From the Worship Team: Take the 1-minute survey about our Acceptance of Gifts songs
We’ve been “test driving” some different options for our offering response (Acceptance of Gifts) during summer services. Click here to take a 1-minute online survey to give your feedback on these options. Thanks for your time!
Moises Borges CDs and hats are available now!
If you enjoyed the concert on the lawn earlier this month with Moises Borges and friends but missed out on your chance to purchase a CD or hat, don’t despair! Just contact UUCC Music Director Mike Carney to get yours today! This is the CD that features our UUCC Chancel Choir members on “Estrela” – supplies are limited, and this is a first-come, first-served opportunity, so don’t delay – act today!
Music Notes – Sunday, August 13th:
This Sunday’s musicians are Aaron, Abs, Alicia, and Astrid Burkle; and UUCC Music Director Mike Carney
Prelude: Nothing Changes – Mitchell
“Nothing Changes” is a song from Hadestown, a 2006 musical with music, lyrics, and book by Anaïs Mitchell (b. 1981). The winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Hadestown is a contemporary reimagining of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Within Hadestown, “Nothing Changes” is sung to Orpheus by The Fates and servants of Hades, who are trying to convince Orpheus to give up hope. This Sunday, you’ll be hearing this song sung and played by Abs, Alicia, and Astrid Burkle.
Opening Hymn: #78 Color and Fragrance – Čapek
#78 in our Singing the Living Tradition hymnal, “Color and Fragrance” was written by Norbert Čapek (1870-1942), a Czech author, poet, activist and minister who brought the Unitarian movement to his native country. Most modern UUs associate “Color and Fragrance with flower communion, a much-loved UU tradition that was first celebrated by Čapek with his home congregation in 1923. The song is defined by its sweet and simple melody and by its lyrical message of hope and promise, both in the beauty of nature and in humankind’s capacity for love and compassion.
Centering Music: She Used to Be Mine – Bareilles
Eureka, California native Sara Bareilles (b. 1979) is a singer, songwriter, pianist, and actor. Bareilles has sold over 3 million albums and 15 million singles to date and has earned three Grammy Awards among other accolades. Aside from her success as a performer and songwriter, Bareilles is also known as the creator of the 2015 hit musical Waitress, which ran more than four years on Broadway, was nominated for Tony and Grammy Awards, and was acclaimed for its all-female production team. “She Used to Be Mine” is the best-known song from Waitress, and was the lead single from Bareilles’s 2015 album What’s Inside: Songs from Waitress. in an interview with the The New York Times, Bareilles said “the range of who this song speaks to is much broader than I could have anticipated …The chasm between who we are, and who we thought we would be, is always something we’re negotiating … In the life of Waitress, people make an assumption that it’s a very feminine show, and it is, and I love that. But these themes go so far beyond gender.” This Sunday, “She Used to Be Mine” will be sung by Alicia Burkle, accompanied by family members Aaron and Abs Burkle.
Special Music: Memory – Lloyd Webber/Nunn
One of the most famous and iconic songs to come from the world of Musical Theatre, “Memory” was written by British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (b. 1948) with lyrics by Trevor Nunn (b. 1948) for their 1981 musical Cats. Based on the 1939 poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot (1888-1965), Cats was both critically acclaimed (winning multiple awards including two Laurence Olivier Awards for its London production and seven Tony Awards for the Broadway version) and hugely successful (running for over 20 years in London and 18 years on Broadway, along with numerous other productions around the world and two film adaptations). Without question, “Memory” is the most famous song from the musical, having been recorded by more than 600 artists to date, from Broadway and easy listening artists to symphonic metal and techno covers. “Memory” will be sung by Abs Burkle this Sunday, accompanied by her mom Alicia Burkle.
Offertory: Found/Tonight – Miranda, Pasek, and Paul
Released in March of 2018. “Found/Tonight” is a mash-up single of two popular musical theatre tracks from Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the March for Our Lives anti-gun violence movement. The song’s lyrics and melodies are borrowed from “The Story of Tonight” from Hamilton, and “You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen. The track was originally performed by actor Ben Platt, who originated the role of Evan Hansen, and Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the mash-up arrangement was done by frequent Miranda collaborator Alex Lacamoire. This Sunday, “Found/Tonight” will be sung by Abs and Astrid Burkle, accompanied by Alicia Burkle on piano.
Closing Hymn: #1020 Woyaya – Amarfio, Amoa, Bailey, Bedeau, Osei, Richardson, & Tontoh
Primarily written by Ghanaian drummer Sol Amarifio (b. 1938), “Woyaya” (also known as “We Are Going” or “Heaven Knows”) is the title song of a 1971 album by Oisibisa, a group of Ghanaian and Caribbean musicians. The song was frequently heard in work camps throughout central West Africa in the 1970s and 1980s. The word “Woyaya” has no literal English translation but can have multiple meanings, as is the case with many scat syllables, which are a common feature in West African music. The arrangement of “Woyaya” used in our service (and appearing as #1020 in our Singing the Journey hymnbook) comes from Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock.
Postlude: Put Your Records On – Bailey Rae, Beck, & Chrisanthou
“Put Your Records On” was the title track of the 2006 debut album by English singer Corinne Bailey Rae (b. 1979). The song was co-written by Bailey Rae along with songwriter/producer/instrumentalists John Beck and Steve Chrisanthou, both of whom also accompany Bailey Rae on the original recording of the song. The song rose to great success in the U.K., topping the Singles Downloads Chart and the R&B Singles Chart. “Put Your Records On” remains Bailey Rae’s signature song and greatest commercial success to date. In 2020, a cover version by American indie artist Ritt Momney rose to success after going viral on TikTok. In Sunday’s worship service, “Put Your Records On” will be sung by Astrid and Abs Burkle, with Abs accompanying on guitar.
-Mike Carney, UUCC Music Director
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