Hello members and friends of UUCC, 

I hope you can be a part of our online worship service “Anger, Fear and Democracy” this Sunday, January 31st. led by Rev. Rina Shere. We’ll have some great music in that service – read on for this week’s Music Notes…

Music Notes – Sunday, January 31st:

Music 1: This Old World – American folk hymn

“This Old World” (#315 in Singing the Living Tradition) is a folk hymn believed to have originated in southern Appalachia. Its simple pentatonic melody, known as “Restoration”, was originally published in 1835 within the first edition of William Walker’s shape-note hymn book Southern Harmony. Today, “Restoration” appears in over 100 hymnals across a plethora of denominations, and is most frequently set to the hymn “Come, ye sinners, poor and needy”. UUCC’s Chancel Choir, accompanied by Mike Carney on piano, will lead “This Old World” in our virtual service this Sunday.

Music 2: One Voice – Ruth Moody

Two-time Juno Award winning singer and songwriter Ruth Moody (b. 1975) was born in Australia but raised in Manitoba, Canada. She is a founding and current member of the Canadian country/folk trio The Wailin’ Jennys. Moody wrote “One Voice” in 2004 for The Wailin’ Jennys and the song was released in August of the same year on the group’s debut album 40 Days. “One Voice” has since become the Jennys’ signature song and has been performed and recorded by numerous other artists as well. In this Sunday’s service, the song will be performed by UUCC’s Women’s Ensemble.

Music 3/Offertory: Fired Up – Holly Near

Born in Ukiah, CA in 1949, Holly Near began singing in high school, and soon built on her performing career with acting parts on Mod Squad, Room 222, and The Partridge Family, and later as a cast member of the Broadway musical Hair. In 1972, Holly was one of the first women to create an independent record company, paving the way for women like Ani DiFranco and others. Often cited as one of the founders of the Women’s Music movement, she not only led the way for outspoken women in the music world, but also worked for peace and multicultural consciousness. Another significant arena of Holly’s activism is the LGBTQ community, and in 1976 she became one of the first celebrities to discuss her sexual orientation openly. Throughout her long career Holly has worked with a wide array of musicians, including Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, and many others. She has received honors from the ACLU, the National Lawyers Guild, the National Organization for Women, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; she was named Ms. Magazine’s Woman of the Year and received the Legends of Women’s Music Award. (from hollynear.com). “Fired Up” was first released in 2000 on the album Edge, and the arrangement you’ll hear this Sunday is by American composer and arranger J. David Moore, adapted and performed by UUCC’s own Karin Tooley.

Music 4: When Our Heart Is in a Holy Place – Joyce Poley

1008 in our Singing the Journey hymnbook, “When Our Heart Is in a Holy Place” was written in 1996 by UU musician and composer Joyce Poley (b. 1941). This song “invites us to see ourselves in others. As we come to understand that all people have wisdom to share and stories to tell—regardless of culture, race, social status, or faith—we begin to realize how important our commonalities are, and how interwoven our lives. When we open ourselves to this sacred idea, then ‘our heart is in a holy place’.” (from uua.org) The performance you’ll be hearing – and singing along with – this week is led by UUCC’s Chancel Choir, accompanied by Mike Carney on piano and Aaron Burkle on drums.

Postlude: One More Step – Joyce Poley

We’ll feature Canadian UU Composer Joyce Poley (b. 1941) a second time this Sunday with “One More Step”, a song she wrote in 1986 whose message of commitment and perseverance still rings true today. “One More Step” is #168 in our Singing the Living Tradition hymnbook, and the version you’ll be hearing this weekend features our Chancel Choir with Mike Carney on piano. We hope you’ll be moved to sing along while worshipping at home!

-Mike Carney, UUCC Music Director