Music Notes – Sunday, April 6th:
This Sunday’s musicians are Liam Alcorn, Stella Glesius, Sophie Watkins, Micha Yoo, and UUCC Music Director Mike Carney
Prelude: This Little Light of Mine – African American Spiritual
“This Little Light of Mine” is an African American gospel song whose origins are unknown. The song first began appearing in church and school settings during the 1920s and 1930s. Interestingly, the first few known instances of the song being performed are scattered around the United States, from Illinois to Texas to Montana to Missouri, so we cannot even say with any certainty in which city or region the song originated. Today, “This Little Light of Mine” is sung all over the world and is found in dozens of hymnals, including our own Singing the Living Tradition (#118).
Song: Come, Sing a Song with Me – McDade
#346 in our Singing the Living Tradition hymnal, “Come, Sing a Song with Me” is a well-known and beloved hymn to many Unitarian Universalists. The words and music were written by Carolyn McDade (b. 1935), a self-described songwriter, spiritual feminist, and social activist. McDade is also the composer of two other UU favorites: “Spirit of Life” and “We’ll Build a Land”.
Centering Music: Misty – Garner/Burke
One of the most familiar ballads of the Great American Songbook, “Misty” was written in 1954 by jazz pianist and composer Erroll Garner (1921-1977). Garner composed and originally recorded “Misty” as an instrumental, releasing it on his 1954 album Contrasts. Soon thereafter, lyrics were added by Johnny Burke (1908-1964), an award-winning songwriter already well-known for writing the lyrics to several standards, including “Pennies from Heaven” and “Swinging on a Star”. The music-and-lyrics version of “Misty” became a sensation, and many established artists would record it during the next few years, including Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Johnny Mathis, whose 1959 recording rose to #12 on U.S. Pop Singles chart. “Misty” would soon become Mathis’s signature song, but it has remained popular among recording artists and audiences alike, as shown by recent recordings from Samara Joy and Laufey.
Offertory Music: Never Grow Up – Swift
“Never Grow Up” was written and recorded in 2010 by American country/pop superstar Taylor Swift (b. 1989), and released as part of Swift’s third studio album Speak Now. The song was not a major commercial hit, but it was part of a remarkable achievement when it became one of 11 songs by Swift to chart on Billboard’s Hot 100 at the same time, marking a historic first for a female artist. The lyrics for “Never Grow Up” are autobiographical, exploring the hopes and fears that came with Swift’s transition from childhood to teenage years to young adulthood. This Sunday, “Never Grow Up” will be sung and played by the seniors of UUCC’s YRE program.
Song: The Fire of Commitment – Shelton
Jason Shelton (b. 1972) is an award-winning composer, arranger, conductor, song and worship leader, workshop presenter, and coach. He served as the Associate Minister for Music at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville, Tennessee from 1998-2017, and is now engaged in a music ministry at-large, focused on serving the musical resource needs of UU (and other liberal) congregations around the country (from jasonsheltonmusic.com). The Fire of Commitment (#1028) is one of many contributions Rev. Shelton has made to our Singing the Journey hymnbook. The unrest of its irregular meter and the insistent rhythmic pulse drive home the call to action that is at the core of the song’s message.
Postlude: Go Now in Peace – Sleeth
A native of Evanston, Illinois, organist and composer Natalie Sleeth (1930-1992) was a prolific and influential voice in American church music of the 20th century. In particular, her songs “Joy in the Morning” and “Hymn of Promise” are both staples in many North American congregations. Sleeth was also responsible for two of the songs in Singing the Living Tradition: “Voice Still and Small” (#391) and “Go Now in Peace” (#413), which our youth selected as the postlude for this Sunday’s service.
-Mike Carney, UUCC Music Director