Music Notes – Sunday, August 17th:
This Sunday’s musicians are Amy Collins and UUCC Pianist Karin Tooley
Song: #338 I Seek the Spirit of a Child – English Folk Song/Seaburg
#338 in Singing the Living Tradition, “I Seek the Spirit of a Child” is a setting of The Sussex Carol, an English folk song most often associated with the Christmas carol “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing”. The words were written by Universalist/UU Minister Carl Seaburg (1922-1998), who is also responsible for several of the other songs in our hymnbook, including “Be That Guide” (#124), “God Who Fills the Universe” (#37), and “Find a Stillness” (#352).
Centering Music: Do You Know Where You’re Going To? – Masser & Goffin
“Do You Know Where You’re Going To?” was written in 1973 by Michael Masser (1941-2015), and Gerry Goffin (1939-2014). Goffin was a well-established lyricist and music producer at the time, best-known for the many hits he co-wrote in the 1960s with Carole King – they were a husband-and-wife team at that time. Masser was an up-and-coming songwriter in the early 1970s, but he went on to great success during the 70s and 80s, writing numerous hits for Diana Ross, George Benson, and Whitney Houston. “Do You Know Where You’re Going To?” was first recorded in 1973 by R&B artist Thelma Houston (b. 1943), but that original recording achieved only modest success. However, the song rose to the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1975 when a recording by ex-Supremes lead singer Diana Ross (b. 1944) was featured on the soundtrack of the film Mahogany. “Do You Know Where You’re Going To?” was the lead single from that film’s soundtrack and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Offertory Music: Corner of the Sky – Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz (b. 1948) is an American composer and recipient of numerous honors, including multiple Grammy and Academy Awards. Schwartz is best known for his contributions to musical theatre, famously including the Broadway scores to Godspell (1971), Pippin (1972) and Wicked (2003). “Corner of the Sky” is a song from Pippin, sung by the title character early in act I. The music and lyrics reflect the hopefulness and energy of a young person beginning their life’s journey.
Song: Come and Go with Me – African American Spiritual
“Come and Go with Me” (also known as “Go with Me to that Land”) originated as an African American spiritual. The song features call-and-response singing and lyrics expressing the hope of a better world to come, and has been recorded by many artists, including Bernice Johnson Reagon, Blind Willie Johnson, and Peter, Paul and Mary. “Come and Go with Me” is also #1018 in our Singing the Journey hymnbook, arranged by Kenny Smith (b. 1965).
Postlude: Summertime – Gershwin & Heyward
“Summertime” is an aria written by American composer George Gershwin (1898-1937) for his opera Porgy and Bess, with lyrics by DuBose Heyward (1885-1940). Gershwin’s music incorporates elements of jazz, spiritual and classical music, which may be part of the reason this song has enjoyed such wide appeal. Since its 1935 debut,” Summertime” has been recorded by well over 25,000 different artists and groups and is one of the most enduring standards in the Great American Songbook. This Sunday, you’ll get to hear “Summertime” sung by UUCC’s own Amy Collins, with Karin Tooley accompanying.
-Mike Carney, UUCC Music Director