Music Notes – Sunday, February 22nd:
This Sunday’s musicians are The Chancel Choir and UUCC Music Director Mike Carney
Centering Music: Andante con moto (II) from String Quartet No. 14 in G minor – Schubert, arr. Woods
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was an Austrian composer who wrote in both Classical and Romantic styles during his lifetime. Schubert composed symphonies, operas, piano and chamber music, as well as over 600 lieder (art songs for solo voice and piano) during his brief career. One of Schubert’s most beloved melodies came from a lied he composed in 1817 called “Der Tod und das Mädchen” (Death and the Maiden). Seven years later, Schubert repurposed this melody for the second movement of his String Quartet No. 14 in G minor (D. 810), which has become one of Schubert’s best-known works. The arrangement for organ which you’ll hear on Sunday was written by British organist and composer Francis Cunningham Woods (1862-1929).
Song: Spirit of Life – McDade
“Spirit of Life” is #123 in our Singing the Living Tradition hymnal and is a favorite hymn of many UUs. The composer of “Spirit of Life”, Carolyn McDade (b. 1935), describes herself as “a songwriter, spiritual feminist, and social activist” (carolynmcdademusic.com). Originally, McDade was reluctant to see “Spirit of Life” included in our hymnal, as she thinks of her song as a personal and living prayer as opposed to a hymn. Despite her misgivings at the time, “Spirit of Life” has become the most frequently sung hymn within UU congregations around the world – many UUs know the words by heart, and some of our sister churches sing this song together every Sunday.
Special Music: Here Comes the Sun – Harrison
“Here Comes the Sun” is one of the most recognizable and iconic pieces of music recorded by The Beatles. The song was written by George Harrison (1943-2001) in the spring of 1969 while staying at the home of Eric Clapton. In interviews, Harrison indicated the song was inspired by his joy in reaching the end of a particularly harsh English winter as well as a feeling of hopefulness that he and his fellow Beatles would be able to set aside their differences and recapture their lost enthusiasm for making music together. The English spring arrived right on time in 1969, but unfortunately, Harrison’s optimism about his band did not blossom. “Here Comes the Sun” was released on Abbey Road, which would be The Beatles’ second-last album before breaking up the following year.
Offertory: We Walk in Love – Witkowski & Colon
“We Walk in Love” was written in 2017 by jazz pianist/composer Deanna Witkowski with lyrics from poet and author Lemuel Colon. The song was composed for The Justice Choir Songbook, an online resource that activists and musicians have been using for the last several years to support causes of racial, social, and environmental justice around the world. In the composer’s own words: “In early 2017, I responded to a call for scores for a new collection of social justice songs being curated by Abbie Betinis, Tesfa Wondemagegnhehu, and Ahmed Anzaldúa. The songs to be selected as part of a new movement called Justice Choir would be offered free of charge for anyone to sing for non-commercial use: at concerts, marches, protests, and in houses of worship…I immediately responded by sitting down at the piano. I wrote and harmonized a simple tune in 3/4- not rangy, no big jumps, something that everyone could sing. Next, I went to my living room couch with a large sketchbook on my lap. I started writing lists of nouns: ‘love, purpose, voice, compassion, truth, bridge, justice, kindness’. Then I pulled out the text to James Weldon Johnson’s hymn, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’, and started adding more nouns: ‘hope, faith’…my boyfriend sat with me when I got stuck on a phrase or two and contributed to the lyric. We sang the three verses to each other multiple times before I returned to the piano and recorded myself singing and playing the song, ‘We Walk in Love’. I wrote out a lead sheet and emailed it along with the recording to Abbie. Soon I received a reply: ‘We love your harmony! Can you write a four-part SATB version?’ I scored the song for four parts and sent it back, hoping that it would be selected. ‘We Walk in Love’ made the cut and became one of 43 free-to-download songs in The Justice Choir Songbook. (from deannawitkowski.com)
Song: When the Spirit Says Sing – Spiritual
“When the Spirit Says Sing” (also known as “I’m Gonna Sing”) is among the best-known of traditional Spirituals. Its origins are unknown, but the song first began appearing in hymnals during the 1950s and became one of the rallying anthems of The Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. It is included in our Singing the Journey hymnbook as #1024 under the title “When the Spirit Says Do”.
Postlude: I Lift My Voice – Ramsey
Dr. Andrea Ramsey (b. 1977) enjoys an international presence as a composer, conductor, scholar and music educator. Before leaping into full time composing and guest conducting, Andrea held positions at The Ohio State University and the University of Colorado at Boulder. An award-winning composer with approximately 100 works to date, she believes strongly in the creation of new music. A native of Arkansas, Andrea has experienced in her own life the power of music to provide a sense of community, better understanding of our humanity and rich opportunities for self-discovery. (from andrearamsey.com) Of her 2017 composition “I Lift My Voice”, Dr. Ramsey says: “I was inspired by the line ‘with glad defiance in my throat, I pierce the darkness with a note’ from James Weldon Johnson’s poem, The Gift to Sing, and I created this tune in hopes of acknowledging the power of music and the importance of community in pursuing justice and unity.”
-Mike Carney, UUCC Music Director