- Dr. John Stewart: When we did move to the Pablo, we've changed some things as far as the repertoire goes.

We've commissioned a new work by Kyle Newmaster, one of our alums from 1999, to write a new finale for us that just celebrates the winter seasons.

Kyle started working and found the poetry of Max Garland, who was a faculty member in the English Department, and at one point, Wisconsin Poet Laureate, and he settled on three poems [singing "Winter's Song" by Kyle Newmaster] and set those to music.

So it's in a three-movement suite.

The first movement starts with kind of this cool breeze, like the first signs of winter are coming in.

[vocalizing] And then, it becomes more energetic.

We're excited about winter!

We're going to get out and were going to celebrate.

We're going to play and it's going to be joyous.

The second movement is a little bit more somber.

Winter's set in.

There's a little bit of that longing for the longer days.

Last movement is a little bit more joyous and a little bit more celebration.

Leading us to, "Hey, the winter's kind of over."

That really takes us kind of on this journey of what it's like to experience winter through music.

Because of the stage size, we bring two of the choirs out into the audience, so it creates a surround sound effect.

[singing] From a musical standpoint, it's tricky to create balances from that being immersed.

It's, you know, like getting a warm hug from the music.

We've talked about that with the musicians in a couple of spots in the music, but the way that it surrounds you is just like this all-encompassing experience, which is really, really nice.

["Winter's Song, First Movement" by Kyle Newmaster] [vocalizing] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [vocalizing] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [vocalizing] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'd settle for a paradise like this ♪ ♪ That kept falling apart and regathering ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And slowed time, faltered and hung ♪ ♪ Like the weight of grace, like the weight of grace ♪ ♪ Like the weight of grace on the houses ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'd settle for a paradise that folded like a white book ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Over the scrawl of underbrush and twigs ♪ ♪ That simplified the landscape ♪ ♪ Absolving the roads of destination ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ A few birds tag along in a rich, gray wind ♪ ♪ The trees are pared to a minimal faith ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Isn't there already a place ♪ ♪ Where blessing and snow are the same word ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'd settle for such a paradise ♪ ♪ That you could gather by the handful ♪ ♪ I'd settle for a paradise ♪ ♪ With the same cold knack the winter starts have ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'd settle for a paradise ♪ ♪ That could be fashioned into a man ♪ ♪ However temporary or comical ♪ ♪ A cocked hat, a pair of ordinary stones ♪ ♪ A pair of ordinary stones for his eyes ♪ ♪ A paradise that nevertheless could spread its spindly arms ♪ ♪ As wide as the night was bitter ♪ ♪ As the wind was ice and whirled ♪ ♪ And swept and sang like a blade ♪ ♪ I'd settle for a paradise like this ♪ ["Winter's Song" fades] [cheers and applause] ["Winter's Song, Second Movement" by Kyle Newmaster] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Somebody turn down the sky ♪ ♪ In the linden ♪ ♪ For the sky is blue and mean ♪ ♪ And obscures the greater distances ♪ ♪ Where the universe whistles it ♪ ♪ Through the deep reaches of unmarked graves of starlight ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The sky's brightness on this winter day ♪ ♪ The way the blue fills in ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Coronates and halos the branches ♪ ♪ Renders the linden a little ridiculous ♪ ♪ Like a skeleton with a hairdo ♪ ♪ All teased up and no place to go ♪ ♪ Except through the wind's hands ♪ ♪ Over and over and over and over ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Why not let bones be bones ♪ ♪ Or what's a tree in winter for ♪ ♪ Why not turn down the light of sky a notch ♪ ♪ Let the blue mind its on gaudy business ♪ ♪ And let this tree ♪ ♪ With its grip on frozen ground ♪ ♪ Shake beauty loose awhile ♪ ♪ Be stark and small and free of wanting ♪ ♪ Whatever wind moves through it like a will ♪ ["Winter's Song, Second Movement" fades] ["Winter's Song, Third Movement" by Kyle Newmaster] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I think the snow needs a little rest now ♪ ♪ I think the snow is tired of skating the borders of water ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I think the snow has heard ♪ ♪ Just about all he needs to hear ♪ ♪ Of the arguments of wind and ice ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ A little rest ♪ ♪ A good night's sleep ♪ ♪ A patch of lawn, a few cedars ♪ ♪ Maybe the slope of a porch roof ♪ ♪ Maybe even a beholder ♪ ♪ Someone to notice those first few tentative flakes ♪ ♪ I think the snow needs a little less strength ♪ ♪ A degree or two ♪ ♪ I think the snow needs faith enough ♪ ♪ To fall into nobody's arms tonight ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I think the snow should close his eyes now ♪ ♪ And let whatever he sees there ♪ ♪ Begin to happen ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [vocalizing] [cheers and applause] [extended cheers and applause]