We Welcome You to Our Musaic
From the moment I became your Acting Choir Director in the Fall of 2023, my instincts as a serious "classical" violinist guided an unspoken mantra that I would bring "musical excellence" to MLUC. Music Sunday 2024 was a manifestation of all that I had hoped to achieve: North America's second-ever performance of Federico Mompou's obscure oratorio, Los Improperios, the MLUC Choir, orchestra, handbells, piano and organ . . . it was glorious—and indeed, musically impressive.
But Music Sunday has evolved as I have. In my second year at MLUC, I have learned of a far higher calling in music; because "excellence"—accuracy, technical proficiency, and often the literally futile pursuit of perfection—is merely an aesthetic. Beyond my wildest musical dreams I have discovered that participation is our highest calling as musicians. Rev. John mentioned a few weeks ago that we are "saving lives" here at MLUC, and I have witnessed this firsthand through our music program. The realization that music is for everyone and not a "talented" few is a life-changing, and yes, sometimes life-saving epiphany.
And the best part is that excellence and accessibility are not mutually exclusive. One can self-proclaim "tone-deafness" and be proven wrong simply by a new musical learning style. One can be incapable of reading sheet music and still learn complex choral music. One can be a strictly classically trained music-reader and still learn to improvise on a bluegrass chord progression. One can be very young, very old, somewhere in between and either raising children or caring for parents, in love with Bach, in love with Beyoncé, musically trained, merely musically curious, and all still find a meaningful place in our mosaic of musical identities at MLUC. Our greatest strength here is our loving plurality.
And so, I introduce to you "Musaic." Thanks to our dance leader, Donna Feltman, for the nomenclature, our new "Music Sunday" is so much more than a one-hour service. Between 10:00 and 11:00 this Sunday, June 1, our glorious MLUC Choir performs Carol Barnett's The World Beloved (A Bluegrass Mass): an oratorio (multi-movement piece of music for choir, soloists, and orchestra) based on the Latin mass—but with a wild twist. Based on Marisha Chamberlain's beautiful libretto, The World Beloved merges the original Catholic concept of a mass—set by countless composers throughout history, Christian or not—with American English, secular humanism, UU values, a healthy dose of feminism, and bluegrass music. That's right: this year's "orchestra" is actually a bluegrass band with fiddles, mandolins, banjos, guitar, double bass, and piano. And the piece is no less dramatic, complex, or compelling for it. At times you'll be invited to sing with us, dance with us; and I can guarantee it will be quite unlike any Sunday service you've experienced before.
Immediately following the Bluegrass Mass, MLUC is transformed into a music gallery. This is where "Musaic" begins to take its shape. From 11:00 to 2:00, our musical congregation presents musical acts across the building. Grab something to eat and drink in the Fireside Gallery and pick from an incredible schedule of interactive performances by our congregation and friends of MLUC. Most performances will repeat once on the half hour so that if you are torn between two acts, you can catch both! Experience singer-songwriter, classical, Renaissance, Indonesian Angklung, Celtic, old time, Klezmer, and folk music; and while you're at it, meet up with a member of The Art Group around the building to create a visual interpretation of anything (or everything) you've heard to contribute to a physical mosaic of Musaic. We are especially pleased to welcome the Fairmount String Quartet at 12:00 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room as our featured illumine concert series artists and friends of MLUC.
Participation is the essence of Musaic, so please feel free to invite your friends and family! Even if you cannot make it to the service, you are more than welcome to enjoy our afternoon of truly marvelous music.
See you Sunday!
But Music Sunday has evolved as I have. In my second year at MLUC, I have learned of a far higher calling in music; because "excellence"—accuracy, technical proficiency, and often the literally futile pursuit of perfection—is merely an aesthetic. Beyond my wildest musical dreams I have discovered that participation is our highest calling as musicians. Rev. John mentioned a few weeks ago that we are "saving lives" here at MLUC, and I have witnessed this firsthand through our music program. The realization that music is for everyone and not a "talented" few is a life-changing, and yes, sometimes life-saving epiphany.
And the best part is that excellence and accessibility are not mutually exclusive. One can self-proclaim "tone-deafness" and be proven wrong simply by a new musical learning style. One can be incapable of reading sheet music and still learn complex choral music. One can be a strictly classically trained music-reader and still learn to improvise on a bluegrass chord progression. One can be very young, very old, somewhere in between and either raising children or caring for parents, in love with Bach, in love with Beyoncé, musically trained, merely musically curious, and all still find a meaningful place in our mosaic of musical identities at MLUC. Our greatest strength here is our loving plurality.
And so, I introduce to you "Musaic." Thanks to our dance leader, Donna Feltman, for the nomenclature, our new "Music Sunday" is so much more than a one-hour service. Between 10:00 and 11:00 this Sunday, June 1, our glorious MLUC Choir performs Carol Barnett's The World Beloved (A Bluegrass Mass): an oratorio (multi-movement piece of music for choir, soloists, and orchestra) based on the Latin mass—but with a wild twist. Based on Marisha Chamberlain's beautiful libretto, The World Beloved merges the original Catholic concept of a mass—set by countless composers throughout history, Christian or not—with American English, secular humanism, UU values, a healthy dose of feminism, and bluegrass music. That's right: this year's "orchestra" is actually a bluegrass band with fiddles, mandolins, banjos, guitar, double bass, and piano. And the piece is no less dramatic, complex, or compelling for it. At times you'll be invited to sing with us, dance with us; and I can guarantee it will be quite unlike any Sunday service you've experienced before.
Immediately following the Bluegrass Mass, MLUC is transformed into a music gallery. This is where "Musaic" begins to take its shape. From 11:00 to 2:00, our musical congregation presents musical acts across the building. Grab something to eat and drink in the Fireside Gallery and pick from an incredible schedule of interactive performances by our congregation and friends of MLUC. Most performances will repeat once on the half hour so that if you are torn between two acts, you can catch both! Experience singer-songwriter, classical, Renaissance, Indonesian Angklung, Celtic, old time, Klezmer, and folk music; and while you're at it, meet up with a member of The Art Group around the building to create a visual interpretation of anything (or everything) you've heard to contribute to a physical mosaic of Musaic. We are especially pleased to welcome the Fairmount String Quartet at 12:00 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room as our featured illumine concert series artists and friends of MLUC.
Participation is the essence of Musaic, so please feel free to invite your friends and family! Even if you cannot make it to the service, you are more than welcome to enjoy our afternoon of truly marvelous music.
See you Sunday!
Posted in Music Notes