Come to church early this Sunday, September 10th to enjoy wonderful music from Emma’s Revolution!
If you were at General Assembly in Pittsburgh this June, you might have heard some amazing music there from Pat Humphries and Sandy O, better known as Emma’s Revolution. If you didn’t catch them at GA, all you need to do is come to church this Sunday, September 10th, because Pat and Sandy will be right here at UUCC providing very special music for our Ingathering/Water Communion Service that morning. Our service will start a little early this Sunday, with music from Emma’s Revolution beginning at 10:00 and the rest of the service beginning around 10:15. Make plans to arrive early this week – you’ll be glad you did!
Come, Sing a Song with Me!
I’m very happy to say that the UUCC Chancel Choir has returned to regular Wednesday evening practices – the choir will be singing with Emma’s Revolution during our September 10th Ingathering Service and on several other upcoming Sundays. UUCC’s Chancel Choir is open to all adults and high school youth who are interested, regardless of experience level. Rehearsals are at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings in the Worship Center (Room 208), and professional childcare is available for any who need it. If you have any questions, please get in touch with UUCC Music Director Mike Carney. I hope to see you at choir!
Music Notes – Sunday, September 10th:
This Sunday’s musicians are Emma’s Revolution, The Chancel Choir, Aaron Burkle, and UUCC Music Director Mike Carney
About this Sunday’s guest musicians:
Known for fearless, truth-telling lyrics and melodies you can’t resist singing, Emma’s Revolution is the dynamic, award-winning activist duo of Pat Humphries & Sandy O. The duo are in their 20th year performing together. Emma’s Revolution’s songs have traveled around the world and have been sung for the Dalai Lama, praised by Pete Seeger and covered by Holly Near.
With one eye on the news, Emma’s Revolution consistently writes songs about critical issues happening in the world and enthusiastically lends their voices to the movements those issues inspire. “Our House is on Fire” was selected as the opening track for Hope Rises, a compilation CD from a national nonprofit co-founded by Noel (Paul) Stookey of Peter, Paul & Mary. “Keep on Moving Forward” opened the UN’s Committee on the Status of Women’s Bejiing+25 Conference. The song originally opened the NGO Forum of the 4th UN World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, becoming its unofficial anthem. Emma’s Revolution are winners of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize and the first Phil Ochs Award.
“Our work has always been about building connection, love and justice through song,” the duo says. “During the pandemic, we moved much of our work online, creating opportunities for people to sing together (Zoom-style), use songwriting as a way to process emotions in an unsettled era, and attend concerts where they can have a sense of connectedness, solace and even joy during a challenging time.”
As independent artists and queer and non-conforming women, Emma’s Revolution has a national presence among communities, organizations and venues that share the duo’s vision of valuing people over profit, choosing compassion over violence, demanding accountability, and building a more just and sustainable world. (from emmasrevolution.com)
Opening Hymn: Peace, Salaam, Shalom – Humphries & Opatow
“Peace, Salaam, Shalom” is a song by Emma’s Revolution, the American folk music/social activist duo comprised of Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow (aka Sandy O), who were each successful folk musicians in their own right before joining forces. The group is named in honor of Emma Goldman, a Russian-American feminist, anarchist, and activist from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. “Peace, Salaam, Shalom” was written in 2001 for a peace march in New York City following the 9/11 attacks.
Centering Music: Clearwater Tune – Humphries
Clearwater Tune is a 2021 song written by Pat Humphries of Emma’s Revolution. In the composer’s own words: “Pete & Toshi Seeger’s Hudson River Sloop Clearwater is a project that’s very dear to me. Clearwater needs our support now more than ever to keep alive Pete’s dream of a healthy sustainable Hudson River. This is my love song to the river and to Pete’s beautiful dream.” (includes material from emmasrevolution.com)
Offertory Music: We Are One – Humphries, arr. Carney
Written by Pat Humphries “We Are One” is a song about unity and reconciliation. Originally composed during a time when there were partial steps towards peace between North and South Korea, the song includes a Korean phrase that translates to English as “We Are One”. The arrangement for soloists and choir that you’ll be hearing on Sunday was written by UUCC Music Director Mike Carney.
Closing Hymn: Swimming to the Other Side – Humphries, arr. Carney
“Swimming to the Other Side” is perhaps the best-known of the many songs which have been performed and recorded by Emma’s Revolution. The song carries a beautifully powerful message about our shared journey with each other and with our home planet, and you’ll have the opportunity to sing along with Pat, Sandy, and our Chancel Choir when they lead “Swimming to the Other Side” as our closing hymn this Sunday. Here’s a link to a 2022 mini-pod by NPR music commentator Marika Partridge about this remarkable song.
Postlude: Keep on Moving Forward – Humphries
Sunday’s postlude is another Emma’s Revolution favorite, “Keep On Moving Forward”. Pat and Sandy will be joined by UUCC’s own Aaron Burkle this Sunday to lead this powerful song of courage and perseverance. This is one you don’t want to miss!
-Mike Carney, UUCC Music Director
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