It's so young ♪ It totters when she licks it with her tongue ♪ ♪ I shan't be gone long ♪ You come too (upbeat music continues) ♪ You come too (gentle music continues) (gentle music begins) ♪ As I came to the edge of the woods ♪ ♪ Thrush music, hark ♪ Now if it was dusk outside ♪ Inside it was dark (gentle music continues) ♪ Too dark in the woods for a bird ♪ ♪ By sleight of wing ♪ To better its perch for the night ♪ ♪ Though it still could sing (gentle music continues) ♪ The last of the light of the sun ♪ ♪ That had died in the west ♪ Still lived for one song more ♪ ♪ In a thrush's breast (gentle music continues) ♪ Far in the pillared dark ♪ Thrush music went ♪ Almost like a call to come in to the dark and lament ♪ ♪ But no, I was out for stars ♪ I would not come in ♪ I meant not even if asked (gentle music continues) ♪ And I hadn't been (gentle music continues) (gentle music fades) (upbeat music begins) ♪ "When I was just as far as I could walk ♪ ♪ From here today ♪ There was an hour all still ♪ When leaning with my head against a flower ♪ ♪ I heard you talk ♪ Don't say I didn't, for I heard you say ♪ ♪ You spoke from that flower on the window sill ♪ ♪ Do you remember what it was you said?"

♪ (intense music continues) ♪ "First tell me what it was you thought you heard" ♪ (intense music continues) ♪ "Having found the flower and driven a bee away ♪ ♪ I leaned my head ♪ And holding by the stalk ♪ I listened and I thought I caught the word ♪ ♪ What was it?

♪ Did you call me by my name?

♪ Or did you say?

♪ Someone said 'Come' ♪ I heard it as I bowed" ♪ "I may have thought as much, but not aloud" ♪ ♪ "Well, so I came!"

