Music Notes – Sunday, October 15th:
This Sunday’s musicians are The Chancel Choir, The Women’s Ensemble, Aaron Burkle, Abs Burkle, Alicia Burkle, Amy Collins, UUCC Pianist Karin Tooely, and UUCC Music Director Mike Carney
Opening Hymn: #1014 Standing on the Side of Love – Shelton
Jason Shelton 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). “Standing on the Side of Love” (#1014) is one of many contributions Rev. Shelton has made to our Singing the Journey hymnbook.
Centering Music: Invincible – Szymko
Joan Szymko (b.1957) is an award-winning composer and conductor from the Pacific Northwest. With a catalog of over 100 published choral works, her music is performed by ensembles across North America and abroad. With a text inspired by the words of Algerian-French author and philosopher Albert Camus (1913-1960), “Invincible” is one of Ms. Szymko’s more recent compositions. In the words of the composer: “I wrote “Invincible” over the summer of 2021 under the shadow of a persistent pandemic, devastating climate change events and an ever-increasing and depressing incivility in the socio-political culture of the United States. I found great solace and encouragement in this text and found within me, if not an invincible calm, and emergence of joy within the creative act of composing.” This Sunday, “Invincible” will be sung by the UUCC Women’s Ensemble.
Offertory music: I Am What I Am – Herman
Jerry Herman (1931-2019) was an American composer best known for his Broadway musicals, which famously included Hello, Dolly! (1964), Mame (1966) and La Cage Aux Folles (1983), the first Broadway musical to feature a same-sex couple in its lead romantic roles. The original production of La Cage won six Tony Awards, enjoyed a four-year run on Broadway, and produced many memorable songs, including the anthemic first act finale “I Am What I Am”, which also became a hit single for pop diva Gloria Gaynor in 1983. “I Am What I Am” will be sung in this Sunday’s service by UUCC’s own Abs Burkle, accompanied by Alicia Burkle on piano.
Special Music: I Sing the Body Electric – Gore & Pitchford
“I Sing the Body Electric” was the closing number from the 1980 film musical Fame. The music was composed by Michael Gore (b. 1951), who wrote the film’s soundtrack and songs, and the lyrics were written by Dean Pitchford (b. 1951), inspired by the poem of the same name by legendary American poet Walt Whitman (1819-1892). This Sunday, “I Sing the Body Electric” will be performed by two of UUCC’s own: soprano Amy Collins and pianist Karin Tooley.
Closing Hymn: #168 One More Step – Poley
Canadian UU Composer Joyce Poley (b. 1941) wrote “One More Step” in 1986 and its message of commitment and perseverance still rings true today. “One More Step” is #168 in our Singing the Living Tradition hymnal and is a favorite of many UUs.
Postlude: Love Will Rise Again – Miller
American composer, conductor and performer Mark Miller believes passionately that music can change the world. He also believes in Cornell West’s quote that “Justice is what love looks like in public.” Mark’s dream is that the music he composes, performs, teaches and leads will inspire and empower people to create the beloved community. Mark serves as Assistant Professor of Church Music at Drew Theological School and is a Lecturer in the Practice of Sacred Music at Yale University (from markamillermusic.com). Of “Love Will Rise Again”, Miller says: “When Kris Lamb commissioned me to write a piece in memory of her brother, she shared that her brother was part of, and a supporter of the LGBTQ community, and asked that the piece celebrate the values of respect and inclusion her brother stood for…I began work on the composition in 2021, and the words ‘I won’t give up on you, don’t give up on me’ kept coming back to me. In the midst of the pandemic, I realized I was singing this song as much for me as writing it down for others…We will sing through the loss and overcome fear and hatred together, and that although it might seem vanquished for a time, love will rise again.” Our Chancel Choir will lead “Love Will Rise Again” this Sunday, accompanied by Lucy Carney and Aaron Burkle and featuring soloist Molly Watkins.
-Mike Carney, UUCC Music Director