Music Notes – Sunday, February 1st:
This Sunday’s musicians are Aaron Burkle, The Chancel Choir and UUCC Music Director Mike Carney
Centering Music: Will You Be There? – Ellington
One of the true legends of American music, jazz composer and bandleader Duke Ellington (1899-1974) was best known for writing dozens of jazz standards, including “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)”, “Mood Indigo”, and “Come Sunday”. Late in his career, Ellington composed three larger works (each titled Sacred Concert) that combined elements of jazz, classical music, choral music, spirituals, gospel, blues and dance and explored Ellington’s relationship with the spiritual world. Ellington called these compositions “the most important music I’ve ever written”. “Will You Be There?” is from Sacred Concert No. 1, which premiered in 1965.
Song: When I Am Frightened – Denham
“When I Am Frightened” (#1012 in Singing the Journey), also titled “Then I May Learn”, was commissioned in 1999 by the First Unitarian Church of Dallas. Because of her lifelong commitment to working with and empowering youth, UU composer Shelley Jackson Denham (1950-2013) took the opportunity to write a piece based on children’s yearning for truth, respect, and engagement with adults. In keeping with a philosophy that “children are watching, what are they learning?”, the song is meant as a reminder that all children deserve and need compassion, acceptance, commitment…and that they often learn to both give and receive these essential elements of relationship through the simple act of observation. (includes material from uua.org)
Special Music: Meditation on Breathing – Jones
#1009 in our Singing the Journey hymnbook, “Meditation on Breathing” is more of an interactive mantra and centering than it is a hymn in the traditional sense. There are three written parts in the score, but participants are also encouraged to improvise and branch off to find their own way within the group meditation. UU musician and songwriter Sarah Dan Jones (b. 1962) composed “Meditation on Breathing” in 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Offertory: Glory Morning Bound – Marrolli
Dr. Karen Marrolli (b. 1975) is an American composer and conductor who is currently serving as the Director of Music Ministries at Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, NM and as the Artistic Director of the Santa Fe Men’s Camerata. She began her career in Charleston, SC, where she founded Lux Aeterna, a chamber choir who presented candlelight concerts in honor of such events as World AIDS Day, the September 11th attacks, and Child Abuse Awareness Month. These concerts always consisted of readings, often written by survivors of traumatic events, interspersed with choral music. The concerts progressed from a sense of darkness to light and were meant to give hope to those who were in a process of healing. (includes material from karenmarrollimusic.com) Written in 2025 for Chorus America’s Choral Consortium, “Glory Morning Bound” is an uplifting gospel-inspired anthem with a message of hope in the face of adversity.
Song: Just as Long as I Have Breath – Ebeling/Carpenter
#6 in Singing the Living Tradition, “Just as Long as I Have Breath” is a song based on Johann Ebeling’s (1637-1676) traditional hymn tune “Nicht So Traurig” (“Not So Sad”), with words by UU songwriter and activist Alicia S. Carpenter (1930-2021). Carpenter authored no fewer than 10 of the songs in our ‘big’ hymnal, including “Here We Have Gathered” (#360), We Celebrate the Web of Life” (#175), and “With Heart and Mind” (#300).
Postlude: Rise – Abela
“Rise” is a social justice anthem written by American musician, composer, and educator Arianne Abela, who currently serves as the director of choral activities at Amherst College in Massachusetts. At Amherst, Abela is the Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble, a choral chamber group that “presents vocal music with the highest artistic excellence, while celebrating racial, ethnic, and gender diversity” (amherst.edu).
-Mike Carney, UUCC Music Director