(intense music continues) (somber music begins) ♪ O Star ♪ The fairest one in sight ♪ O star ♪ We grant your loftiness the right ♪ ♪ O star ♪ To some obscurity of cloud ♪ O star ♪ It will not do to say of night ♪ ♪ O star ♪ Since dark is what brings out your light ♪ ♪ O star ♪ Some mystery becomes the proud ♪ ♪ But to be wholly taciturn ♪ In your reserve is not allowed ♪ ♪ Say something to us we can learn by heart ♪ ♪ And when alone repeat ♪ Say something ♪ And it says, 'I burn' ♪ But say with what degree of heat ♪ ♪ Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade ♪ ♪ Use language we can comprehend ♪ ♪ Tell us what elements you blend ♪ ♪ It gives us strangely little aid ♪ ♪ But does tell something in the end ♪ (gentle music continues) ♪ And steadfast as Keats' Eremite ♪ ♪ Not even stooping from its sphere ♪ ♪ It asks a little of us here ♪ It asks of us a certain height ♪ ♪ So when at times the mob is swayed ♪ ♪ To carry praise or blame too far ♪ ♪ We may choose something like a star ♪ ♪ To stay our minds on ♪ And be staid (somber music continues) ♪ And be staid (audience applauds) (upbeat music begins) ♪ In Baltimore there lived a boy ♪ ♪ He wasn't anybody's joy ♪ Although his name was Jabez Dawes ♪ ♪ Jabez Dawes, Jabez Dawes ♪ Although his name was Jabez Dawes ♪ ♪ Jabez Dawes, Jabez Dawes ♪ Although his name was Jabez ♪ Although his name was Jabez Dawes ♪ ♪ Although his name was Jabez Dawes ♪ ♪ His name was Jabez ♪ His name was Jabez Dawes ♪ Jabez Dawes ♪ His character was full of flaws ♪ (Choir laughs melodically) ♪ Jabez Dawes, full of flaws (Choir laughs melodically) ♪ Full of flaws ♪ His character was ♪ His character was full of flaws ♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ In school he never led his classes ♪ ♪ Jabez, Jabez, Jabez, Jabez, Jabez Dawes ♪ ♪ Jabez Dawes (dramatic music continues) ♪ He hid old ladies' reading glasses ♪ ♪ Jabez Dawes, Jabez Dawes ♪ He's full of flaws ♪ He's full of flaws ♪ His mouth was open when he chewed ♪ ♪ Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow ♪ ♪ Meow, meow, meow, meow ♪ And elbows to the table glued ♪ ♪ And elbows to to the table glued ♪ ♪ He stole the milk of hungry kittens ♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ And walked through doors marked no admittance ♪ ♪ He said he acted thus because ♪ ♪ Because there wasn't any ♪ He said he acted thus because ♪ ♪ Because there wasn't any ♪ He said he acted thus because ♪ ♪ Because, because, because there wasn't any Santa Claus ♪ ♪ Jabez ♪ There isn't any Santa Claus ♪ Jabez Dawes (Choir laughs melodically) ♪ Ho ho ho, hoo, hoo, hoo ♪ Boohoo, boohoo ♪ Boohoo, boohoo ♪ Another trick ♪ Boohoo, boohoo ♪ Another trick ♪ Boohoo, boohoo ♪ Another trick that tickled Jabez ♪ ♪ Boohoo, boohoo ♪ Was crying 'Boo' ♪ Boohoo, boohoo ♪ Was crying 'Boo' ♪ Boohoo ♪ Was crying 'Boo' ♪ Boo (Choir members shriek and sob) (Choir members laugh) ♪ At little babies (dramatic music continues) ♪ He brushed his teeth, they said in town ♪ ♪ Sideways, sideways ♪ Sideways ♪ Sideways ♪ Sideways ♪ Instead of up and down ♪ Instead of up and down (dramatic music continues) ♪ Yet people pardoned every sin ♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ And viewed his antics with a grin ♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ Till they were told by Jabez Dawes ♪ ♪ 'There isn't any Santa Claus' ♪ ♪ 'There isn't any Santa Claus' ♪ ♪ Like whooping cough, from child to child ♪ ♪ No Santa Claus ♪ He sped to spread the rumor wild ♪ ♪ 'Sure as my name is Jabez Dawes ♪ ♪ There isn't any Santa Claus' (dramatic music continues) ♪ Slunk like a weasel or a marten ♪ ♪ Through nursery and kindergarten ♪ ♪ Whispering low to every tot ♪ 'There isn't any, no there's not' ♪ ♪ No there's not ♪ There isn't any, there is no Santa Claus ♪ ♪ There isn't any, no there's not ♪ ♪ There isn't any, no there's not ♪ ♪ There isn't any, no there's not ♪ ♪ There isn't any, no there's not ♪ ♪ There isn't any, no there's not ♪ ♪ There isn't any Santa, ♪ There isn't any, no there isn't any Santa ♪ ♪ Poor Jabez Dawes ♪ Poor Jabez Dawes ♪ Said it because ♪ He's full of flaws ♪ Poor Jabez Dawes ♪ He said that there ♪ Wouldn't, couldn't ever be a Santa ♪ ♪ Jabez ♪ Jabez ♪ Said that there would not, could not be ♪ ♪ A Santa Claus (Choir members laugh) (dramatic music continues) (audience cheers and applauds) (gentle music begins) (audience laughs) (gentle music continues) (audience laughs) (gentle music continues) (audience laughs) (gentle music continues) ♪ The children wept all Christmas eve ♪ ♪ Boo-Hoo-Hoo ♪ Boo-Hoo-Hoo ♪ Boo-Hoo ♪ And Jabez chortled up his sleeve ♪ ♪ La-La-La la-la ♪ No infant dared hang up his stocking ♪ ♪ For fear of Jabez' ribald mocking ♪ ♪ Boo-Hoo ♪ Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoo ♪ Boo-Hoo (dramatic music continues) ♪ He sprawled on his untidy bed ♪ ♪ He sprawled on his untidy bed ♪ ♪ Fresh malice dancing in his head ♪ ♪ Fresh malice dancing in his head ♪ ♪ Fresh malice dancing in his head ♪ ♪ When presently with scalp-a-tingling ♪ ♪ Jabez heard a distant jingling ♪ (dramatic music continues) (Choir members vocalize ethereally) ♪ He heard the crunch of sleigh and hoof ♪ ♪ Sleigh and hoof (dramatic music continues) ♪ Crisply alighting on ♪ Crisply alighting ♪ Alighting on the roof ♪ Alighting on the roof (dramatic music continues) ♪ What good to rise and bar the door?

♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ A shower of soot was on the floor ♪ (dramatic music continues) ♪ What was beheld by Jabez Dawes?

