lauren

Behind the Music: Let the river run, let all the dreamers wake the nation

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If “work” is the body exerting physical and/or mental effort to affect change in one’s environment, and if “labor” is work that we are paid to do, how can we live our lives so that work is sacred and labor is just? These are questions that Rev. Alex posed to us, and below are the piano selections from today’s service connected to the dignity of work. These pieces hail from different eras and genres, but all speak in their own way of finding meaning, wellness, or peace in our work and labor.

While many of us are familiar with Fields of Gold,  Sting’s pop/rock song about love and the passing of time, I find myself drawn to Eva Cassidy’s stripped down and vulnerable folk rendition rather than the original. Regardless of which version is preferred, once one looks past the surface ideas of love and the passing of time, this song is rooted in imagery of scenes from a certain type of work: fields, laboring outdoors, harvests. When listening to Sting croon about the shared time and effort of a romantic relationship, parallels can be found with the meaning in collaboration and valuing others within our work and labor. And of course, the lyrical melody and lovely harmonies of Fields of Gold are a gentle, lovely way to welcome our community into the sanctuary on a Sunday morning.

Coldplay’s “The Scientist” is filled with a number of poignant lyrics, but the most crucial words of all are “Nobody said it was easy”.  We encounter this concept every day, in both our personal and professional lives. Even if the task at hand is “easy”, there are always challenges and struggles that can arise, be it with work or labor, practical or creative endeavors, large tasks or small. The song’s message to persevere, be accountable for our mistakes and pursue growth is an important one.

Normally a buoyant, upbeat song from Pete Seeger, If I Had a Hammer is a piece of music that inspires us to clap our hands, tap our toes, and sing along – but it’s also a call to action. As we sing about a hammer, a bell, a song, we are really singing about standing for justice, fairness, and hope, and our singing serves as a reminder that what we do matters most when it builds equity and uplifts others. (David Servias was originally slated to play the piano today, and If I Had a Hammer was originally his idea for the offertory!)

Let the River Run was not the planned postlude for today – some of the options I considered was to play the more traditional version of If I Had a Hammer or perhaps the Beatles’ Come Together! But after hearing Rev. Alex’s sermon, a different song came to mind, a song that represents possibility, dealing with disappointment and injustice, striving for change, and the hope for personal peace.  While a lively finale of “If I Had a Hammer” would have been fun, “Let the River Run” just seemed very right for the end of today’s service.

Behind the Music: Golden Slumbers

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As I heard Jill speak about the roles and impact that poetry holds in today’s world, a very faint memory arose in my mind, growing stronger as she continued describing how poetry can touch, comfort, and inspire us. My daughter has been watching the delightful animated film “Sing” recently, which opens with a soulful rendition of “Golden Slumbers” sung by a grand old diva, voiced by singer Jennifer Hudson. Anyone with children knows how a favorite movie will be played on repeat again and again, and will understand why this song would be floating around my head! But until this morning’s poetry “sermon”, I had forgotten that the lyrics of this wonderful work by Paul McCartney have roots in a very old poem by Elizabethan dramatist and writer Thomas Dekker. In his youth, Paul found the above poem set to music sitting on his father’s piano; unable to read music notation at the time, Paul sat down and created his own melody for the poem, adjusting the text to fit his tune.

“I liked the words so much. I thought it was very restful, a very beautiful lullaby, so I just sat at the piano and started playing with it.”

—Paul McCartney (from Many Years From Now, Barry Miles, 1997)

Such a universal and timeless sentiment, wanting to soothe and urge rest for those we love, especially in times of trouble and discord. Upon recalling this memory, I couldn’t not play this piece of music with poetic origins for the offertory, especially when it paired so beautifully with our choir anthem, Billy Joel’s “Lullabye”.

Behind the Music: To everything there is a season

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A heartfelt farewell took place today as the Fellowship gathered to say bid adieu to some of our beloved trees which have graced the grounds for generations. The three solo piano works played were selected for their messages of gratitude, closure, and acceptance.

Today’s prelude was Ombra Mai Fu, a well-loved classic from Handel’s opera Serse. Serse, the king of Persia, sings this aria at the opera’s beginning to express his thanks and admiration for a plane tree and the shade it provides. Our feelings for the UUFC trees are mirrored in this aria’s lyrics:

Tender and beautiful fronds
of my beloved plane tree,
let Fate smile upon you.
May thunder, lightning, and storms
never disturb your dear peace,
nor may you by blowing winds be profaned.

Never was a shade
of any plant
dearer and more lovely,
or more sweet.

The anthem “Time to Say Goodbye” seemed appropriate for an offertory following the honoring of the trees. This powerful anthem, made famous by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, encourages us to embrace life’s inevitable changes with courage and grace. With tomorrow’s cutting of the trees, this work is also a gentle reminder that while farewells can be bittersweet, they also pave the way for new beginnings.

As the service drew to a close, we adjourned to the timeless tune of “Turn, Turn, Turn” by The Byrds. This adaptation of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 beautifully illustrates life’s ever-changing rhythms, urging us to find peace and acceptance in the ebb and flow of existence. The song’s poetic verses remind us that there is “a time to plant, a time to reap, a time to gain, a time to lose.” We have celebrated and said goodbye to the trees…let us now celebrate the new birth of plants, flowers, and trees that will begin their time with us.

~ Lauren Servias

Behind the Music: Lovely sky and sea; well, it used to be.

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The earth has been a subject of inspiration for composers across the world for centuries; each of the musical compositions below were used for today’s service with this Sunday’s theme in mind: building relationships through care for our earth.

The choir’s first anthem, “Emerald Stream” (by Seth Houston) is a rollicking tune reminiscent of a sea shanty or drinking song, but while toe-tapping and moving to the beat, careful listeners will have caught the warning the song offers: 

So, now, my people beware,

You’re in charge of the seas and the earth and the air,

You’d better take extr-odinary care

Of the earth, our only home.

 “Earth Song”, the choir’s second anthem, originally started as an instrumental work, but Frank Ticheli stated “this music is just begging to be sung by a chorus”.  “Earth Song” beseeches the world for kindness and peace, while praising the healing power of music and song.

Sing, Be, Live, See…the scorched earth cries out in vain.

Today’s offertory “Look Around” hails from the 1991 musical The Will Rodgers Follies.  Alone, the music of “Look Around” is lovely and poignant, but only when the song lyrics are known is the sadness of this beautiful song understood.

Look around, the world’s a lovely place, lovely sky and sea; well, it used to be.

Look around, the world is shining bright, watch the green grass grow; well, that once was so.

Where’s the spring that loved the rain?

Where’s the grove down Lover’s Lane?

Look around, they vanish overnight

Where’s the lovely world we used to see.

And finally, Joni Mitchell’s beloved “Big Yellow Taxi” reminds us of the consequences of our actions on the environment and the need to take responsibility for protecting our planet.

Today’s service will hopefully inspire us to take action to care for our planet and build stronger relationships with each other and the earth. We can reflect on the importance of preserving our natural resources, taking responsibility for our actions, and fostering appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the world around us. By doing so, we can build a more just, sustainable, and compassionate world for all.