Music Notes – Sunday, January 30th:
This Sunday’s musicians are Molly Watkins and UUCC Music Director Mike Carney.
Opening Hymn: #1020 Woyaya – Amoa, Amarfino, Bailey, Bedeau, Osei, Richardson, and Tontoh
Primarily written by Ghanaian drummer Sol Amarifio (b. 1938), “Woyaya” 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” that appears as #1020 in our Singing the Journey hymnbook comes from Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock.
Centering Music: January – Gjeilo
Norwegian-born Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978) is one of the rising stars in the classical music world of the 21st century. He holds composition degrees from both The Royal College of Music in London and The Juilliard School in New York and spent several years as composer-in-residence with the renowned choral group Voces8. “January” is from Gjeilo’s Five Pieces for Piano, which he wrote during 2006-2007 in New York City.
Sung Meditation: #95 There Is More Love Somewhere – African American Spiritual
#95 in Singing the Living Tradition, “There Is More Love Somewhere” is an African American spiritual, possibly originating from the Georgia Sea Islands. As many spirituals do, this song expresses a hope for a better world on the horizon. However, in contrast to some other songs from the spiritual tradition, “There Is More Love Somewhere” makes no mention of actually reaching that figurative promised land. Instead, the lyrics (“I’m gonna keep on `til I find it”) express a sense of hope, but only through the lens of determination.
Offertory music: Beautiful City – Schwartz
“Beautiful City” was written by American theater and film composer Stephen Schwartz (b. 1948) for his original musical Godspell. “Beautiful City” was not part of the 1970 stage production of Godspell; Schwartz wrote the song in 1972 for the film adaptation of the musical and then rewrote some of the lyrics in 1993 in response to the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. “Beautiful City” was added to the theatrical production of Godspell for the show’s 2011 Broadway revival.
Closing Hymn: #121 We’ll Build a Land – McDade and Zanotti
“We’ll Build a Land” (Singing the Living Tradition #121) is one of the best-known and most beloved UU Hymns.The song was written by Carolyn McDade (b. 1935), a self-described songwriter, spiritual feminist, and social activist, who is also the composer of other UU favorites like “Spirit of Life”, “Come, Sing a Song with Me”, and “Rising Green”. The words, written by Barbara Zanotti, are paraphrased from the Old Testament books of Amos and Isaiah.
Postlude: Profetiza, Pueblo Mio – Zárate Macias Musicians are not strangers to the cause for civil rights, and Rosa Martha Zárate Macias is a heroic example. Zárate Macias came to the United States from Mexico in 1968 and has successfully combined her rich musical talent with courageous leadership in championing the rights of the Mexican and Latinx community in the U.S. She has performed benefit concerts in numerous countries of Central and South America as well as in Portugal and the United States. (from giamusic.com) In 1985, she was the cofounder of the California-based immigration and citizenship project Libreria del Pueblo, and from 1990–1993 she acted as cofounder of Calpulli, an organization that promotes and develops programs to aid disadvantaged people of Central and South American heritage. Profetiza, Pueblo Mio (#1016 in our Singing the Journey hymnbook) was written in 1975 and first sung at the II National Convention of Spanish Speaking Catholics in Washington, DC.
-Mike Carney, UUCC Music Director