♪ ♪ The fireplace full of Santa Claus ♪ (intense music continues) ♪ Then Jabez fell upon his knees ♪ ♪ With cries of 'Don't,' and 'Pretty Please' ♪ ♪ Please, oh pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty please ♪ ♪ He howled, 'I don't know where you read it ♪ ♪ I don't, I don't know where you read it ♪ ♪ But anyhow, I never said it' ♪ Jabez ♪ I never said it ♪ Jabez ♪ I never said it ♪ Dawes (intense music continues) ♪ 'Jabez, Jabez' replied the angry saint ♪ ♪ 'It isn't I, it's you that ain't ♪ ♪ Although there is a Santa Claus ♪ ♪ There isn't, wasn't, couldn't ever be a Jabez Dawes' ♪ ♪ Said Jabez then with impudent vim ♪ ♪ 'Oh, yes there is, and I am him ♪ ♪ Your magic don't scare me, it doesn't' ♪ ♪ And suddenly he found he wasn't, wasn't, wasn't, wasn't ♪ ♪ Wasn't, wasn't, wasn't, wasn't ♪ ♪ Jabez Dawes ♪ From grimy feet to grimy locks ♪ ♪ Jabez became a Jack-in-the-box ♪ ♪ An ugly toy with springs unsprung ♪ ♪ Forever sticking out his tongue ♪ ♪ The neighbors heard his mournful squeal ♪ (choir members cheer mockingly) ♪ They searched for him, but not with zeal ♪ ♪ No trace was found of Jabez Dawes ♪ ♪ Which led to thunderous applause ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ And people drank a loving cup ♪ ♪ And went and hung their stockings up ♪ ♪ No trace was found of Jabez ♪ No trace was found of Jabez ♪ No trace was found, no trace was found ♪ ♪ No trace was found, no trace was found ♪ ♪ Ah ah ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah ah ah ♪ ♪ Ah ah ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah ah ♪ ♪ No trace was found of Jabez (gentle music continues) ♪ All you who sneer at Santa Claus ♪ ♪ Beware the fate of Jabez Dawes ♪ ♪ The saucy boy who mocked the saint ♪ ♪ Mocked the saint ♪ Donner and Blitzen licked off all his paint ♪ ♪ Beware the fate of Jabez Dawes ♪ ♪ Ha ha ha ha ♪ Jabez ♪ Ha ha ha ha ♪ Jabez, Jabez ♪ Ha ha ha ha ♪ Jabez, Jabez ♪ Beware the fate of Jabez Dawes ♪ (Choir members cheer mockingly) ♪ Jabez (audience applauds) ♪ Jing jing jing jing jing jing jing ♪ ♪ Jing jing jing jing jing jing jing ♪ ♪ Jing jing jing jing jing jing jing ♪ ♪ Dashing through the snow ♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ O'er the fields we go ♪ Laughing all the way ♪ Bells on bobtail 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 ♪ Jing jing jing ♪ Oh what fun it is to ride ♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ ♪ Jingle all the way ♪ Oh what fun it is to ride ♪ In a one-horse open ♪ One-Horse open sleigh ♪ Jing jing jing jing jing jing jing ♪ ♪ Jing jing jing jing jing jing jing ♪ ♪ Jing jing jing jing jing jing jing ♪ ♪ Now the ground is white ♪ Go it while you're young ♪ Take the girls tonight ♪ And sing this sleighing song ♪ Just get a bobtailed bay ♪ Get a bobtailed bay ♪ Two-forty for his speed ♪ Then hitch him to an open sleigh ♪ ♪ And crack, you'll take the lead ♪ ♪ Jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle ♪ ♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ Jingle all the way ♪ Oh what fun it is to ride ♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ ♪ Jingle all the way ♪ Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ Jing jing jing jing jing jing ♪ ♪ Jing jing jing jing jing jing ♪ ♪ Jing jing jing jing jing jing jing ♪ ♪ Jingle bells (audience cheers and applauds) (gentle music begins) - [Narrator] Kantorei is a Denver based choral ensemble comprised of volunteer singers under the direction of managing artistic director, Joel Rinsema.

Kantorei's vision is to elevate the human experience through choral excellence.

It was formed in 1997 under the leadership of six friends, along with artistic director Richard Larson.

Kantorei has become one of the nation's premier choral ensembles, and has performed for the American Choral Directors Association National Conferences three times.

♪ Life, life hath a jollity and zest ♪ ♪ A poignancy made manifest ♪ Laughter and courage