Matthew Joyner, tenor

Matthew Joyner is the Director of Choirs at

Ralph L. Fike High School where he teaches
mixed chorus and the Fike Vocal Ensemble.
He also serves as music director of Life
Church in Rocky Mount, NC.

He graduated with his Bachelor's Degree in

Music Education from East Carolina
University. There he was a member of the world-renowned choir, the ECU Chamber
Singers and an active member in the ECU Opera Theatre. He has sung under major
clinicians such as Simon Carrington and John Rutter, and also performed the roles of
Lord Tolloller in Arthur Sullivan's Iolanthe and Mr. Erlansen in Stephen Sondheim's A
Little Night Music. He is also a sought after soloist, most recently performing the tenor
solo in Camille Saint-Säen’s Oratorio de Noël. He made his Wilson theater debut as the
Doctor/Escapologist in 2019's summer musical, Matilda: The Musical. Joyner also
made his music directing debut with Playhouse of Wilson in the production of The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow: The Musical and will be music directing Act for Youth’s A Little
Princess this coming winter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Translations~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Schlafendes Jesuskind (The sleeping infant, Jesus)

Son of the Virgin, child of Heaven
On the ground, upon the wood of suffering, Thou hast fallen asleep,
that the pious Master musing, gave thee as a fitting pillow for thy dreamings
You’re like a flower, yet even a progressing bud, the glory of the Father envelops you!
Oh could one see all the visions behind this brow,
Behind these black lashes, changing often in sweet succession!
Son of the Virgin, child of Heaven.

Nun wandre, Maria (Journey onward now, Mary)

Journey onward now, Mary, just continue onward.
The roosters are already crowing, and our destination is close.
Journey onward, beloved, you my precious jewel,
And soon we will be in Bethlehem.
Then you will rest well and slumber there.
The roosters are already crowing, and our destination is close.
Well do I see, my wife, that your strength is dwindling,
And I know your pain, ah, can hardly be overcome.
Have confidence! We will find shelter there.
The roosters are already crowing, and our destination is close.
If only your hour [of need] could be past, Mary,
I would amply reward the bearer of such good tidings.
This little mule here I would gladly give away to him!
The roosters are already crowing, and our destination is close.

Epiphanias (Epiphany)
The Three Holy Kings with their star,
they eat, they drink, and do not like to pay;
they like to eat, they like to drink,
they eat, they drink, and do not like to pay.
The Three Holy Kings are come,
there are three of them, not four:
and if to the three one added a fourth,
that would be one Three Holy King more.

"I am the first, white-haired and also handsome,

you should only see me by day!
but ah, with all these spices
I'll never win a maiden."

"I, however, am the brown-haired one and I am tall,

known well to Woman and Song.
I bring gold instead of spices,
and therefore I will be entirely welcome."

"And at last there's me, black and small,

and I'd like to have a good time as well.
I like to eat, I like to drink;
I gladly eat and drink and say thank you."

The Three Holy Kings are kindly.

They seek the Mother and the Child;
Pious Joseph is also sitting there,
and the ox and the donkey are lying upon the straw.

"We bring myrrh, we bring gold,

and the ladies will look kindly on this frankincense;
and when we have wine from good sources,
we drink, we three, as well as six can!
But here there are fine gentlemen and ladies,
and no oxen and donkeys to be seen;
so we are clearly not in the right place.
We shall continue on our way."